Stanley Cup Finals television ratings explained

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

ABC/TNT's coverage (2022–)

See main article: 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 ESPN+	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 ESPN+	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)

See 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
	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
	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)	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)	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)

See main article: NHL on ABC.

Year	Teams	Games Carried	Rating
	Tampa Bay Lightning–Calgary Flames	3, 4, 5, 6, 7	2.6
		3,^[35] 4, 5, 6, 7	2.9
		3, 4, 5	3.6
	Colorado Avalanche–New Jersey Devils	3, 4, 5, 6, 7	3.3
		3, 4, 5,^[36] 6	3.7

Fox's coverage (1995–1999)

See main article: NHL on Fox.

Year	Teams	Games Carried	Rating
		1, 2, 5	3.4
		1	3.3
		1	4.0
	Colorado Avalanche–Florida Panthers	1, 3	3.6
		1, 4	3.4

Most watched games in the U.S.

Most watched Stanley Cup Finals games (1966–present)

Source: https://www.sbnation.com/2013/6/25/4463978/stanley-cup-final-tv-ratings-game-6-is-ninth-most-watched-broadcast

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)

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

• – The series averaged 3.6 million viewers on CBC and Sportsnet, making it the most watched Finals in Canada since 2011.^[40]
• – 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]
• – Game one was viewed by 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]
• – 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]
• – 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

• Super Bowl television ratings
• World Series television ratings
• NBA Finals television ratings
• MLS Cup television ratings

External links

• NHL Stanley Cup Finals TV Ratings, 1995-2008
• Sports Media Watch: Ratings
  • Stanley Cup Final Numbers Game
  • http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2012/06/stanley-cup-final-games-5-and-6-of-kingsdevils-down-from-last-year/
  • http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2013/06/stanley-cup-final-bshawks-earns-second-largest-game-1-audience/
  • http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2013/06/2013-stanley-cup-final-most-viewed-since-at-least-94/
• Stanley Cup Final Game 7 Becomes The Most Watched NHL Game In 38 Years
• https://web.archive.org/web/20120615201021/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/06/12/2012-nhl-stanley-cup-final-scores-3rd-lowest-tv-viewership-in-at-least-17-years/137658/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20110618032503/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/16/stanley-cup-final-game-7-is-most-watched-nhl-game-in-38-years/95850/
• http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/25/2013-stanley-cup-final-delivers-record-ratings-for-nbc/

