The NHL’s first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs drew its highest average U.S. television audience on record, with both TNT Sports and ESPN each averaging 1.2 million viewers per game.
TNT Sports, across TNT, TBS, truTV, and HBO Max, posted a 68% increase from last season — its strongest opening round since acquiring NHL rights in 2021–22. ESPN, broadcasting 22 games, saw a 69% jump from 2025 and its most-watched first round since regaining NHL rights five years ago. The NHL confirmed the combined 1.2 million average marks an all-time high for the opening round.
The surge comes after a highly successful 2026 Winter Olympics, highlighted by the United States’ thrilling 2–1 overtime victory over Canada in the gold-medal game. The NHL has historically enjoyed a ratings boost following strong Olympic performances.
- The Buffalo Sabres ended the league’s longest playoff drought (14 years) by winning the Atlantic Division.
- The Battle of Pennsylvania pitted the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Philadelphia Flyers, both of whom clinched playoff spots in the final days of the regular season.
- The Utah Mammoth made their playoff debut in just their second season as a franchise.
- The Vegas Golden Knights played under new head coach John Tortorella, who was hired with only eight games left in the regular season.
Another factor behind the ratings growth may be the NHL’s decision to keep all playoff games on traditional broadcast and cable television (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT), with streaming options on ESPN+ and HBO Max. This contrasts with the NBA, which placed some playoff games exclusively on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Peacock, potentially driving viewers toward more accessible NHL coverage.