Stanley Cup Final: Ratings and Viewership Drop For Games 2 and 3

Ratings and viewership for Games 2 and 3 of Stanley Cup Final dropped double-digits from last year, though the numbers remain well ahead of the last final to feature a Canadian team.

Game 2 between the Bruins and Canucks drew a 2.2 final rating and 3.569 million viewers on NBC Saturday night, down 33% in ratings and 39% in viewership from last year (PHI/CHI G2: 3.3, 5.892M), and down 29% and 34%, respectively, from 2009 (PIT/DET G2: 3.1, 5.386M).

Last year’s Game 2 aired on Memorial Day. Game 2 in 2009 aired on a Sunday night.

Saturday’s game ranks as the lowest rated, least-viewed Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final since 2008 (PIT/DET G2: 1.3, 2.608M, VS).

Game 3 of the series drew a 1.6 and 2.757 million viewers on Versus Monday night, down 20% in ratings and 23% in viewership from last year (CHI/PHI G3: 2.0, 3.600M), and down 6% and 7%, respectively, from 2009 (DET/PIT G3: 1.7, 2.955M).

The game ranks as the lowest rated, least-viewed Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final since 2007 (ANA/OTT G3: 1.1, 1.631M, NBC).

Though down from both last year and 2009, Games 2 and 3 still easily outpaced the comparable games of the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, the last final to feature a Canadian team.

Game 2 of the 2007 series drew a 0.4 U.S. rating and 576,000 viewers on Versus, while the previously mentioned Game 3 drew a 1.1 and 1.631 million on NBC.

Saturday’s Game 2 drew a 1.3 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic, down a whopping 48% from last year (2.5). Monday’s Game 3 drew a 1.1 in the demo.

Boston was the top market for both Game 2 (21.2) and Game 3 (23.4). The 23.4 local rating for Game 3 is the highest ever for an NHL telecast on Versus in the market.

(This year’s numbers from Son of the Bronx 1, 2; Puck the Media)