The match-up between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres marked the first US outdoor game in NHL history and earned a 2.6 overnight rating and a 5 share.
"The best regular season rating in more than a decade is a result of the tremendous efforts of the NHL and we're delighted by the success of this historic event," said Ken Schanzer, president, NBC Sports. "Sam Flood, his production team and our broadcasters also deserve credit for conveying the great atmosphere in Buffalo and producing a memorable broadcast. The Winter Classic exposed hockey to a larger audience and definitely made new fans of the game."
The overnight rating surpassed Wayne Gretzky's last game, which was broadcast on Fox in 1999.
