Capitals-Penguins ratings continue to trend behind last year, but the series is still the biggest draw of the second round.
Thursday’s Capitals-Penguins Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 4 earned a 1.0 rating and 1.75 million viewers on NBCSN, up 43% in ratings and 63% in viewership from last year (Senators-Rangers: 0.7, 1.1M) and up 43% and 58% respectively from 2016 (Stars-Blues: 0.7, 1.1M).
The Penguins’ series-tying win was the most-watched game of the playoffs on cable.
Compared to Game 4 of the same series last year, viewership slipped 4% from 1.82 million. All four games have declined from last year’s series between the teams.
Later Thursday night, Predators-Jets Game 4 had a 0.65 and 1.0 million. There was no comparable window last year.
On Wednesday, Game 3 of Bruins-Lightning drew a 0.9 (-11%) and 1.5 million (-17%). Last year’s comparable game was Penguins-Capitals.
In the nightcap, Golden Knights-Sharks Game 4 had a 0.6 (+26%) and 1.0 million (+28%).
Overall, the second round has done well so far for NBC Sports. Seven of the 11 windows that can be compared to last year have posted an increase in ratings and/or viewership.
