As the conference finals draw to a close, Stanley Cup playoff ratings remain at multi-year highs.
Entering Wednesday’s Game 7, the Capitals-Lightning NHL Eastern Conference Final has averaged 2.0 million viewers across NBC Sports’ TV and digital platforms — up 5% from Penguins-Senators last year (1.9M) and the highest average since 2013 (Bruins-Penguins: 2.9M).
Monday’s Game 6 had a 1.2 rating and 2.11 million viewers on NBCSN, up 15% in ratings and 17% in viewership from Penguins-Senators last year (1.1, 1.8M) and up 17% and 19% respectively from Penguins-Lightning in 2016 (1.05, 1.8M). It was the most-watched Game 6 of the East Final since 2014 (Canadiens-Rangers: 2.12M).
Including the 90,000 viewers who streamed the game on NBC’s digital platforms, Washington’s series-tying win had 2.20 million. For the postseason, Game 6 ranks as the second-most watched game on cable behind the Capitals’ second round clincher over the Penguins (2.24M).
Game 5 Saturday night had a 1.7 and 2.91 million on NBC following The Preakness Stakes, up 42% in ratings and 45% in viewership from Senators-Penguins on a Sunday afternoon last year (1.2, 2.0M) and up 55% and 53% respectively from Lightning-Penguins on NBCSN in 2016 (1.1, 1.9M).
Versus the same post-Preakness window last year, Predators-Ducks Game 5, ratings increased 21% (from 1.4) and viewership 24% (from 2.35M).
Tampa Bay’s win, which peaked with 3.9 million viewers, had an audience of 2.95 million with streaming included. Not counting Game 7s, it was the most-watched NHL conference final game in five years (2013 Kings-Blackhawks Game 5: 3.8M) and the second-most watched game of the playoffs. Penguins-Capitals Game 5, which aired after the Kentucky Derby, holds the top spot (4.3M).
Shifting to the West, the five-game Golden Knights-Jets conference final averaged 1.77 million viewers across NBC’s TV and digital platforms — up 23% from Predators-Ducks last year (1.43M) and the largest average for the West Final since 2015 (Blackhawks-Ducks: 2.47M).
Sunday’s clinching Game 5 had a 1.3 rating and 2.10 million viewers on NBC, down a tick in ratings and 11% in viewership from Predators-Ducks after the Preakness last year (1.4, 2.4M) but up 63% and 60% respectively from Sharks-Blues on NBCSN in 2016 (0.8, 1.3M).
Versus the same Sunday afternoon window last year, Senators-Penguins Game 5, ratings increased a tick (from 1.2) and viewership 5% (from 2.0M). Vegas’ series-clinching win, which peaked with 3.0 million viewers, had an audience of 2.13 million with streaming included.
Through Monday, the Stanley Cup Playoffs is averaging 1.19 million viewers across NBC’s TV and digital platforms, up 9% from last year (1.09M) and the highest since 2013 (1.24M).
[Numbers from NBC Sports PR 5.23; Programming Insider 5.23; ShowBuzz Daily 5.22]
