The defending Stanley Cup champions went out with a bang both locally and nationally.
Game 7 of the Blackhawks/Blues Stanley Cup playoff series drew 1.4 million viewers on NBCSN Monday night, up 76% from Islanders/Capitals Game 7 last year (771K) and up 149% from Penguins/Blue Jackets Game 6 in 2014 (544K).
The Blues’ series-clinching win, which peaked at 2.0 million viewers from 11-11:15 PM ET, ranks as the most-watched first round playoff game ever on NBCSN (previously VERSUS and OLN). The previous high was 1.3 million for Capitals/Bruins Game 7 in 2012.
Keep in mind the national figures do not include the local markets, where NBCSN coverage was blacked out. Comcast SportsNet Chicago earned a whopping 19.07 rating for its coverage, peaking at 23.89 — the highest for any program in the history of the network. The previous high was a comparably modest 13.69 for a Bulls/Pacers playoff game in 2011.
In St. Louis, Game 7 had a 19.6 rating on Fox Sports Midwest, peaking at 25.3 — the highest rated program in the history of that network as well. The previous high was 18.0 for a Cardinals/Astros baseball game in 2011.
The two networks combined for approximately 902,000 television homes, equivalent to a 0.8 rating. NBCSN’s national rating was not immediately available.
The Blackhawks/Blues series delivered two of the five highest rated programs ever on CSN Chicago and three of the five highest ever on FS Midwest.
(Mon. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box, CSN Chicago, Fox Sports)
