Clinching game of Stanley Cup draws highest preliminary TV rating for series in 36 years

Game 6 draws best overnight rating in 36 years

NEW YORK — The clinching game of the Stanley Cup drew the highest preliminary television rating for the series in 36 years.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ 4-3 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 to capture their first championship since 1961 earned a 5.8 overnight rating and 10 share Wednesday night on NBC.

It’s the highest since a 7.6/27 for Game 6 of the Boston-Philadelphia series in 1974 and up 41 percent from last year’s 4.1/7 for Game 6 of Detroit-Pittsburgh.

Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program. Shares represent the percentage of all homes with TVs in use at the time. Overnight ratings measure the country’s largest markets.