A strong lead-in and broadcast television exposure gave the NHL its most-watched non-final Game 7 in five years.
Airing immediately after the Kentucky Derby, Saturday’s Islanders-Flyers second round Stanley Cup playoff Game 7 averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.96 million viewers on NBC — marking the most-watched Game 7 outside of the Stanley Cup Final since Blackhawks-Ducks in 2015 (4.60M). Keep in mind it was the first Game 7 on broadcast television prior to the Cup Final since that 2015 game.
Compared to the previous Eastern Conference Game 7 three years ago — a Wednesday night Penguins-Capitals game on NBCSN — ratings fell a tick (from 1.5) but viewership increased 19% (from 2.48M).
Versus last year’s post-Kentucky Derby window — Blue Jackets-Bruins Game 5 — ratings sank 46% and viewership 35% from a 2.6 and 4.56 million. Keep in mind the Kentucky Derby lead-in was considerably weaker than last year, as the race declined 49% in ratings (from 9.4 to 4.8) and 43% in viewership (from 16.3M to 9.26M).
As one would expect, Game 7 ranks as the highest rated and most-watched game of the NHL season. The previous highs were a comparably soft 1.15 and 1.96 million for the Predators-Stars Winter Classic.
Notably, Islanders-Flyers outdrew both of Saturday’s competing NBA playoff games, edging Nuggets-Clippers on TNT (2.957 to 2.955M) and solidly ahead of Raptors-Celtics (2.56M). Both NBA games came out ahead in adults 18-49.
Game 6 of the series averaged a 0.8 and 1.40 million on NBCSN last Thursday, down 34% and 30% respectively from last year (Bruins-Blue Jackets Game 4: 1.2, 1.99M).
The other Game 7s were far weaker. Canucks-Golden Knights averaged a 0.46 and 829,000 on NBCSN Friday (873K including streaming) — down 32% in ratings and 27% in viewership from Stars-Blues Game 5 in a similar window last year (0.68, 1.14M). Viewership peaked at 1.04 million from 11:15-11:30 PM ET.
Game 7 only barely outdrew the previous night’s Game 6, which drew a 0.49 (-39%) and 828,000 (-37%).
Stars-Avalanche averaged a 0.38 and 653,000 on USA Network in the afternoon (689K including streaming), marking the least-watched NHL Game 7 since Predators-Ducks in the first round four years ago (627K), but the most-watched playoff game on a network other than NBC or NBCSN since 2016 (Penguins-Rangers Game 1: 713K).
Game 7 was less of a draw than Game 6 two nights earlier, which had a 0.50 (-29%) and 871,000 (-27%) in a traditional primetime window on NBCSN.
Last year’s Western Conference Game 7s averaged a 1.1 and 1.86 million (Stars-Blues) and a 0.9 and 1.67 million (Avalanche-Sharks). Both games aired in primetime on NBCSN.
Rounding out the recent action, Sunday’s Game 1 of the Stars-Golden Knights Western Conference Final averaged a 0.9 and 1.64 million on NBC — down 26% in ratings and 21% in viewership from last year’s WCF opener, which also aired on NBC but on a Saturday night (Blues-Sharks: 1.2, 2.09M). It was the least-watched WCF Game 1 in three years (Predators-Ducks: 856K).
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 9.9]
