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Stanley Cup Finals television ratings

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See also: List of American Stanley Cup Finals television announcers and List of Canadian Stanley Cup Finals television announcers

The following is an overview of the television ratings for the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Stanley Cup Finals in both the United States and Canada.

American television

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ABC/TNT's coverage (2022–)

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Main articles: NHL on ABC and NHL on TNT
See also: Ratings for The NHL on ABC

The following table shows the ratings for each game of the Stanley Cup Finals aired on ABC in even numbered years and on TNT in odd numbered years. The numbers in parentheses represent number of viewers (measured in millions).

Key to colors
     Most viewers for each Game (1 through 7) or Average
     Fewest viewers for each Game (1 through 7) or Average
Year Network (Games) Results Avg. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
Game Avg. 3.356M 3.25M 3.381M 3.415M 4.001M 5.027M 7.662M
2024 ABC Edmonton Oilers 3,
Florida Panthers 4 		2.09
(4.166M) 		1.6
(3.115M) 		1.9
(3.558M) 		1.8
(3.352M) 		1.4
(3.085M) 		2.1
(4.150M) 		2.1
(4.237M) 		3.7
(7.662M) 		29.159M
2023 TNT
TBS (Games 1-4)
TruTV 		Florida Panthers 1,
Vegas Golden Knights 4 		1.3
(2.602M) 		1.3
(2.753M) 		1.3
(2.445M) 		1.4
(2.688M) 		1.3
(2.562M) 		1.4[1]
(2.721M) 		No Game 13.169M
2022 ABC Tampa Bay Lightning 2,
Colorado Avalanche 4 		2.31
(4.602M) 		2.18
(4.200M) 		1.70
(3.747M) 		2.20
(4.103M) 		2.44
(4.599M) 		2.42
(5.145M) 		2.89
(5.817M) 		No Game 27.611M

NBC's coverage (2006–2021)

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Main article: NHL on NBC
See also: Ratings for The NHL on NBC

The following table shows the ratings for each game of the Stanley Cup Finals. The numbers in parentheses represent number of viewers (measured in millions).

