The 2024 Stanley Cup Final continues its hot start, with Game 2 following the path of increases set by Game 1.
Monday’s Florida Panthers win averaged 3.56 million viewers on ABC up 46% from Panthers-Golden Knights last year on TNT and truTV (2.415 million). However, Florida’s win over the Edmonton Oilers was down 5% from Lightning-Avalanche two years ago on ABC (3.75 million), which aired on a Saturday night.
Despite being down from 2022, this year’s Game 2 was still the second most-watched Game 2 since 2018’s Capitals-Golden Knights series, which averaged 3.65 million viewers. The 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023 Game 2s all aired on cable.
Game 1 averaged 3.1 million viewers on ABC, which was up from 2023 on cable and down from 2022 on broadcast. That game also clocked in ahead of the Game 1 matchups in 2020 and 2021.
Including the audience from Canada, the full North American audience for Game 2 was 6.8 million viewers, an increase of 61% from last year, per the NHL.
The full North American audience for Game 1 was 7.1 million viewers, the most-watched Game 1 since 2019.
The Florida-Edmonton series isn’t the sexiest matchup on paper, but it’s been a tight and exciting series despite the lopsided final scores. The NHL will have its fingers crossed that the Oilers win a game (or two) at home to extend the series and continue delivering solid viewership for the league to close out a strong Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Game 3 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final takes place on Thursday, June 13, and airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Updated with full North American viewership.
[Data via Sports Media Watch]
About Joe Lucia
I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.