The Stanley Cup Final averaged a 3.3 household rating and 5.76 million viewers on NBC (Games 1 and 4-6) and NBC Sports Network (Games 2 and 3), with the deciding sixth game earning a 4.7 rating and drawing 8.16 million viewers.
Overall, the household rating was up 83 percent over last year’s Final between the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils, while viewership was up 91 percent. It is the most-watched Cup Final since viewership records were first kept in 1994.
The reasons for the massive ratings are fairly obvious: The Bruins and Blackhawks are Original Six franchises in large, hockey-appreciative United States markets. And the series was highly competitive, with three overtime games, including a triple-OT thriller to begin the series. Full story for BostonGlobe.com subscribers.
Chad Finn can be reached at finn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeChadFinn.
