Can the NHL keep its new female viewers?
Women's viewership of the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals was up 148% compared to 2025.
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Stanley Cup Final viewership through five games hits highest mark since 2013
Through Game 5, the Stanley Cup Final is averaging 5.1 million viewers.
Stanley Cup Final on ABC was most-watched Game 2 since 2015
Viewership peaked at 5.8 million viewers.
Stanley Cup Final Game 1 draws biggest audience since 2019
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals averaged 4.8 million viewers up 98% from Game 1 in 2025.
NHL sees huge viewership increase during first round
First-round playoff viewership was up nearly 70% year-over-year.
NHL regular-season viewership rebounds in big way, posts 14-year high
Incredibly, the league posted high marks, with a larger percentage of its national schedule airing on cable networks.
NHL viewership up in first two weeks post-Olympics
However, it's too early to tell if an increase can be sustained.
Down Stanley Cup Final caps NHL’s rollercoaster ratings season
This season saw some great ratings heights for the NHL, but more drops and lows overall.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs ratings down big versus last season
But American viewership doesn't tell the whole story...
NHL does not see Easter ratings boost, playoff viewership starts down
Stanley Cup Playoffs viewership across ESPN, ESPN2, and TBS is averaging 842,000 viewers, down 18% versus this point last season.
Blue Jackets-Red Wings gives best regular season NHL audience to ESPN in potential 4 Nations bump
The Blue Jackets-Red Wings Stadium Series game in Columbus was ESPN's most watched regular season game since winning back NHL rights in 2021.
USA-Canada game nets massive viewership as 4 Nations Face-Off success continues for NHL
With 4.4 million viewers, the audience for the game was on par with a typical Stanley Cup Final game.
NHL Winter Classic draws all-time low viewership
This year's Winter Classic between the Blues and Blackhawks shifted to New Year's Eve in a move that did not pan out for the NHL.
NHL Opening Night saw sharp viewership decline
The league was beat out by both MLB and the WNBA on Tuesday.
What do 2024 Stanley Cup Final ratings say about NHL’s Canadian teams?
Stanley Cup Final ratings historically low, with short series and cable key factors
WBD sets ratings records for first-round NHL playoffs coverage
TNT and TBS combined to average 959,000 viewers for first-round coverage, a first-round record for cable.
NHL regular-season TV ratings across TNT, ESPN and ABC up double digits year over year, highest in five years
The NHL's new TV deals seem to be working well so far, with audience growth compared to its previous years on NBC and NBCSN.
NHL on ESPN opening night was the most-watched season-opening doubleheader on record
Both of ESPN's first-night matchups performed well.
More people watched Seattle NHL expansion draft on ESPN2 than Cubs-Cards on ESPN, despite advance reporting of picks
These are certainly decent numbers for an expansion draft, especially on ESPN2 and especially one where many picks were reported in advance.
The Athletic’s description of a NHL “television boom” feels premature, as “ratings up” only works with an opening-game focus
Yes, the NBC and NBCSN numbers are up year-over-year so far, but a big part of that is the comparison of a full season to a few weeks with boosted opening-game numbers.
Blues-Bruins Game 7 was most-watched U.S. NHL game on record, overall playoffs were most-watched in 23 years
NBC reported not only great Game 7 ratings, but great ratings for the playoffs as a whole.
Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final hit a three-year low in overnights, but was up in finals (updated)
The 3.84 overnight for Game 4 was a three-year-low, but not far behind last year's 3.9.
Despite missing the playoffs, Buffalo Sabres once again top the local NHL ratings
Buffalo and Las Vegas saw huge ratings increases compared to the previous season
NHL first-round playoff ratings are the highest in seven years, the most-watched on cable in 25 years
The average audience of 778,000 viewers across games was the best number since 2012.
Penguins-Flyers Stadium Series game is highest in five years, rises 76 percent year over year from Leafs-Capitals
The Stadium Series ratings rose significantly year over year.
Stanley Cup Playoffs tied for second-most watched since 1997, Final was most-watched non-Original Six Final on record
Game 5 averaged 6.71 million viewers, the best for a Game 5 since 2002.
NHL playoff ratings strong heading into fascinating Stanley Cup Final matchup
NHL ratings are up from recent years, and that trend should continue with an intriguing Capitals-Golden Knights clash on the way.
Vegas-Winnipeg Western Conference Final up 70 percent year-over-year, highest non-Chicago WCF ever on NBC’s networks
These are the best Western Conference Final ratings since 2015, and the best non-Chicago ones in NBC history, impressive with a Canadian team involved.
NBA local ratings bounce back by three percent after 2016-17 drop, NHL U.S. local ratings drop 10 percent
In the NBA, the Warriors and Cavs led the way, while the Timberwolves posted the biggest growth. In the NHL, the Penguins and Sabres topped the ratings, with the Predators posting the largest growth.
The NBA and NHL both drew strong ratings during opening weekend of playoffs
So far, so good for both the NBA and NHL.
