Like last year, a lead-in from The Belmont Stakes resulted in stronger numbers for the Stanley Cup Final.
Game 2 of the Blackhawks/Lightning Stanley Cup Final earned a 4.8 overnight rating on NBC Saturday night, up 5% from Rangers/Kings last year (4.6) and up 66% from Bruins/Blackhawks on NBCSN in 2013 (2.9). Both this year and last, Game 2 had a direct lead-in from The Belmont Stakes.
The 4.8 overnight is the highest for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final since the NBC family of networks began airing the event in 2006. It is also the highest for a Saturday night Stanley Cup Final game since Devils/Avalanche Game 7 in 2001, which aired on ABC (5.6).
The Lightning’s win earned a 22.6 rating in Chicago, down 19% from Wednesday’s Game 1 (28.0) but up 45% from Game 2 in 2013 (15.6). The game drew a 15.1 in Tampa-St. Petersburg — down 16% from Game 1 (17.9). Buffalo (8.6), Milwaukee (6.7) and Ft. Myers, FL (6.5) rounded out the top five.
