In the wake of Game 1 pulling good numbers for NBC on Saturday, the momentum for the network and the NHL is even better after last night. According to NBC, Game 2 of the Philadelphia-Chicago Stanley Cup Final is the best overnight rating dating back to 1975, the first year the Nielsen ratings kept records of the NHL overnight ratings.

The rating is 4.1 for last night with a 7 share. This translates to an average of just under 6 million people watching the game. Both NBC and the NHL have to be happy over this. In addition, the local ratings in Chicago and Philadelphia are blockbuster. Take a look at the release:

STANLEY CUP FINAL POSTS BEST GAME 2 OVERNIGHT ON RECORD

Hockey Again Powers NBC To Win Night

Game 2 Up 21% Over 2009

NEW YORK – June 1, 2010 — Last night’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final registered the best overnight rating for a Game 2 on record. The 4.1 overnight rating and 7 share for the Philadelphia Flyers-Chicago Blackhawks Game 2 is higher than all other Stanley Cup Final Game 2’s since 1975. NHL overnight data prior to 1975 is unavailable. NBC again won the night, as it did Saturday for Game 1, finishing No. 1 in primetime (2.4, A18-49).

Game 2 posted a 21-percent increase over last year’s Game 2 (3.4) between the then-defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby.

Last night’s game peaked at a 4.7/8 in final half-hour. Chicago led all markets with a 25.1 rating and 39 share. Philadelphia followed with an 18.5 rating and 28 share. 

The two-game average overnight rating for Games 1 and 2 is a 3.5, the best two-game average overnight rating for the first two games of a Stanley Cup Final in 11 years (3.8 on Fox in 1999, Buffalo vs. Dallas,) and up 17 percent over last year (3.0). 

Top 10 Markets

1.   Chicago                  25.1/39

2.   Philadelphia            18.5/28

3.   Buffalo                   10.2/16

4.   Indianapolis            6.3/10

5.   Pittsburgh               4.9/8

6.   Detroit                    4.4/7

7.   Seattle                    4.1/9

8.   Denver                   3.8/7

T9. Ft. Myers               3.7/6

T9. Las Vegas              3.7/6 

Pretty good numbers. And Buffalo proves that it’s a hockey town with its double digit ratings.