The Penguins and Capitals continue to deliver cable’s largest audiences of the NHL playoffs.
Game 4 of the Penguins/Capitals Stanley Cup playoff series earned a 1.1 final rating and 1.8 million viewers on NBCSN Wednesday night, up 38% in ratings and 37% in viewership from Rangers/Capitals last year (0.8, 1.3M) and up 22% and 31%, respectively, from Penguins/Rangers in 2014 (0.9, 1.4M).
The Penguins’ overtime win, which peaked with 2.3 million viewers from 10:30-10:45 PM ET, ranks as the most-watched game of the playoffs on cable. The Penguins/Capitals series accounts for the top three spots, with Monday’s Game 3 ranking second (1.6M) and last week’s Game 1 third (1.5M).
As has been the case throughout the second round, the other series have struggled. Tuesday’s Lightning/Islanders Game 3 had 873,000 viewers, down 50% from Blackhawks/Wild last year (1.8M) and down 42% from Bruins/Canadiens in 2014 (1.5M). Stars/Blues Game 3 had 837,000 later in the night; there was no comparable year-ago window.
On USA Network, Game 3 of Ducks/Predators had 470,000 viewers — down 14% from Ducks/Flames last year (545K) and down 67% from Blackhakws/Wild on CNBC in 2014 (1.4M).
(Wed. numbers via Programming Insider, Twitter; Tue. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
