Even without any broadcast network games, Stanley Cup playoff viewership continues to trend ahead of last year.
Coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 895,000 viewers through Tuesday, up 17% from last year on the NBC family of networks and up 46% excluding last year’s broadcast network games. The second round is averaging 1.3 million thus far, up 38% from last year’s cable average.
After hitting a series-high 2.02 million for Game 2 on Friday, Hurricanes-Rangers cooled off in Games 3 and 4. Sunday’s Game 3 matinee averaged a 0.6 rating and 1.31 million viewers, both series-lows. Tuesday’s Game 4 rebounded to 1.55 million viewers, trailing the series’ previous primetime games.
As for the other semifinal series, Saturday’s Avalanche-Blues Game 3 on TNT averaged a 0.7 and 1.59 million — the largest audience for a Western Conference game this postseason and the sixth-largest audience overall. Game 4 followed with 1.22 million on Monday. Last year’s Avalanche-Golden Knights series drew 1.03 million* in Game 3 and 1.24 million* in Game 4.
Earlier Monday, the clinching Panthers-Lightning Game 4 averaged 1.36 million, with the previous day’s Game 3 at a series-low 0.50 and 990,000. Last year’s all-Southeastern Lightning-Hurricanes series had a sharply lower 630,000* in Game 3 and 896,000* in Game 4.
Rounding out the recent slate, Flames-Oilers scored a 0.47 and 940,000 on ESPN2 Sunday night and 902,000 for Game 4 on ESPN Tuesday. Last year’s all-Canadian Jets-Canadiens series drew 697,000* in Game 3 and 868,000* for abbreviated coverage of Game 4.
While the lack of broadcast network games has not affected the average audience for this year’s postseason, it is worth noting that the second round has yet to hit last year’s high note — 2.33 million* for Bruins-Islanders Game 4 on NBC.
Asterisk (*) indicates that last year’s number is subject to revision due to Nielsen undercount.
