Mostly thanks to Bruins fans, Game 1 was the most watched Stanley Cup Game 1 since 1999

Walk the streets of Boston and you will see more black and gold then you’ve ever seen before. Over the past few seasons the Bruins have built themselves an entertaining winning hockey team that has brought the Bruins back into the conversation of Boston sports teams.

With a roster full of young talent, the B’s have the hub of hockey on the edge of their seat, just waiting, dying for a Stanley Cup.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks was the most watched Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 since 1999 when the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars opened up the finals.

According to the Nielsen Company, the game televised by NBC averaged a 3.2 metered-market household rating. The 3.2 rating was good for a 14 percent increase from last year’s Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers Game 1 which had a 2.8 rating.

In the Boston the heart breaking Bruins loss did a 25.5 rating, in easier terms out of every five televisions that were turned on, two televisions were set to NBC.

NBC was proud to note that the Bruins and Canucks game had a higher rating then last year’s Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals Game 1 which was televised by ABC.

The high demand for Bruins hockey has been noticed by other local professional sports teams.

This coming Saturday night the Red Sox were scheduled to host the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park with first pitch scheduled for 7:10, one hour prior to puck drop in Vancouver for Game 2.

The Red Sox and MLB changed the time of the game to a 1:05 start so that the great fans of Boston are able to enjoy both the Red Sox and the Bruins without any conflict.

Bruins head coach Claude Julien appreciates the gesture.

“That’s the respect there is in Boston as far as the Red Sox are concerned. They’re big fans of ours and we’re big fans of theirs. That’s something that has been going on for a long time now. That’s what Boston is all about. They’re supportive of all their teams. Obviously, hockey for the longest of times was something so big in Boston.  It kind of lost its luster in those difficult times.  I think right now what we’re seeing is it’s certainly coming back in the right
direction.  It’s been a lot of fun being part of it.”

As a Bruins fan and Fenway Park employee, I appreciate it as well.