Strong ratings for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final; thanks, Chicago

What did you think of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final? A little too measured and conservative? Not enough offensive flow? Or was it pretty awesome?

Whatever the reviews are, the news was good for NBC on Thursday morning: The Chicago Blackhawks’ 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, featuring a third-period stunner of a rally, earned the network a 4.23 overnight rating, the best Game 1 number on NBC other than the three-overtime Chicago vs. Boston opener from 2013.

(That game earned a 4.8 overnight, the highest since 1997’s Game 1 between the Red Wings and Flyers, which earned a 5.2 overnight.)

As expected, the local ratings in Chicago carried the national number and were amazing: a 28.0 rating, which is the third-best for a hockey game on NBC, behind the Stanley Cup winning games in 2010 and 2013. And this was a Game 1!

In Tampa, the game produced a robust 17.9 rating, by far the best for a Lightning game on any NBC sports network, including Game 7 of the previous round.

Could the ratings be higher if there wasn’t an odd, inexplicable hockey fan apathy to the Final every season? Of course. Could the ratings be higher had it been the New York Rangers instead of the Tampa Bay Lightning? Of course. (Although it should be said that the final rating will still be well ahead of the Five Thirty Eight projection for Game 1.)

Still, a strong opening number for the NHL. Let’s see if they build on it, i.e. if the Lightning can offer a Game 2 counterpunch on Saturday night.

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