Viewership for the NHL conference finals has been sandwiched between last year and 2013.
Game 3 of the Rangers/Lightning NHL Eastern Conference final earned 1.7 million viewers on NBCSN Wednesday night, up 39% from Canadiens/Rangers last year (1.2M) but down 42% from Penguins/Bruins in 2013 (2.8M).
The past four NHL playoff games on NBCSN, including all three of the network’s conference final telecasts, have had a double-digit increase over last year and a double-digit decline from 2013. Keep in mind that due to the NHL lockout, the 2013 conference finals took place later in the calendar — airing after the television season had been completed.
The Lightning’s win earned the 9th largest audience of the postseason on cable. The twelve most-watched games have involved the Rangers or Blackhawks.
(Wed. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
