After years of being treated like a minor sport, the NHL finally drew major league ratings.
The classic triple overtime Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals drew a 3.8 rating with 6.2 million viewers on NBC Monday night, up 111% and 114%, respectively, from a 1.8 rating with 2.9 million viewers for Senators/Ducks Game 5 last year.
The 6.2 million viewers puts Game 5 in the same range as the NBA Conference Finals. It should be pointed out that the 10 of the 11 NBA Conference Final games aired on cable, and Game 5 aired on broadcast.
Game 5 is the highest rated and most viewed NHL game since Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, which drew a 4.2 rating with 6.3 million viewers on ABC.
Through three games, the Stanley Cup Finals is averaging a 2.8 rating on NBC, up 75% from last year’s 1.6.
Stanley Cup Final ratings on NBC.
2.4: Red Wings/Penguins Game 3 (Wed., 5/28, 8 PM NBC); up 114% from last year.
2.3: Red Wings/Penguins Game 4 (Sat., 5/31, 8 PM NBC); up 21% from last year.
3.8: Penguins/Red Wings Game 5 (Mon., 6/2, 8 PM NBC); up 111% from last year.
