Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are going to the Stanley Cup Finals, and NBC may be the biggest winner.
The deciding game of the Penguins/Flyers Eastern Conference Finals drew a 1.7/4 on NBC Sunday afternoon, up 6% from a 1.6 for Ducks/Red Wings last year. The 1.7 overnight is the highest of the playoffs.
The 1.7 is also the second-highest NBC has ever drawn for a non-Stanley Cup Finals NHL telecast. Only January’s Winter Classic drew a higher overnight.
The game drew a massive 26.1/46 in Pittsburgh and a 7.6/14 in Philadelphia. Surprisingly, the game drew a 2.5/5 in Cleveland — where the Cavaliers were playing the Boston Celtics at the same time.
Saturday’s Game 5 between the Red Wings and Stars saw a bigger jump in ratings. The game, which saw the Stars draw to within a 3-2 series deficit, drew a 1.5 overnight, up 25% from a 1.2 for Sabres/Senators last year.
