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Round 1 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs is in the books, and the ratings are anything but icy — especially for the record-setting Game 7 of the Boston Bruins-Toronto Maple Leafs series.

The games averaged 934,000 viewers in the U.S. across multiple networks, making it the second-most-watched first round ever, the league said today.

The numbers are better for North America, averaging 2.2 million viewers, a 6% surge over the 2023 playoffs.

Leading the charge was Saturday’s Game 7 between Original Six rivals the Bruins and Maple Leafs, which delivered 3.22 million viewers on ABC. That game was more widely watched when factoring in hockey-mad Canada, with 8.82 million tuning in across North America on ABC, CBC, Sportsnet and Tva Sports — making it the most-watched first-round game across North America on record.

It also was the most-viewed Game 7 of a Stanley Cup first round ever, the most-viewed first-round game since 2012 and the third-most-viewed first-round game on record.

As far as televised national anthems are concerned, we’ve certainly seen a wide range of performances over the past few decades, haven’t we? From Whitney Houston’s triumphant rendition at the 1991 Super Bowl to Roseanne Barr’s bastardization of the gift of sound at a 1990 Padres game, it’s easy to feel like we’ve heard it all at this point.

But every once in a while, if we’re lucky, a performance comes along that catches us by surprise, sweeps us off our feet and and restores our sense of wonder — a rendition so bold, so unexpected,...

Barry Melrose has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and is retiring after nearly three decades as the colorful NHL analyst for ESPN, he revealed Tuesday.

“I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game: hockey. It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife, Cindy, and whatever comes next,” Melrose, 67, said in a statement, which arrived on the first day of the 2023-24 NHL season.

“I’m beyond grateful for my hockey career and to have called ESPN home for almost 30 years. Thanks for the incredible memories, and I’ll now be cheering for you from the stands.”

A native of Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Melrose appeared in 300 games from 1979-86 as an NHL defenseman with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, scoring 10 goals with 728 penalty minutes. Earlier, he played...

Barry Melrose, the veteran ESPN hockey analyst, announced his retirement from broadcasting on October 10. The decision comes following his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. “I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey. It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next,” the 67-year-old said in a statement. “I’m beyond grateful for my hockey career, and to have called ESPN home for almost 30 years. Thanks for the incredible memories and I’ll now be cheering for you from the stands.” Melrose spent 11 years as a player in the NHL before transitioning to coaching in 1987 with stints including leading teams such as the Los Angeles Kings and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Overall, Melrose had an 84-108-29 record as a head coach. News: Barry Melrose has Parkinson...

Longtime NHL analyst and former hockey coach and player Barry Melrose is retiring from ESPN after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

““I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey,” he said in a statement. “It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next.”

The news was first revealed by Melrose’s friend and network colleague John Buccigross, just hours before the 2023-2024 NHL season begins.

“I’ve worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century. Cold beers and hearty laughs in smokey cigar bars,” Buccigross wrote on X along with a tribute video from ESPN. “A razor sharp wit, he was always early & looked like a million bucks. I love him. I’ll miss him.”

News:

Barry Melrose has Parkinson's disease and is...

Barry Melrose is retiring.

The 67-year-old longtime ESPN hockey analyst confirmed the news that he will retire from the broadcasting world after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey,” he began in a statement.

Keep reading to find out more…

“It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next. I’m beyond grateful for my hockey career, and to have called ESPN home for almost 30 years. Thanks for the incredible memories and I’ll now be cheering for you from the stands.”

He previously played for the NHL for 11 years before moving to coaching in 1987 for teams including the Los Angeles Kings and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In a statement, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called Barry a “unique, one-of-a-kind person,...

Barry Melrose, who has served as an NHL analyst at ESPN for nearly three decades and coached Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, has retired from the network after a Parkinson’s diagnosis.

“I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey,” Melrose, 67, said in a statement. “It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next.”

His longtime friend and network colleague John Buccigross had revealed the news on social media — hours before the 2023-24 NHL season begins.

“Barry Melrose has Parkinson’s disease and is stepping away from our ESPN family to spend more time with his,” Buccigross wrote on X/Twitter. “I’ve worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century. Cold beers and hearty laughs in smokey cigar bars.

Updated: Coming off one of its wildest seasons in years, the NHL’s 2023-24 schedule kicks off tonight with an intriguing opening-night tripleheader on ESPN. Check out some key dates and matchups for the league’s 107th season — including a night when all 32 NHL teams will be in action — below.

