The Blackhawks’ third title-clincher in six years delivered numbers on par with the previous two.
Game 6 of the Lightning/Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final drew a 5.6 overnight rating on NBC Monday night, even with Blackhawks/Bruins in 2013 and up 40% from Devils/Kings in 2012 (4.0), the last two Game 6 telecasts.
The 5.6 overnight is tied as the second-highest for a Game 6 in the Stanley Cup Final since the NHL returned to broadcast television in 1995, matching the aforementioned Blackhawks/Bruins game and trailing only Blackhawks/Flyers in 2010 (5.8). In each of those three games, the Blackhawks clinched the championship.
Overall, the 5.6 is tied as the fourth-highest for an NHL telecast since the league returned to broadcast. Only Blackhawks/Flyers Game 6 in 2010, Bruins/Canucks Game 7 in 2011 (5.7) and Mighty Ducks/Devils Game 7 in 2003 (5.7) earned a higher overnight.
Chicago was the top market for Monday’s game with a 41.0 rating, its highest ever for a Blackhawks game. The 41.0 is the third-highest for an NHL game on NBC in any market, trailing a 43.4 in Boston for Bruins/Canucks Game 7 in 2011 and a 42.2 in Pittsburgh for Penguins/Red Wings Game 7 in 2009.
The game drew a 15.2 rating in Tampa-St. Petersburg, trailing only Game 1 (17.9) as the market’s highest rated game on NBC. Buffalo (10.5), Milwaukee (7.9) and Denver (7.6) rounded out the top five.
(Mon. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
