Stanley Cup playoff ratings are picking up steam, except on NBC.
Sunday’s Bruins-Maple Leafs first round Stanley Cup playoff Game 6 earned a 1.0 rating and 1.81 million viewers on NBC, down 29% in ratings and 23% in viewership from last year (Penguins-Flyers: 1.4, 2.34M). Compared to Senators-Bruins in 2017, ratings fell a tick but viewership increased 5% from 1.72 million.
Despite the drop, the Bruins’ series-tying win was the most-watched game of the postseason. The previous high was set by Game 2 of the series the previous weekend.
The previous night, Hurricanes-Capitals Game 5 had a 0.9 and 1.56 million — down 18% in ratings and viewership from last year (Maple Leafs-Bruins: 1.1, 1.89M) and down 31% and 24% respectively from 2017 (Canadiens-Rangers: 1.3, 2.06M). The Capitals’ blowout win ranks as the least-watched NHL playoff game on primetime broadcast television.
Rounding out the NBC slate, Stars-Predators Game 5 had a 0.8 (-11%) and 1.16 million (-20%) earlier Saturday. Through two weeks, all six playoff games on NBC have declined.
The story has been different on cable, where ratings on NBCSN have started to pick up. On Sunday night, Sharks-Golden Knights Game 6 had a 0.7 rating and 1.30 million viewers — up 47% in ratings and 59% in viewership from last year (Predators-Avalanche: 0.47, 816K) and up 5% and 15% respectively from 2017 (Capitals-Maple Leafs: 0.7, 1.13M).
Excluding Game 7s, the Sharks’ overtime win was the most-watched first round game ever on NBCSN (previously VERSUS and OLN).
On Monday night, Capitals-Hurricanes Game 6 scored 992,000 viewers on NBCSN (+18%) and Predators-Stars Game 6 568,000 on CNBC (+19%). NBCSN also drew a 0.34 and 577,000 for Jets-Blues Game 6 on Saturday night; there was no comparable window a year ago.
