The Stanley Cup Final ended with one of the NHL’s largest television audiences in two decades.
Game 6 of the Lightning/Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final drew a 4.4 final rating and 8.0 million viewers on NBC Monday night, down 6% in ratings and 2% in viewership from Blackhawks/Bruins in 2013 (4.7, 8.2M) and up 42% and 62%, respectively, from Devils/Kings in 2012 (3.1, 4.9M), the two most recent game sixes. Viewership peaked at 10.9 million from 10:45-11 PM ET, up from a peak of 10.4 million for Game 6 in 2013.
The Blackhawks’ championship-clinching win ranks as the fourth-most watched NHL telecast since the Stanley Cup Final returned to broadcast television in 1995, trailing only the aforementioned Blackhawks/Bruins game, Blackhawks/Flyers Game 6 in 2010 (8.3M) and Bruins/Canucks Game 7 in 2011 (8.5M). NBC now owns the five largest NHL audiences since 1995.
Overall, it earned the 10th-largest Stanley Cup Final audience since 1966. Four of the top ten have taken place this decade alone.
Among adults 18-49, Monday’s game drew a 2.8 rating — down 10% from 2013 (3.1) but up 40% from 2012 (2.0). The 2.8 is easily the highest of the series; no other game reached the 2.0 mark.
Coverage of the Blackhawks’ celebration earned a 0.3 rating and 609,000 viewers on NBCSN, its largest postgame audience for a game that aired on the NBC broadcast network. It should be noted that NBC dumped out of the postgame celebration relatively early, directing viewers to NBCSN.
The complete Stanley Cup Final averaged 5.6 million viewers across NBC and NBCSN, the second-highest average for the event since it returned to broadcast. Full details on the series will be posted shortly.
Most-Watched NHL Games Since 1995
| # | Year | Game | Net | Rtg. | Vwrs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011 | Bruins/Canucks Stanley Cup Final Game 7 |
NBC | 4.8 | 8.54M |
| 2 | 2010 | Blackhawks/Flyers Stanley Cup Final Game 6 |
NBC | 4.7 | 8.28M |
| 3 | 2013 | Blackhawks/Bruins Stanley Cup Final Game 6 |
NBC | 4.7 | 8.16M |
| 4 | 2015 | Lightning/Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final Game 6 |
NBC | 4.4 | 8.01M |
| 5 | 2009 | Penguins/Red Wings Stanley Cup Final Game 7 |
NBC | 4.3 | 7.99M |
| 6 | 2003 | Mighty Ducks/Devils Stanley Cup Final Game 7 |
ABC | 4.6 | 7.17M |
| 7 | 2001 | Devils/Avalanche Stanley Cup Final Game 7 |
ABC | 4.2 | 6.95M |
| 8 | 2002 | Hurricanes/Red Wings Stanley Cup Final Game 5 |
ABC | 4.2 | 6.85M |
| 9 | 2008 | Red Wings/Penguins Stanley Cup Final Game 6 |
NBC | 4.0 | 6.78M |
| 10 | 2000 | Stars/Devils Stanley Cup Final Game 6 |
ABC | 4.2 | 6.55M |
(Mon. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box, with additional info from ShowBuzz Daily)
