The ratings are not exactly great, but the Stanley Cup Final continues to comfortably top last year.
Monday’s Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final (Lightning-Canadiens) averaged a 1.65 rating and 2.92 million viewers on NBC (3.01M including additional streaming data not tracked by Nielsen) — up 32% in ratings and viewership from Game 4 in the “bubble” last September (Lightning-Stars: 1.25, 2.22M), but down 46% and 43% respectively from 2019 (Bruins-Blues: 3.05, 5.13M).
The Canadiens’ season-saving win, which peaked with 3.38 million from 11 PM ET through the conclusion, ranks as the most-watched game of the postseason. It trails only Islanders-Flyers Game 7 in the “bubble” last September — which followed the Kentucky Derby — as the most-watched NHL game since the league returned from hiatus last August (2.96M).
Game 3 last Friday averaged a 1.2 and 2.38 million on NBC (2.44M including additional streaming data), up 89% in ratings and 97% in viewership from last year (0.65, 1.21M), but down 22% and 19% respectively from 2019 (1.6, 2.93M), both of which aired on NBCSN.
After a decline for Game 1, which dropped down the dial to NBCSN after airing on NBC last year, the subsequent three games of the Cup Final have increased substantially over the “bubble.”
The full series is averaging 2.24 million viewers entering Game 5, up 29% from last year. Compared to the previous Cup final to involve a Canadian team, viewership is down 34% from Canucks-Bruins in 2011 (3.39M). Keep in mind that series featured a traditional “Original Six” team. Versus previous finals to pit a Canadian team against a Sun Belt opponent, viewership is up 52% from Senators-Ducks in 2007 (1.47M) and 20% from Oilers-Hurricanes in 2006 (1.86M).
[Nielsen estimates from NBC, Spoiler TV 7.8]
