NBCSN attracted one of its largest second round audiences for Game 7 between the Rangers and Capitals.
Game 7 of the Capitals/Rangers NHL playoff series drew a 1.6 final rating and 2.7 million viewers on NBCSN Wednesday night, up 19% in viewership from Canadiens/Bruins last year (2.3M) and down 24% and 19%, respectively, from Red Wings/Blackhawks in 2013 (2.1, 3.4M). Viewership peaked at 3.8 million from 10:45-10:57 PM ET, as the game concluded.
The Rangers’ overtime win earned the third-largest second round playoff audience ever on an NBC cable network (dates back to 2006), trailing the previously mentioned Red Wings/Blackhawks Game 7 in 2013 and slightly behind Game 6 of the same series (2.72M to 2.71M).
NBC earned four of its ten largest second round audiences this year, with two games each from Rangers/Capitals and Blackhawks/Wild making the list.
Head-to-head, the game trailed the Wizards/Hawks NBA playoff game on TNT by 41% (3.8M to 2.7M). Local ratings for the Wizards in Washington D.C. were not available, but the Capitals earned a 7.9 rating in the market.
(Wed. numbers from NBC Sports)
