Though both games were close to last year, viewership went in opposite directions for a pair of Game 6s in the NHL conference finals.
Game 6 of the Ducks/Blackhawks NHL Western Conference final earned 2.4 million viewers on NBCSN Wednesday night, up 5% from Blackhawks/Kings last year (2.3M) and the second-most watched game of the playoffs on cable. Only Capitals/Rangers Game 7 in the second round earned a larger audience (2.7M).
The Blackhawks’ series-tying win drew a 16.6 rating in Chicago, the market’s highest of the postseason on any network, and its second-highest for a conference final game on NBCSN. Local ratings in Los Angeles were not immediately available.
The previous night, Game 6 of the Rangers/Lightning series drew 2.0 million viewers — down 5% from Canadiens/Rangers last year (2.1M). The past three games of the series have each had a slight decline in viewership.
(Wed. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box [1], [2]; Tue. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
