An NHL playoffs heavy on Canadian and non-traditional teams managed double-digit increases nonetheless.
The six-game Penguins-Predators Stanley Cup Final averaged a 2.7 rating and 4.7 million viewers on NBC and NBCSN, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 17% in ratings and 19% in viewership from Penguins-Sharks last year (2.3, 3.9M) but down 16% from Blackhawks-Lightning in 2015 (3.2, 5.6M), which also lasted six games.
The Penguins’ win averaged the sixth-largest Stanley Cup Final audience in the past 14 years and the largest audience on record for a non-“Original Six” series. Including the streaming audience on NBC Sports digital platforms, the series averaged 4.8 million viewers — still ranking sixth out of the past 14 series.
The complete Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 1.4 million viewers across NBC Sports TV and digital outlets, up 11% from last year (1.3M) but down 3% from the TV-only audience in 2015 (1.4M).
Pittsburgh was the top market for the final (32.0), up 1% from last year (31.7). Nashville ranked second at a 22.0. Buffalo was the top neutral market with an 8.9, up 53% from last year (5.8) and up 25% from 2015 (7.1). Knoxville, Tenn. (7.1) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (5.5, +31%) rounded out the top five.
For the complete postseason, Pittsburgh ranked first at a 6.3 (+8%) and Nashville second (4.1). Buffalo was their at a 3.0 (+25%) with St. Louis (2.2) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (2.0). rounding out the top five.
[Series avg. from NBC Sports PR 6.12]
