Stanley Cup Playoffs Draw 1.8 Million Viewers, Up 68% to Highest Since 1996

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 23

ABC, ESPN and TNT Sports averaged 1.8 million viewers for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a 68% jump from last year and the event's best audience in 28 years.
Two U.S. Olympic hockey gold medals in Milan—by the men's and women's teams, both won in overtime—helped lift the sport's profile, with the men's first title since 1980 drawing particular attention.
That surge followed the well-received 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and carried into a Carolina Hurricanes-Vegas Golden Knights Final that became one of the five most-watched Stanley Cup Finals ever despite pre-series market-size concerns.
The ratings boost now puts pressure on the NHL to sustain momentum, with the league's newly announced 2027 All-Star Game on Long Island signaling a continued push around international hockey.