ESPN will begin Season 3 of its seven-year NHL rights deal on October 10 with the Nashville Predators at the Tampa Bay Lightning at 2:30 p.m. Pt, followed by must-see TV for hockey fans: the pro debut of the massively hyped Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, which starts at 5 p.m. Pt. Bedard and the Hawks will face another generational talent in Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who picked Sid the Kid first overall in 2005.

That will be followed by the Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights hoisting their first title banner before their...

The attention of the sports-viewing world may be stuck on the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament for now, but if that isn’t enough to slake your thirst for competition, good news! The 2023 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship tournament begins Thursday, March 23 on ESPN+, ESPN2, Espnews, and Espnu. The tournament will pit top college hockey teams in the country against each other to determine this year’s national champion. You can watch every game of the competition with a Subscription to Sling TV (50% Off).

How to Watch 2023 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Tournament When: Starts Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Et TV: ESPN+, ESPN2, Espnews, and Espnu Stream: Watch with a Subscription to Sling TV (50% Off). Get 50% Off $40 / month sling.com About 2023 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Tournament

The road to the men’s Frozen Four begins on Thursday, March 23, with first-round games from the Manchester Regional...

A blood-spattered blend of skates, scares, and apocalyptic teamwork, Ahockalypse is coming to VOD in the Us beginning August 17th from Sparrowhawk Pictures, and if you're ready to gear up and hit the crimson-stained ice, we've been provided with an exclusive clip from the film for Daily Dead readers to enjoy!

Reminiscent of the brawls by the Hanson brothers in Slap Shot, our exclusive clip can be viewed below, along with the official trailer and key art for Ahockalypse.

Written and directed by Wayne H. Johnson Jr., Ahockalypse stars Jesse Rennicke, Alex Galick, Squall Charlson, Kaylee Williams, Gabrielle Arrowsmith, and Mason Hendricks, and it features special appearances by former hockey players Kelly Chase and Barry Melrose. Ahockalypse will skate onto VOD in the Us beginning August 17th from Sparrowhawk Pictures, and it's now up for pre-order on iTunes.

Synopsis: "The Prairie Kings hockey team is about to battle for the...

If you're hungry for more horror and comedy on the ice after the wild finale of Another WolfCop, then you may want to add Ahockalypse to your watch list this summer. A blood-spattered blend of skates, scares, and apocalyptic teamwork, Ahockalypse is coming in for a cross-check on VOD in the Us beginning August 17th from Sparrowhawk Pictures, and if you're ready to gear up and hit the ice, we have a look at the movie's trailer and zombified key art.

Written and directed by Wayne H. Johnson Jr., Ahockalypse stars Jesse Rennicke, Alex Galick, Squall Charlson, Kaylee Williams, Gabrielle Arrowsmith, and Mason Hendricks, and it features special appearances by former hockey players Kelly Chase and Barry Melrose. Ahockalypse will skate onto VOD in the Us beginning August 17th from Sparrowhawk Pictures, and it's now up for pre-order on iTunes.

Synopsis: "The Prairie Kings hockey team is about to battle...

The Ncaa hockey Frozen Four 2014 TV schedule on Espn networks has Union (N.Y.) vs. Boston College in the first semifinal, followed by Minnesota vs. North Dakota in the second game at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The championship game is Saturday, April 12 on Espn. Every game is also available online and on mobile devices on WatchESPN. Espn’s lead hockey play-by-play commentator John Buccigross calls the game with lead hockey analyst Barry Melrose. Quint Kessenich reports. Fans can get live updates, news and more from the Frozen Four’s Twitter feed at @NCAAIceHockey. Ncaa hockey Frozen Four 2014 TV … Continue reading →

The post Ncaa hockey Frozen Four 2014 TV schedule appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.

Barry Melrose shared his on-air skin care secret Tuesday, Feb. 16 on Espn. The network has since issued an apology.

Who knew "chicken s**t" was so good for your pores?

When former NHL player and coach and current Espn hockey analyst Barry Melrose and on-air anchor Jay Crawford started sparring about who looked old and what "middle aged" means, Crawford and fellow on-air anchor Dana Jacobsen were not prepared for Melrose's secret skin care trick. Warning: Profanity in the video.

Dana Jacobsen later took to the airwaves to apologize for Melrose's on-air profanity, "We have to apologize. Barry Melrose did use an inappropriate word on our air. He did not realize that we were live at the time or he would not have used it."

Sure, profanity is bad. But where's the apology for putting the image in our heads of the six-fingered man from "The Princess Bride" rubbing chicken feces on his face?...