Thanks in part to exclusivity and close games, viewership has risen by nearly 50% for the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports Network. Second round coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 1.227 million viewers on NBC Sports Network through Monday, up 48% from last year (830K). Keep in mind all second round telecasts on NBCSN this year are exclusive, whereas several games last year were blacked out in local markets. On Monday, Game 5 of the Capitals/Rangers second round series earned 1.65 million viewers on NBCSN, up 143% from Canucks/Predators Game 6 on the comparable night a year earlier (679K). The game drew a 4.32 rating in New York, the highest ever for an NHL telecast on NBCSN in the market. One night earlier, Game 4 of the Flyers/Devils series drew 1.633 million — virtually flat compared to Red Wings/Sharks Game 5 last year (1.627M). The game drew a 2.37 in New York, the highest ever for a Devils telecast on NBCSN in the market, reports Sports Media Watch.