Following a Game 4 that averaged 3.383 million viewers on NBCSN, the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs are now the most-watched on cable in 17 years and the 2014 Stanley Cup Final is the second-most watched in 12 years through the first four games.
Game 4, in which the New York Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 to win their first game of the series, was the final playoff game on cable this season. NBC will broadcast all remaining games. For the 77 playoff games telecast on NBCSN/CNBC, the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 1.098 million viewers (and a 0.66 HH rating), ranking as the most-watched NHL playoffs on cable since 1997 (1.211 million viewers on ESPN/ESPN2). This year's average viewership is up 10% from the 2013 cable average of 1.000 million viewers (0.60 HH rating). Through four games, the 2014 Stanley Cup Final has averaged 4.652 million viewers on NBC/NBCSN, ranking as the second-most watched Stanley Cup Final through four games in 12 years (since 2002, 4.726 million). This year's series, which the Kings lead 3-1, trails only last year's Final after four games (2013, 5.341 million). The four games this year have averaged a 2.8 HH rating.Videos