'Hockey Day in America' scores significant viewership gains

The NBC Sports Group's coverage of the third iteration of "Hockey Day in America" this past Sunday scored with viewers as the second game of its doubleheader on NBC was up 31 percent compared to last season, while NBC Sports Network's evening game was up 200 percent vs. a comparable 2012 game. Local market ratings were also impressive, highlighted by Chicago, which posted the market's best-ever rating for an NHL regular-season game on NBC, excluding Winter Classics. Final viewership for NBC's first game will be available on Friday.

Kings-Blackhawks (NBC Game 2)

NBC's late-game coverage, in which the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the visiting Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, averaged 1.81 million viewers and a 1.15 household rating (3:30-6:02 p.m. ET). Viewership was up 31 percent compared to last year's late game (1.38 million, Boston-Minnesota).

Locally, Chicago delivered a 6.7 rating, the market's best-ever for an NHL regular-season game on NBC, excluding Winter Classics (since 2006).

Capitals-Rangers (NBC Sports Network)

The New York Rangers 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals was watched by 609,000 viewers (6-8:39 p.m. ET), a 200 percent increase vs. last year's game, which was played in the same time slot (203,000, New Jersey-Montreal).

The New York market posted a 1.84 rating for the game, second-best ever for a Rangers regular-season game on NBC Sports Network in which the team did not play either the Devils or Islanders. Washington posted a 1.95.

Penguins-Sabres (NBC Game 1)

Final viewership for NBC's coverage of the first game of the doubleheader, in which the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 4-3, will be available on Friday. However, local ratings are in and Pittsburgh posted a 15.2 rating, while Buffalo scored a 16.0, the highest rating of any market for any NHL game during the weekend.

NBC Sports Group celebrated the third annual "Hockey Day in America" on Sunday, Feb. 17, by delivering nine hours of hockey coverage on NBC and NBC Sports Network, including numerous features that told the story of America's passion for hockey, weaved within an NHL tripleheader that featured six U.S. teams.