The NHL resumed play without the big ratings lift that other leagues have experienced.
Saturday’s Canadiens-Penguins NHL Stanley Cup Qualifier Game 1 averaged a 1.0 rating and 1.54 million viewers on NBC (1.57M including streaming), marking the highest rated and most-watched NHL game of the season, excluding the Winter Classic (Predators-Stars: 1.15, 1.96M).
Compared to NBC’s first primetime game of last year’s playoffs — Maple Leafs-Bruins Game 2 in the first round — ratings were flat and viewership fell 9% (from 1.71M). Montreal’s overtime win peaked with 2.06 million viewers from 11-11:15 PM ET.
Earlier in the day, Blackhawks-Oilers Game 1 averaged a 0.72 and 1.09 million (1.12M including streaming).
Chicago’s win, which peaked with 1.43 million from 5:45-6 PM, declined 4% and 8% respectively from NBC’s first afternoon game in last year’s playoffs (Hurricanes-Capitals Game 2: 0.75, 1.19M). Keep in mind it faced overlapping playoff games on NBCSN.
NBC averaged a 0.69 and 1.07 million for NHL games prior to the league’s March hiatus. Its final game before the layoff — Flyers-Rangers on March 1 — averaged a 0.7 and 1.05 million.
The NHL’s return was no match for the NBA’s return to play on Thursday night (Jazz-Pelicans: 1.3, 2.11M; Clippers-Lakers: 2.1, 3.35M). Nor could it match Major League Baseball Opening Night the previous week (Yankees-Nationals: 2.45, 4.01M; Giants-Dodgers: 1.6, 2.78M).
Figures were not immediately available for Saturday’s three games on NBCSN.
[Nielsen estimates from NBC Sports PR]
