ST. LOUIS - Thursday's Game 1 of the Sharks-Blues Western Conference Quarterfinal series was the highest-rated Blues telecast since 2002. The Blues double overtime loss generated a 9.7 household rating in the St. Louis DMA and made FOX Sports Midwest the top-rated channel in prime time.

Viewership peaked at a 15.6 rating and 24 share from 9:45-10 p.m.; that 15.6 equates to more than 195,000 St. Louis households tuning in at that time.

Data is courtesy of The Nielsen Company.

The 9.7 was the highest rating for a Blues game since May 7, 2002, when Game 3 of Blues-Red Wings second-round series posted a 12.3 on KPLR-TV. It was the third highest-rated Blues game ever on FOX Sports Midwest, behind two second-round wins over Dallas in 2001 [Game 3 on May 1, 2001 (9.9) and Game 4 on May 3, 2001 (9.8)].

Game 2 of the Sharks-Blues series is Saturday on FOX Sports Midwest. Pregame coverage starts at 6 p.m., with opening faceoff at 6:30 p.m.