Though down from last year’s game on NBC, Wednesday’s double-overtime clash between the Kings and Blackhawks was a good draw for NBCSN.
Game 5 of the Kings/Blackhawks NHL Western Conference final earned 2.2 million viewers on NBCSN Wednesday night, down 43% from the same matchup on NBC last year (3.8M), but up 79% from Kings/Coyotes Game 5 on NBCSN in 2012 (1.3M). The game ranks as the most-viewed of the conference finals on cable (seven telecasts).
Kings/Blackhawks Game 5 ranks as the most-viewed Western Conference final telecast on cable in five years, with the caveat that several Eastern Conference games have earned larger audiences. Games 2-4 of last year’s Penguins/Bruins series, for example, each earned over 2.6 million viewers.
On Tuesday night, Game 5 of the Rangers/Canadiens series drew 1.7 million viewers — up 19% from Devils/Rangers Game 5 in 2012 (1.4M) and the most-viewed Eastern Conference Game 5 since Flyers/Penguins on NBC in 2008 (2.5M).
(This year’s numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box [1], [2])
