Stanley Cup Final: B’s/Hawks Earns Second-Largest Game 1 Audience Since ’87

The Stanley Cup Final got off to a roaring start on the ice and in the ratings.

Game 1 of the Bruins/Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final drew a 3.9 final rating and just under 6.4 million viewers on NBC Wednesday night, up 117% in ratings and 119% in viewership from Kings/Devils Game 1 last year (1.8, 2.9M), and up 44% and 39%, respectively, from Bruins/Canucks Game 1 in 2011 (2.7, 4.6M).

Wednesday’s game lasted three overtimes and ended shortly after 1 AM ET. Viewership peaked at 7.4 million from 11:15-11:30 PM ET, during the first OT.

The Bruins/Blackhawks opener ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final since Red Wings/Flyers on FOX in 1997 (4.0, 6.4M). Overall, the game ranks as the second-most viewed Game 1 since 1987.

The most-viewed Stanley Cup Final opener since 1966 was Game 1 of the Bruins/Rangers series on CBS in 1972 (8.5M).

Excluding series-clinchers, Bruins/Blackhawks Game 1 ranks as the highest rated Stanley Cup Final telecast since Devils/Stars Game 5 in 2000 (4.2) — another game that went to triple-overtime — and the third-highest rated since the series returned to broadcast television in 1995.

Game 1 drew a 2.5 rating among adults 18-49, up 127% from Game 1 last year (1.1), and up 39% from Game 1 in 2011 (1.8).

Overall, the strong numbers for Game 1 lifted average viewership for the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs to just under 1.2 million viewers — up 7% from last year (1.1). Entering the series, viewership had been trending slightly below last year.

Ratings/Viewership For Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final

Since the 2004-05 NHL owners’ lockout

(Wed. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box)