Year Network (Games) Results Avg. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
Game Avg. 3.745M 3.390M 2.612M 3.768M 4.719M 6.009M 7.636M
2021 NBC (3, 4, 5)
NBCSN (1, 2) 		Tampa Bay Lightning 4,
Montreal Canadiens 1 		1.3
(2.405M) 		0.8
(1.569M) 		0.9
(1.649M) 		1.2
(2.378M) 		1.7
(2.92M) 		1.9
(3.51M) 		No Game 12.026M
2020 NBC (1, 4, 5, 6)
NBCSN (2, 3) 		Tampa Bay Lightning 4,
Dallas Stars 2 		1.0
(2.034M) 		1.1
(2.115M) 		0.6
(1.137M) 		0.6
(1.145M) 		1.3
(2.216M) 		1.5
(2.713M) 		1.7
(2.877M) 		No Game 12.203M
2019 NBC (1, 4, 5, 6, 7)
NBCSN (2, 3) 		St. Louis Blues 4,
Boston Bruins 3 		3.0
(5.333M) 		2.9
(5.251M) 		2.0
(3.386M) 		1.6
(2.930M) 		3.1
(5.128M) 		3.2
(5.443M) 		3.6
(6.469M) 		4.9
(8.723M) 		37.33M
2018 NBC (1, 4, 5)
NBCSN (2, 3) 		Washington Capitals 4,
Vegas Golden Knights 1 		2.74
(4.786M)[2] 		2.9
(5.195M)[3] 		2.0
(3.648M)[4] 		1.9
(3.439M)[5] 		3.0
(5.061M)[6] 		3.9
(6.588M)[2] 		No Game 23.931M
2017 NBC (1, 4, 5, 6)
NBCSN (2, 3) 		Pittsburgh Penguins 4,
Nashville Predators 2 		2.7
(4.668M) 		2.8
(4.854M)[7] 		1.8
(3.180M)[8] 		1.6
(2.953M)[9] 		3.2
(5.654M)[10] 		2.6
(4.382M)[11] 		3.9
(6.985M)[12] 		No Game 28.008M
2016 NBC (1, 4, 5, 6)
NBCSN (2, 3) 		Pittsburgh Penguins 4,
San Jose Sharks 2 		2.3
(4.001M) 		2.3
(4.081M)[13] 		1.4
(2.507M)[14] 		1.5
(2.789M)[15] 		2.5
(4.234M)[15] 		3.0
(5.009M)[16] 		3.1
(5.407M)[17] 		No Game 24.027M
2015 NBC (1, 2, 5, 6)
NBCSN (3, 4) 		Chicago Blackhawks 4,
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 		3.2
(5.530M) 		3.3
(5.547M)[18] 		3.9
(6.549M)[19] 		2.2
(3.896M)[20] 		2.2
(3.914M)[21] 		3.0
(5.267M)[22] 		4.4
(8.005M)[23] 		No Game 33.178M
2014 NBC (1, 2, 5)
NBCSN (3, 4) 		Los Angeles Kings 4,
New York Rangers 1 		3.0
(4.697M) 		3.0
(4.777M)[24] 		3.7
(6.413M)[25] 		1.7
(2.893M)[26] 		2.0
(3.383M)[27] 		3.7
(6.021M)[28] 		No Game 23.487M
2013 NBC (1, 4, 5, 6)
NBCSN (2, 3) 		Chicago Blackhawks 4,
Boston Bruins 2 		3.3
(5.762M) 		3.9
(6.358M) 		2.0
(3.964M) 		2.3
(4.001M) 		3.8
(6.459M) 		3.2
(5.632M) 		4.7
(8.160M) 		No Game 34.574M
2012 NBC (1, 2, 5, 6)
NBCSN (3, 4) 		Los Angeles Kings 4,
New Jersey Devils 2 		1.8
(2.979M) 		1.8
(2.900M) 		1.7
(2.900M) 		1.0
(1.743M) 		1.2
(2.069M) 		2.0
(3.331M) 		3.1
(4.930M) 		No Game 17.873M
2011 NBC (1, 2, 5, 6, 7)
Versus (3, 4) 		Boston Bruins 4,
Vancouver Canucks 3 		2.7
(4.564M) 		2.7
(4.562M) 		2.2
(3.569M) 		1.6
(2.757M) 		1.6
(2.714M) 		2.6
(4.319M) 		3.2
(5.484M) 		4.8
(8.540M) 		32.003M
2010 NBC (1, 2, 5, 6)
Versus (3, 4) 		Chicago Blackhawks 4,
Philadelphia Flyers 2 		3.1
(5.196M) 		2.8
(4.428M)[29] 		4.1
(5.892M)[30][31] 		2.0
(3.600M) 		1.7
(3.126M)[32] 		3.3
(5.848M)[33] 		4.7
(8.279M)[34] 		No Game 31.173M
2009 NBC (1, 2, 5, 6, 7)
Versus (3, 4) 		Pittsburgh Penguins 4,
Detroit Red Wings 3 		2.7
(4.905M) 		2.4
(4.300M) 		3.1
(5.386M) 		1.7
(2.955M) 		1.8
(3.448M) 		2.4
(4.446M) 		3.4
(5.814M) 		4.3
(7.992M) 		34.341M
2008 NBC (3, 4, 5, 6)
Versus (1, 2) 		Detroit Red Wings 4,
Pittsburgh Penguins 2 		2.6
(4.345M) 		1.2
(2.352M) 		1.3
(2.608M) 		2.4
(4.041M) 		2.3
(4.044M) 		3.8
(6.247M) 		4.0
(6.779M) 		No Game 26.071M
2007 NBC (3, 4, 5)
Versus (1, 2) 		Anaheim Ducks 4,
Ottawa Senators 1 		1.2
(1.735M) 		0.5
(769K) 		0.4
(576K) 		1.1
(1.631M) 		1.9
(2.797M) 		1.8
(2.902M) 		No Game
2006 NBC (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
OLN (1, 2) 		Carolina Hurricanes 4,
Edmonton Oilers 3 		1.8
(2.780M) 		0.6
(861K) 		0.5
(875K) 		1.6
(2.542M) 		2.6
(3.127M) 		2.5
(3.850M) 		1.9
(2.921M) 		3.3
(5.290M) 		19.466M
2005 Series cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout

