The Bruins are fading on the ice, but remain potent as always in the television ratings.
Sunday’s Panthers-Bruins second round Stanley Cup playoff Game 4 averaged a 1.0 rating and 2.18 million viewers across TNT (0.8, 1.75M) and truTV (0.21, 426K), trailing only Maple Leafs-Bruins Game 7 in the first round (1.6, 3.24M) as the most-watched game of the NHL season thus far.
The Panthers’ win delivered the largest second round playoff audience, excluding game sevens, since 2021. Ratings increased 25% and viewership 40% from Maple Leafs-Panthers in the same year-ago window (0.8, 1.55M).
The Bruins have played in four of the seven most-watched games this postseason, more than any other team. Broaden the list out to the top nine and the Rangers have also played in four, including Saturday’s Game 4 against Carolina — which averaged a 0.8 and 1.76 million (TNT: 0.7, 1.54M; truTV: 0.10, 217K).
The Hurricanes’ season-saving win increased 64% and 76% respectively from Oilers-Golden Knights last year (0.51, 1.00M).
While a New York-Boston Eastern Conference Final is undoubtedly preferred by the league’s broadcast partners, Boston is now down 3-1 and New York is on the brink of a Game 7 in a series it led 3-0.
Shifting to Western Conference action, Saturday’s Stars-Avalanche nightcap drew a 0.7 and 1.55 million (TNT: 0.6, 1.33M; truTV: 0.10, 217K) and Sunday’s Canucks-Oilers Game 3 brought up the rear with a 0.51 and 919,000 (TNT: 0.41, 732K; truTV: 0.10, 187K).
Stanley Cup playoff games were averaging a 0.57 rating and 1.09 million viewers through Sunday, up 7% in ratings and 10% in viewership from the same number of days last postseason (0.53, 990K).
