Rangers ratings up 187 percent, which we hear is positive

Look, at some point were going to have to sit down and have a talk about how this shortened season has artificially inflated ratings at a rate that is likely unsustainable in future seasons. For now, however, lets just bask in the glow of these pretty numbers out of the Big Apple.

Yesterday, the New York Rangers announced that their ratings are up a gigantic 187 percent. While Rangers ratings were pretty small to open the season last year, anything going up 187 percent in the massive New York TV market is important.

The Rangers are now averaging a 1.95 rating in the market, which increases the aforementioned 187 percent from the first 11 games of the 2011-12 season. More impressive, however, is that the Rangers are up 162 percent from their average for the entire 2011-12 campaign, which averaged an 0.99 rating.

The Rangers responded to this good ratings fortune by announcing that their post-game coverage will last an hour for the rest of the season. Rangers Extra will air for a half-hour following Mercedes Rangers Post-Game starting with tonight's tilt against the Islanders. That just proves that if there's an audience for something, the suits will try and super-serve it. Now, how about an extra 30 minutes for the Devils after their ratings increase? Hello? Anyone there?