Cup final TV ratings look good

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This article was published 01/06/2012 (4934 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEWARK, N.J — TV ratings for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final were solid in both the New York and Los Angeles markets.

In New York, Game 1 drew a 5.2 share while in Los Angeles it did a 4.25 number.

That’s the second best rating for a Game 1 in New York since the opener of the 1995 Cup which hit a 7.3

The L.A. number is the best ever for Game 1 of the final and it’s the highest Stanley Cup rating since Game 5 of the 2007 Cup which saw the Anaheim Ducks clinch their title.

BAD ICE: Humidity is the enemy of the icemakers of this world.

“It was like playing with a tennis ball, quite honestly, out there. It’s probably hard to get any type of consistency on the ice with the humidity,” said Kings captain Dustin Brown. “I don’t think it’s the heat, we played in Phoenix last series and the ice was fine. It’s the humidity makes it hard. As a player you also start to lose your fluids and you start seizing up You look at some of the plays tonight. Pucks are bouncing on really good opportunities. It’s something both teams have to deal with.”

PETE AND MARTY: Devils coach Pete DeBoer says he and first ballot Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur share a lot of views on hockey.

“You know, Marty and I, I think, you know, think the game the same. When I hear him speak after a game, either to you guys or the comments he makes in the dressing room, they’re usually, you know, dead-on to what I would be saying or to what I am thinking,” said DeBoer. “We don’t have a lot of conversations, but he thinks like a coach, and he has a great read on our team, a great analysis of how we played.”

SWEDISH SYMPHONY: Devils winger Henrik Tallinder on fellow Swede and Red Wings defenceman Nik Lidstrom, who announced his retirement on Thursday.

“Well, he’s been an icon in Sweden for so long. I mean, two decades is a long time playing in the best league in the world. The things he has accomplished are remarkable. In my eyes, he’s the best Swedish player we’ve had over here. No offence to Forsberg and Sundin. Just with four Stanley Cups, seven Norris Trophies, that says it all, I think,” said Tallinder. “First time I played against him, I can’t remember that, but we were probably playing Detroit and we were probably — how do you say — getting killed by them. But just watching him play… it’s like a symphony.”

HELP ALL OVER: Fifteen different players have combined to score the Kings’ playoff-high 32 road goals while seven different players have chipped in with game-winners (Dustin Penner 2, Jarret Stoll 2, Matt Greene, Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Dwight King, Anze Kopitar).

QUICK AND THE REST: Kings goalie Jonathan Quick posted his 11th consecutive road playoff win (dating to last year), passing the streak of 10 wins by Billy Smith (N.Y. Islanders, 1979-80) as the longest in NHL playoff history.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless