Stanley Cup playoff ratings were mostly down over a golf-dominated weekend.
Saturday’s Maple Leafs-Bruins first round Stanley Cup playoff Game 2 had a 1.0 rating and 1.71 million viewers on NBC, down a tick in ratings and 4% in viewership from the same matchup last year (1.1, 1.78M), but up 11% and 2% respectively from 2017 (Predators-Blackhawks: 0.9, 1.68M).
The Bruins’ win ranks as the most-watched game of the days-old postseason, but was topped head-to-head by ABC’s Clippers-Warriors NBA playoff game (3.0, 4.83M) and NASCAR Cup Series racing on FOX (1.7, 2.79M).
NBC’s afternoon games faced even tougher competition, the Masters. On Saturday afternoon, Hurricanes-Capitals Game 2 had a 0.75 and 1.19 million — down 24% in ratings and viewership from regional action last year (1.0, 1.57M), but up 3% and 6% respectively from 2017 (Bruins-Senators: 0.73, 1.12M). It had 1.21 million with streaming included.
On Sunday afternoon, Islanders-Penguins Game 3 had a 0.8 and 1.23 million — down 38% in ratings and 46% in viewership from Penguins-Flyers in a later window last year (1.3, 2.29M). The game aired at Noon ET, likely to avoid Masters competition, but ended up going head-to-head with the rescheduled final round.
Shifting to cable, NBCSN earned a 0.5 (+17%) and 884,000 (+16%) for Lightning-Blue Jackets Game 3 Sunday night. Including streaming, the game’s audience of 922,000 was the largest on record for a first round Game 3 on NBCSN.
NBCSN also drew a 0.34 (-8%) and 555,000 (-4%) for Sharks-Golden Knights Game 3 Sunday night and a 0.26 (+18%) and 491,000 (+27%) for Avalanche-Flames Game 2 Saturday night.
Over on CNBC, Predators-Stars Game 2 had a 0.23 and 371,000 Saturday evening, and Jets-Blues scored 262,000 on Sunday night (-57%).
[Numbers from NBC Sports, Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 4.16]
