The third game of the Penguins/Flyers series earned the largest NHL playoff rating since FOX held the rights in the 1990s.
Game 3 between the Penguins and Flyers drew a 2.0 final rating on NBC last Sunday, up 82% from Capitals/Rangers Game 3 last year (1.1), and up 54% from Coyotes/Red Wings Game 3 in 2010 (1.3).
The Flyers’ win is tied with a 1999 regional telecast as the highest rated Stanley Cup playoff game, excluding the Stanley Cup Final, since Game 4 of the Stars/Red Wings Western Conference Finals in 1998 (2.2, FOX).
The telecast outdrew final round coverage of the PGA Tour RBC Heritage on CBS (1.6).
Earlier in the day, Predators/Red Wings Game 3 drew a 1.2 final rating. There was no comparable window last year.
Last Saturday, Game 2 of the Bruins/Capitals series drew a 1.3 final rating, up 30% from both Coyotes/Red Wings Game 2 last year (1.0) and Bruins/Sabres Game 2 in 2010 (1.0).
(Last weekend’s numbers from Sports Business Daily)
