Stanley Cup Final: Declines For Games 5 and 6

The fifth and sixth games of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final were down from last year, but still topped the last such games to feature Canadian teams.

NBC earned a 3.2 final rating and 5.484 million viewers for Monday’s Canucks/Bruins Game 6, down 32% in ratings and 34% in viewership from last year (CHI/PHI G6: 4.7, 8.279M), and down 6% in both measures compared to 2009 (DET/PIT G6: 3.4, 5.814M).

Last year’s Game 6 aired on a Wednesday night and was the most-viewed NHL telecast since 1974. Game 6 in 2009 aired on a Tuesday night opposite the NBA Finals.

Monday’s game ranks as the lowest rated, least-viewed Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final since 2006 (CAR/EDM G6: 1.9, 2.921M), the last year a Canadian team played in a Game 6.

That said, the game also ranks as the most-viewed Stanley Cup Final telecast to feature a Canadian team since Flames/Lighting Game 7 in 2004 (6.290M, ABC).

Game 5 of the series last Friday night earned a 2.6 final rating and 4.319 million viewers, down 21% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (PHI/CHI G5: 3.3, 5.848M), and up 8% and down 3%, respectively, from 2009 (PIT/DET G5: 2.4, 4.446M).

The game ranks as the least-viewed Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final since 2007 (2.902M), the last year a Canadian team played in a Game 5.

Both games were down from last year in the key adults 18-49 demographic. Game 6 drew a 2.0 rating in the demo, off 38% from last year (3.2), and down 17% from 2009 (2.4). Friday’s Game 5 earned a 1.6 in the demo, down 27% from last year (2.2), and down 11% from 2009 (1.8).

(This year’s ratings/viewership from NBC Sports Group, with additional information from TV By the Numbers [1], [2] and Son of the Bronx; past data from Media Life Magazine and Sitcoms Online)