Stanley Cup Final Game 1 scores big ratings for NBC

LOS ANGELES – At its peak, 5.7 million viewers were glued to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night on NBC.

The network reported that an average of 4.777 million viewers watched the 3-2 overtime win for the Kings, making it the second-most watched Final Game 1 on the network, second only to the triple-overtime opener in 2013 between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins (6.358 million viewers).

The game scored a 10.1 rating in New York, the highest ever for NBC or NBCSN in the city. (Amazing, considering so many people watched the game at Bryant Park, right bitter Penguins fans?) Los Angeles drew a 7.1 metered market rating, ranking as L.A.’s third-best ever behind Games 5 and 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, which were both elimination games.

NBC won the night for viewers ages 18-34. Oh hi, advertisers, welcome to hockey…

Here are the top 10 markets: 

So, uh, save to say Chicago checked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Blackhawks did.