ABC's coverage (2000–2004)

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Main article: NHL on ABC
Year Teams Games Carried Rating
2004 Tampa Bay Lightning–Calgary Flames 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 2.6
2003 New Jersey Devils–Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 3,[35] 4, 5, 6, 7 2.9
2002 Detroit Red Wings–Carolina Hurricanes 3, 4, 5 3.6
2001 Colorado Avalanche–New Jersey Devils 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 3.3
2000 New Jersey Devils–Dallas Stars 3, 4, 5,[36] 6 3.7

Fox's coverage (1995–1999)

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Main article: NHL on Fox
Year Teams Games Carried Rating
1999 Dallas Stars–Buffalo Sabres 1, 2, 5 3.4
1998 Detroit Red Wings–Washington Capitals 1 3.3
1997 Detroit Red Wings–Philadelphia Flyers 1 4.0
1996 Colorado Avalanche–Florida Panthers 1, 3 3.6
1995 New Jersey Devils–Detroit Red Wings 1, 4 3.4

Most watched games in the U.S.

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Most watched Stanley Cup Finals games (1966–present)

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Source: [1]

  1. May 18, 1971, Montreal-Chicago – game seven, 12.41 million, 20.6 rating CBS
  2. May 11, 1972, Boston-NY Rangers – game six, 10.93 million, 17.6 rating CBS
  3. May 10, 1973, Montreal-Chicago – game six, 9.41 million, 15.2 rating NBC
  4. June 12, 2019, St. Louis-Boston - game seven, 8.72 million, 4.9 rating NBC
  5. June 15, 2011, Boston-Vancouver – game seven, 8.54 million, 4.8 rating, 8 share NBC
  6. April 30, 1972, NY Rangers-Boston – game one, 8.51 million, 13.7 rating CBS
  7. May 12, 1974, Boston-Philadelphia – game three, 8.30 million, 12.5 rating NBC
  8. June 9, 2010, Chicago-Philadelphia – game six, 8.28 million, 4.7 rating, 6 share, NBC
  9. May 7, 1972, Boston-NY Rangers – game four, 8.26 million, 13.3 rating CBS
  10. June 24, 2013, Chicago-Boston — game six, 8.16 million, 4.7 rating, NBC
  11. June 15, 2015, Chicago-Tampa Bay – game six, 8 million, 4.4 rating, 8 share, NBC[37]

Stanley Cup game seven viewership history (1966–present)

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As per Fang's Bites.

  1. May 18, 1971, Montreal-Chicago, 12.41 million, 20.6 rating CBS
  2. June 12, 2019, St. Louis-Boston, 8.72 million, 4.9 rating, NBC
  3. June 15, 2011, Boston-Vancouver, 8.54 million, 4.8 rating, NBC
  4. June 12, 2009, Pittsburgh-Detroit, 7.99 million, 4.3 rating, NBC
  5. June 24, 2024, Edmonton-Florida, 7.66 million, 4.1 rating, ABC
  6. June 9, 2003, Anaheim-New Jersey, 7.17 million, 4.9 million households, 4.6 rating, ABC
  7. June 9, 2001, New Jersey-Colorado, 6.95 million, 4.268 million households, 4.2 rating, ABC
  8. June 7, 2004, Calgary-Tampa Bay, 6.29 million, 4.5 million households, 4.2 rating, ABC
  9. June 14, 1994, NY Rangers-Vancouver, 5.44 million, 3.28 million households,[38] 5.2 rating (6.9 rating when including MSG network),[39] ESPN
  10. June 19, 2006, Edmonton-Carolina, 5.29 million, 3.3 rating, NBC
  11. May 31, 1987, Edmonton-Philadelphia, 2.14 million households, ESPN

