HOCKEY LIFTS NBC TO DEMO VICTORY

NBC’s coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals continued to draw above-average ratings for Game 2 between Philadelphia and Chicago Monday night. The hockey game averaged 5.91 million viewers — nothing to cheer about — but, more importantly, it ranked No. 1 among adults 18-49 during its last 90 minutes when it averaged 6.46 million. It was beaten in the demo during the first 90 minutes by ABC’s The Bachelorette, which averaged 7.34 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. (Last year’s Game 2 between Pittsburgh and Detroit averaged 4.87 million.) Among total viewers, however, CBS continued to rule — even with a lineup of summer repeats. At 9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men pulled in 9.72 million viewers, while at 9:30 p.m., The Big Bang Theory captured 9.41 million viewers.