The Stanley Cup Final hit a series-high in viewership on Wednesday night.
Game 4 of the Blackhawks/Bruins NHL Stanley Cup Final drew a 3.8 final rating and 6.5 million viewers on NBC Wednesday night, up 217% in ratings and 212% in viewership from Devils/Kings Game 4 on NBC Sports Network last year (1.2, 2.1M), and up 138% in both measures from Canucks/Bruins Game 4 on Versus in 2011 (1.6, 2.7M).
Wednesday’s game ranks as the most-viewed Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final since at least 1987, and the most-viewed non-clinching game of any kind since at least 2001 (complete viewership prior to 2002 was not available).
The 3.8 rating for Game 4 is also the second-best for a non-clinching game since Stars/Devils Game 5 in 2000 (4.2), trailing only last week’s Game 1 (3.9).
Through four games, the Blackhawks/Bruins series has averaged a 3.1 U.S. rating and 5.4 million viewers on NBC and NBC Sports Network — up 107% in ratings and 118% in viewership from Kings/Devils through the same point last year (1.5, 2.5M), and up 55% and 57%, respectively, from Bruins/Canucks in 2011 (2.0, 3.4M).
The series ranks as the most-viewed Stanley Cup Final through four games since at least 1987.
Ratings and Viewership For Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final
Since the 2004-05 NHL owners’ lockout
|
Year
|
Date
|
Away | Home |
Net
|
Rating
|
Viewers
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2013
|
Wed., 6/19/13 |
Blackhawks
|
Bruins
|
NBC
|
3.8
|
6.5M
|
|
2012
|
Wed., 6/6/13 |
Devils
|
Kings
|
NBCSN
|
1.2
|
2.1M
|
|
2011
|
Wed., 6/8/13 |
Canucks
|
Bruins
|
VS
|
1.6
|
2.7M
|
|
2010
|
Fri., 6/4/10 |
Blackhawks
|
Flyers
|
VS
|
1.7
|
3.1M
|
|
2009
|
Thu., 6/4/09 |
Red Wings
|
Penguins
|
VS
|
1.8
|
3.4M
|
|
2008
|
Mon., 6/2/08 |
Red Wings
|
Penguins
|
NBC
|
2.3
|
4.0M
|
|
2007
|
Mon., 6/4/07 |
Ducks
|
Senators
|
NBC
|
1.9
|
2.8M
|
|
2006
|
Mon., 6/12/06 |
Hurricanes
|
Oilers
|
NBC
|
2.0
|
3.1M
|
(Wed. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