Canadian television

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  • 2021 – The series averaged 3.6 million viewers on CBC and Sportsnet, making it the most watched Finals in Canada since 2011.[40]
  • 2011 – Game seven was second most-watched CBC Sports program, drawing an average of 8.76 million viewers and trailing only the men's gold medal game at the 2002 Winter Olympics.[41]
  • 2010 – Game one was viewed by 3.164 million people on CBC.[42] Game six was the most-watched All-American Stanley Cup Finals game, with 4.077 million viewers.[43] The Final averaged 3.107 million viewers, up 44 percent from 2009.[43]
  • 2009 – Game seven drew an average of 3.529 million viewers to the CBC. However, it averaged 2.154 million viewers for the seven-game rematch, down 7% from the 2008 final.[44]
  • 1994 – With an average Canadian audience of 4.957 million viewers, game seven was the most watched CBC Sports program until the 10.6 million viewers for the men's ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2002 Winter Olympics, when Canada won its first Olympic ice hockey gold medal since the 1952 Winter Olympics.[45][46] Bob Cole said that Game 7 was one of his most memorable TV games.[47]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lewis, Jon (June 14, 2023). "Cup Final ends with least-watched Game 5 in 29 years". SportsMediaWatch.com. Jon Lewis. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Capitals Cup-Clinching Victory Last Night on NBC Is Most-Watched Stanley Cup Final Game 5 in 16 Years". NBC Sports Group. June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "Impressive Start For Stanley Cup Final". Sports Media Watch. May 29, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  4. ^ "NBC Sports PR Tweet". Twitter. May 31, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  5. ^ "SCF Game 3 Overnights Hit Another Three-Year High". Sports Media Watch. June 3, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  6. ^ "Stanley Cup Still Up After Game 4 Drop". Sports Media Watch. June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  7. ^ Paulsen (May 31, 2016). "Preds-Pens Opens With Third-Best Game 1 Audience Since '99". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  8. ^ Paulsen (June 1, 2017). "Preds-Pens Delivers Another Solid Audience in Game 2". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  9. ^ Paulsen (June 5, 2017). "Smaller Bump For Pens-Preds Game 3". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  10. ^ Paulsen (June 6, 2017). "Penguins-Predators Nears Game 4 Record on NBC". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  11. ^ Paulsen (June 9, 2017). "Stanley Cup Final Hits Five-Year Game 5 Low". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  12. ^ Paulsen (June 12, 2017). "Penguins' Clincher Among Top NHL Games in Two Decades". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  13. ^ Paulsen (June 1, 2016). "Stanley Cup Final Starts Slowly Opposite NBA". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  14. ^ Paulsen (June 3, 2016). "Stanley Cup Final Continues to Lag Behind Previous Years". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  15. ^ a b Paulsen (June 8, 2016). "After Another Drop For Game 3, Stanley Cup Final Up in Game 4". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  16. ^ Paulsen (June 10, 2016). "Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Pulls Even With Last Year". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  17. ^ NBC Sports PR (June 13, 2016). "2016 Stanley Cup Finals is Most-Watched Non-Original Six Series in 15 Years". NBC Sports Pressbox. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  18. ^ "NBC's live coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals may result in greater adjustments than usual in the final nationals". TV by the Numbers. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Ratings - American Pharoah's Triple Crown-Winning Run & Blackhawks-Lightning Stanley Cup Game 2 Post Viewership Milestones on NBC's "Championship Saturday" - TheFutonCritic.com". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  20. ^ Paulsen (9 June 2015). "Lightning/Blackhawks Game 3 Third-Best SCF Game on Cable Since 2002". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  21. ^ Paulsen (12 June 2015). "NBCSN Earns Another Near-Record Audience For Lightning/Blackhawks". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  22. ^ Paulsen (15 June 2015). "Blackhawks/Lightning Game 5 Down, But Not Bad For Saturday Night". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  23. ^ "2015 STANLEY CUP FINAL IS SECOND-MOST WATCHED ON RECORD". NBC Sports Pressbox. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  24. ^ Paulsen (5 June 2014). "Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Pretty Good Start As 4.8M Watch Rangers/Kings Game 1". