NBC's STANLEY CUP FINALS Is 2nd Most Watched Game 1 Ever

Wednesday night's triple overtime thriller (8 p.m.-1:06 a.m. ET) between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks in the inaugural game of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final averaged nearly 6.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched Stanley Cup Final Game 1 in 16 years, the most-watched Game 1 ever on NBC (since 2006), and up 119% vs. last year.

The Game -- in which the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins, 4-3, in an Epic three overtimes -- drew a 3.9 household rating and 6.358 million viewers, up 117% and 119%, respectively, vs. last year (L.A.-N.J., 1.8 rating, 2.902 million).

The 6.358 million viewers are the most to watch a Stanley Cup Final Game 1 in 16 years, just 9,000 viewers off Detroit-Philadelphia on FOX in 1997 (6.367 million), which stands as the most-watched Game 1 ever (since the advent of people meters in 1987). Last night's game now stands as the second-most watched Game 1.

Viewership for The Game peaked in the first overtime period (11:15-11:30 p.m. ET), which was filled with a flurry of action, with nearly 7.5 million viewers (7.444 million).

Bruins-Blackhawks was the No. 1 program of the day across both broadcast and cable among Adults 18-49 (tie, 2.5), Men 18-49 (3.1) and Men 25-54 (3.5). NBC was the top network in Primetime (8-11 p.m. ET) for all key male demographics.

NBC is averaging 3.083 million viewers for its coverage of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, up 38% vs. the same time period in 2012 (2.226 million). For the entire playoffs, including last night's game, NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC have combined to average 1.191 million viewers per game, up 7% vs. last year (1.116 million).

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Boston received a 28.1 household rating, up 10% vs. the Bruins' Game 1 rating for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final on NBC in the market (25.5). Chicago received a 25.1 household rating, up 49% compared to the Blackhawks' Game 1 rating for the 2010 Stanley Cup Final on NBC in the market (16.9).

NBC was the No. 1 rated network overall in Boston and Chicago during the 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. ET time period. Following are the top five markets:

Boston (28.1)
Chicago (25.1)
Providence (18.5)
Buffalo (8.5)
Milwaukee (6.1)

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