Despite losing nearly half the audience of Game 1, the second game of the Stanley Cup Final earned record numbers on NBCSN.
Game 2 of the Bruins/Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final drew a 2.0 U.S. rating and just under 4.0 million viewers on NBC Sports Network, up 18% in ratings and 37% in viewership from Kings/Devils Game 2 on NBC last year (1.7, 2.9M), but down 9% and up 11%, respectively, from Bruins/Canucks Game 2 on NBC in 2011 (2.2, 3.6M).
Bruins/Blackhawks Game 2 ranks as the most-viewed NHL telecast ever on NBC Sports Network (previously Versus and OLN), topping the previous high of 3.6 million for Blackhawks/Flyers Game 3 in 2010.
Overall, the game ranks as the second-most viewed program in NBCSN history, ahead of only last year’s United States/Japan women’s soccer Olympic gold medal match (4.4M).
Game 2 also ranks as the most-viewed Stanley Cup final telecast on cable since Hurricanes/Red Wings Game 1 on ESPN in 2002 (4.02M to 3.96M), and the most-viewed Game 2 on cable since Red Wings/Flyers on ESPN in 1997 (5.0M).
Keep in mind Game 2 aired on broadcast network NBC from 2009-12.
Locally, Saturday’s game drew a 22.5 rating in Boston — up 3% from Game 2 on NBC in 2011. The game drew frankly unimpressive 15.6 rating in Chicago, down 38% from Game 2 on NBC in 2010.
Ratings/Viewership For Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final
Since the 2004-05 NHL owners’ lockout
|
Year
|
Date
|
Away | Home |
Net
|
Rating
|
Viewers
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2013
|
Sat., 6/15/13 |
Bruins
|
Blackhawks
|
NBCSN
|
2.0
|
4.0M
|
|
2012
|
Sat., 6/2/12 |
Kings
|
Devils
|
NBC
|
1.7
|
2.9M
|
|
2011
|
Sat., 6/4/11 |
Bruins
|
Canucks
|
NBC
|
2.2
|
3.6M
|
|
2010
|
Mon., 5/31/10 |
Flyers
|
Blackhawks
|
NBC
|
3.3
|
5.9M
|
|
2009
|
Sun., 5/31/09 |
Penguins
|
Red Wings
|
NBC
|
3.1
|
5.4M
|
|
2008
|
Mon., 5/26/08 |
Penguins
|
Red Wings
|
VS
|
1.3
|
2.6M
|
|
2007
|
Wed., 5/30/07 |
Senators
|
Ducks
|
VS
|
0.4
|
576K
|
|
2006
|
Wed., 6/7/06 |
Oilers
|
Hurricanes
|
OLN
|
0.5
|
875K
|
(Sat. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
