If you were in Pittsburgh, odd are you were watching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals on June 12th. The ratings are in and they are staggering. Nielson reports that 485,000 televisions local Pittsburghers were glued to the set to watch; good for a 42.2 rating locally.

Regionally the ratings were great too as 61% of folks were watching the game in numbers that you would normally expect to see from an NFL Super Bowl match up involving the Steelers.

All this means that hockey is widely popular here in the the Pittsburgh area and that advertisers probably got more than their money’s worth. I just don’t see them having paid anywhere near the rates that such ratings would have demanded.

The NHL must be very happy. I know the Penguins are.

Now if only the NHL can use this to help them get back in ESPNs good graces?