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  25. ^ Paulsen (8 June 2014). "Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Belmont Boosts Rangers/Kings to Multi-Year High". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  26. ^ Bibel, Sarah (10 June 2014). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta' Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Major Crimes', 'Hit The Floor', 'Longmire' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  27. ^ "2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Most-Watched on Cable in 17 Years". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  28. ^ Paulsen (14 June 2014). "Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Kings' Coronation Best Game 5 in Six Years". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  29. ^ Lepore, Steve (30 May 2010). "NBC Scores Best Game 1 Rating in 11 Years". Puck The Media. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  30. ^ Gorman, Bill (1 June 2010). "TV Ratings Monday: NHL Stanley Cup Finals Edges Bachelorette & True Beauty". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  31. ^ Lepore, Steve (1 June 2010). "NBC Sports: Game 2 Ratings Best Since At Least 1975". Puck The Media. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  32. ^ Paulsen (2010-06-08). "Flyers/Blackhawks Game 4 Down on Versus". Sports Media Watch.
  33. ^ Lepore, Steve (2010-06-08). "Final Numbers For Game 5". Puck The Media.
  34. ^ Worley, Brandon (June 10, 2010). "2010 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 highest rated NHL game since 1974". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  35. ^ Farber, Michael (June 14, 2004). "Dark Days Ahead". Sports Illustrated. If recent NHL news has been grim—the rating for Game 3 of the final on ABC was 1.4, the second lowest for any prime-time show in the history of the major networks—the league's short-term prospects are even bleaker.
  36. ^ Walters, John (June 19, 2000). "A Small Victory". Sports Illustrated. On June 7, NBC televised Game 1 of the NBA Finals and earned a 10.5 rating in the Nielsens. One night later ABC aired Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals, a triple-overtime duel for the ages in which the Stars defeated the Devils 1-0. That match earned a 4.2. That was the highest national rating a hockey game had received since 1980, when the Cup-deciding Flyers-Islanders Game 6 pulled a 4.4 on CBS.
  37. ^ "Monday Final Nationals: 2015 Stanley Cup Final Clincher on NBC Ranks as Fourth Most-Watched NHL Telecast Since 1995". Archived from the original on 2015-06-21. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  38. ^ "Hb0 In Major Leagues For 20th Wimbledon". tribunedigital-thecourant. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  39. ^ "Game 7 a Cable-Ratings High". The New York Times. 16 June 1994.
  40. ^ "This is how it ends for the NHL on NBC — a small ratings bump for the Stanley Cup Final". The Athletic. July 9, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021. The broadcast on Sportsnet/CBC averaged 4.1 million for Game 5 and 3.6 million for the series
  41. ^ "game seven smashes Hockey Night in Canada record". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 16, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  42. ^ Lepore, Steve (1 June 2010). "Game 1 Draws 3 Million to CBC". Puck The Media. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  43. ^ a b "NHL draws highest TV ratings in 36 years". CBC Sports. Canadian Press. June 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  44. ^ "Deciding Game of Stanley Cup Draws More than 3.5 Million Viewers to CBC". NHL.com. Canadian Press. 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  45. ^ "Babych haunted by Canucks' Game 7 loss in 1994". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Canadian Press. June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  46. ^ Mckay, John (February 26, 2002). "Record number of viewers tune in hockey game". Canadian Press. A record-busting 8.7 million Canadians were...watching the Canadian men's hockey team snatch gold from the United States in Salt Lake City. The television audience actually peaked at 10.6 million, the CBC said Monday...CBC says that prior to Sunday, its highest-rated sports show was Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks, which attracted an average of 4.97 million viewers
  47. ^ Houston, William (November 6, 1997). "Cole's Close Call". The Globe and Mail. p. S4. Cole's three most memorable TV games: 1. Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals (Edmonton 3, Philadelphia 1). The Oilers at their peak. 2. Game 3 of 1996 World Cup of Hockey Final (United States 5, Canada 2). 'I was devastated.' 3. Game 7, 1994 Stanley Cup Finals (New York Rangers 3, Vancouver 2). 'A great series.'
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