With Washington up four goals after the first period, Stanley Cup Final ratings suffered their first decline in the metered markets.
Monday’s Golden Knights-Capitals Stanley Cup Final Game 4 earned a 3.9 overnight rating on NBC, down 5% from Penguins-Predators last year (4.1) but up 26% from Penguins-Sharks in 2016 (3.1).
The 3.9 is the third-highest for a Game 4 in the Stanley Cup Final since 2003 (Devils-Ducks: 3.8). Last year and 2013 (Blackhawks-Bruins: 4.6) hold the top spots. Keep in mind it was only the eighth Game 4 over that span to air on broadcast television.
Washington’s blowout win was the first game in the series to decline from last year. The previous three each hit three-year highs.
Washington D.C. led all markets with a 22.9 rating, easily its highest rating on record for an NHL game. The 22.9 is a 43% increase over the previous high of 16.0, set for Game 1 of the series a week earlier.
Las Vegas ranked second with a 20.5, the market’s second-highest NHL rating on record, but well below Game 1 last week (28.1).
Baltimore (12.4) and Richmond, Va. (10.5) ranked third and fourth, and Buffalo was the top neutral market at an 8.9.