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cup Final ends with least-watched Game 5 in 29 years. Lewis. Jon. Jon Lewis. June 14, 2023. SportsMediaWatch.com. June 15, 2023.
2. Web site: Capitals Cup-Clinching Victory Last Night on NBC Is Most-Watched Stanley Cup Final Game 5 in 16 Years. June 8, 2018. NBC Sports Group. June 9, 2018.
3. Web site: Impressive Start For Stanley Cup Final. May 29, 2018. Sports Media Watch. June 9, 2018.
4. Web site: NBC Sports PR Tweet. May 31, 2018. Twitter. June 9, 2018.
5. Web site: SCF Game 3 Overnights Hit Another Three-Year High. June 3, 2018. Sports Media Watch. June 9, 2018.
6. Web site: Stanley Cup Still Up After Game 4 Drop. June 5, 2018. Sports Media Watch. June 9, 2018.
7. Web site: Preds-Pens Opens With Third-Best Game 1 Audience Since '99. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. May 31, 2016. June 6, 2017.
8. Web site: Preds-Pens Delivers Another Solid Audience in Game 2. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 1, 2017. June 6, 2017.
9. Web site: Smaller Bump For Pens-Preds Game 3. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 5, 2017. June 6, 2017.
10. Web site: Penguins-Predators Nears Game 4 Record on NBC. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 6, 2017. June 6, 2017.
11. Web site: Stanley Cup Final Hits Five-Year Game 5 Low. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 9, 2017. June 9, 2017.
12. Web site: Penguins' Clincher Among Top NHL Games in Two Decades. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 12, 2017. June 12, 2017.
13. Web site: Stanley Cup Final Starts Slowly Opposite NBA. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 1, 2016. 1 June 2016.
14. Web site: Stanley Cup Final Continues to Lag Behind Previous Years. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 3, 2016. 3 June 2016.
15. Web site: After Another Drop For Game 3, Stanley Cup Final Up in Game 4. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 8, 2016. 8 June 2016.
16. Web site: Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Pulls Even With Last Year. Paulsen. Sports Media Watch. June 10, 2016. 10 June 2016.
17. Web site: 2016 Stanley Cup Finals is Most-Watched Non-Original Six Series in 15 Years. NBC Sports PR. NBC Sports Pressbox. June 13, 2016. 13 June 2016.
18. Web site: NBC's live coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals may result in greater adjustments than usual in the final nationals.. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601104706/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/05/31/tv-ratings-monday-may-30-2016/. dead. 1 June 2016. 30 May 2016. TV by the Numbers. 30 May 2016.
19. Web site: Ratings - American Pharoah's Triple Crown-Winning Run & Blackhawks-Lightning Stanley Cup Game 2 Post Viewership Milestones on NBC's "Championship Saturday" - TheFutonCritic.com. 3 April 2016.
20. Web site: Paulsen. Lightning/Blackhawks Game 3 Third-Best SCF Game on Cable Since 2002. Sports Media Watch. 9 June 2015. 10 June 2015.
21. Web site: NBCSN Earns Another Near-Record Audience For Lightning/Blackhawks. Paulsen. 12 June 2015 . 3 April 2016.
22. Web site: Blackhawks/Lightning Game 5 Down, But Not Bad For Saturday Night. Paulsen. 15 June 2015 . 3 April 2016.
23. Web site: 2015 STANLEY CUP FINAL IS SECOND-MOST WATCHED ON RECORD. NBC Sports Pressbox. 16 June 2015 . 3 April 2016.
24. Web site: Paulsen. Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Pretty Good Start As 4.8M Watch Rangers/Kings Game 1. Sports Media Watch. 5 June 2014. 11 June 2014.
25. Web site: Paulsen. Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Belmont Boosts Rangers/Kings to Multi-Year High. Sports Media Watch. 8 June 2014. 11 June 2014.
26. Web site: Bibel. Sarah. Monday Cable Ratings: 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta' Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Major Crimes', 'Hit The Floor', 'Longmire' & More. https://web.archive.org/web/20140613013931/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/06/10/monday-cable-ratings-love-hip-hop-atlanta-wins-night-wwe-raw-major-crimes-hit-the-floor-longmire-more/272103/. dead. 13 June 2014. TV by the Numbers. 10 June 2014. 11 June 2014.
27. Web site: 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Most-Watched on Cable in 17 Years. https://web.archive.org/web/20140618082643/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/06/12/2014-stanley-cup-playoffs-are-most-watched-on-cable-in-17-years/273115/. dead. 18 June 2014. TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com. 3 April 2016.
28. Web site: Paulsen. Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Kings' Coronation Best Game 5 in Six Years. Sports Media Watch. 14 June 2014. 14 June 2014.
29. Web site: Lepore. Steve. NBC Scores Best Game 1 Rating in 11 Years. Puck The Media. 30 May 2010. 30 May 2010.
30. Web site: Gorman. Bill. TV Ratings Monday: NHL Stanley Cup Finals Edges Bachelorette & True Beauty. TV by the Numbers. 1 June 2010. 1 June 2010. 3 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100603210738/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/01/tv-ratings-monday/52789. dead.
31. Web site: Lepore. Steve. NBC Sports: Game 2 Ratings Best Since At Least 1975. Puck The Media. 1 June 2010. 1 June 2010.
32. Web site: Paulsen. Flyers/Blackhawks Game 4 Down on Versus. Sports Media Watch. 2010-06-08.
33. Web site: Lepore. Steve. Final Numbers For Game 5. Puck The Media. 2010-06-08.
34. Web site: 2010 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 highest rated NHL game since 1974. NBC Sports. Brandon. Worley. June 10, 2010. 2010-06-10.
35. Dark Days Ahead. 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.. Michael. Farber. Sports Illustrated. June 14, 2004.
36. A Small Victory. June 19, 2000. John. Walters. 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, when the Cup-deciding Flyers-Islanders Game 6 pulled a 4.4 on CBS..
37. Web site: Monday Final Nationals: 2015 Stanley Cup Final Clincher on NBC Ranks as Fourth Most-Watched NHL Telecast Since 1995 . 2015-06-18 . 2015-06-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150621224032/http://www.tvmediainsights.com/tv-ratings/monday-final-nationals-2015-stanley-cup-final-clincher-ranks-as-fourth-most-watched-nhl-telecast-since-1995/ . dead .
38. Web site: Hb0 In Major Leagues For 20th Wimbledon. tribunedigital-thecourant. 3 April 2016.
39. News: Game 7 a Cable-Ratings High . The New York Times . 16 June 1994.
40. News: This is how it ends for the NHL on NBC — a small ratings bump for the Stanley Cup Final. July 9, 2021. The Athletic. August 16, 2021. The broadcast on Sportsnet/CBC averaged 4.1 million for Game 5 and 3.6 million for the series.
41. News: game seven smashes Hockey Night in Canada record. June 16, 2011. CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 16, 2011.
42. Web site: Lepore. Steve. Game 1 Draws 3 Million to CBC. Puck The Media. 1 June 2010. 1 June 2010.
43. News: NHL draws highest TV ratings in 36 years. June 10, 2010. 2010-06-10. Canadian Press. CBC Sports.
44. News: Deciding Game of Stanley Cup Draws More than 3.5 Million Viewers to CBC. NHL.com. Canadian Press. 2009-06-15. 2009-06-16.
45. News: Babych haunted by Canucks' Game 7 loss in 1994. June 15, 2011. June 15, 2011. Canadian Press. CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
46. News: Record number of viewers tune in hockey game. Mckay. John. February 26, 2002. 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. News: Cole's Close Call. November 6, 1997. William. Houston. The Globe and Mail. 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.'. S4.