Rogers Sportsnet’s broadcast of the Leafs 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday drew an audience of 866, 000 (PPM 2+) on Sportsnet Ontario, the second-highest rated regional broadcast in the history of the network, and their second highest Maple Leaf broadcast of the season.
The pre and post game shows surrounding the broadcast also had big numbers as Hockeycentral Leafs Edition prior to the game drew an audience of 207, 000 (112% above the average) and Sportsnet Connected after the game drew 387, 000 (79% above the average).
The Leaf lineup for the game featured the debut of a recently acquired trio made up of goaltender J-S Giguere, defenceman Dion Phaneuf and winger Fredrik Sjostrom who were acquired in two separate deals this past weekend by the Buds.
The highest-rated broadcast of the season featured the Leafs’ debut of winger Phil Kessel versus the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 3rd which drew an audience of 893, 000 (PPM 2+).
The back half of this home-and-home series between the Leafs and Devils is also scheduled on Sportsnet Ontario and Sportsnet Ontario HD starting Friday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
Joe Bowen will have the play-by-play call while former National Hockey League goaltender Greg Millen handles the analysis. Paul Hendrick rounds-out the broadcast crew as the in-game reporter for Molson Canadian Leafs Hockey on Sportsnet Ontario.
Hockeycentral Leafs Edition featuring Daren Millard, Nick Kypreos and Bill Watters will preview the game starting at 6:30 p.m. (ET) and provide analysis throughout the broadcast including the intermissions and immediately following the game.
Sportsnet Ontario’s Leafs’ schedule features more games than any other channel, including 28-regular season match-ups, all available in high-definition.