Sportsnet has to be cheering on the Canadiens into the second round

With lottery-lucky Toronto Maple Leafs sidelined throughout these NHL playoffs, Rogers-owned Sportsnet had just three of seven hometown Canadian teams to bank on in Round One of these Stanley Cup playoffs. Only one team, the Montreal Canadiens, advanced. (They open the second round against the Buffalo Sabres tonight at 7 p.m.)

How much does Sportsnet hope the Habs keep it going? Game Seven last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning drew an overnight, estimated 1,345,000 viewers on CBC plus an additional 1,185,000 on Sportsnet National+Com for a combined estimated total on broadcast and specialty of over 2.5 million viewers. Add in another 1.3 million who watched the french language broadcast of the Canadiens on TVA and you’re nudging 4 million in Canada cheering on les Habs.

Montreal-Tampa’s NHL action was also a draw stateside. All the first round NHL playoff games averaged 1.2 million American viewers on cable networks ESPN and TNT Sports — up 68 per cent year-to-year.

The Edmonton Oilers loss in six games to the Anahein Ducks in Round One knocked out the other big Canadian draw these playoffs. Sportsnet National +Com drew an overnight, estimated 993,000 for the sixth and final game of that series, which was also watched by 459,000 on CBC for a combined total of over 1.4 million.

NHL playoff tilts between non-Canadian teams just do not drive ratings to the same levels. April 30 on Sportsnet 360, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild played to 483,000 hockey fans. On May 3, the first Second Round game between Minnesota and the Colorado Avalanche drew 366,000 on CBC.

Hockey, of course, hasn’t been the only game on TV this crowded May. The Toronto Blue Jays drew an estimated 936,000 Aptil 30 against the Minnesota Twins on Sportsnet One+Com. In NBA playoff action, The Toronto Raptors lost their opening round Game Seven tilt against the Cleveland Cavaliers with 653,000 tuning in last Sunday on Sportsnet One.