Overnight ratings fell double-digits for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, but still ranked well historically.
Thursday’s Blues-Bruins Stanley Cup Final Game 5 earned a 4.0 overnight rating on NBC, down 20% from Capitals-Golden Knights last year (5.0), but up 29% from Predators-Penguins in 2017 (3.1).
The 4.0 is tied as the third-highest for Game 5 of the final since 2008 (Penguins-Red Wings: 4.4), behind two series-clinchers — Capitals-Golden Knights last year and Rangers-Kings in 2014 (4.6).
Overnights for all five games flat or down compared to last year, but the two previous games on NBC (Games 1 and 4) each finished with an increase in the final nationals. That is unlikely to happen with Game 5, given the steeper 20% drop.
St. Louis led all markets for the Blues’ win with a 30.1 rating, up 8% from Game 4 (28.0) and the market’s highest NHL rating ever on NBC Sports. The previous high was a 29.0 for Game 1.
Boston ranked second at a 25.3, up 4% from Bruins-Blackhawks in 2013, which aired on a Saturday night (24.4), but down 2% from Bruins-Canucks in 2011 (25.8). The 25.3 marked a 3% dip from the series-high 26.0 in Game 4.
Bruins secondary market Providence ranked third at a 21.2. Buffalo was the top neutral market at a 10.1, down 10% from last year (11.2). Pittsburgh rounded out the top five at a 6.0, down 44% from last year (10.65).
[Numbers from NBC Sports PR]
