NHL Playoff TV Ratings: Kings Vs. Coyotes Game 5 Hits Series High

The 2012 Western Conference Final finished on an up note and, despite somewhat disappointing numbers, still did better than last year.

The game was helped by record-setting numbers locally. According to a spokesperson from NBC Sports, the game drew a 2.9 rating in Los Angeles, and a 5.8 in Phoenix. Those are both records for the NHL in these two markets, and NBC Sports Network was the No. 1 cable network in both cities on Wednesday night.

The Los Angeles numbers are particularly impressive, given that Anaheim -- which counts in the LA market -- had two Stanley Cup Final games on VERSUS in 2007. For the record, the rating in LA for Anaheim’s two Stanley Cup Final games on VERSUS were a 1.7 for Game 1 and an 0.9 for Game 2.

The 2012 Western Conference Final averaged 996,000 viewers in four telecasts on NBC Sports Network. This is up 15 percent from the 2011 Western Conference Final, which averaged 862,500 viewers for four telecasts on VERSUS.

Here’s a look at full viewership for the series as compared to last season.

Viewership for the 2012 Western Conference Final (LA vs. PHX) on NBC Sports Network

Game 1 (5/13/12): 1.10 million viewers
Game 2 (5/15/12): 835,000
Game 3 (5/17/12): 827,000
Game 5 (5/22/12): 1.21 million
Series Average on NBCSN: 996,000

Viewership for the 2011 Western Conference Final (SJ vs. VAN) on VERSUS

Game 1 (5/15/11): 1.0 million
Game 2 (5/18/11): 847,000
Game 3 (5/20/11): 714,000
Game 5 (5/24/11): 879,000
Series Average on VERSUS: 862,000

Game 4 of both series aired on NBC.