A pair of all-time Game 7s delivered the two largest audiences of a quiet opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Saturday’s Avalanche-Stars first round Stanley Cup playoff Game 7 averaged 2.4 million viewers on ABC, down 25% from Maple Leafs-Bruins last year (3.2M) but the most-watched game of the postseason thus far — and third-most watched opening round game since the current media rights deal began in the 2021-22 season.
Dallas’ comeback win outdrew all-but-three of last year’s first and second round games.
On Sunday, Blues-Jets Game 7 averaged 1.6 million on TBS — down 20% from Golden Knights-Stars on TNT and truTV last year (2.0M). Unlike last year’s game, coverage aired directly opposite the NBA playoffs, including a Warriors-Rockets Game 7 that averaged 6.6 million on TNT and truTV.
The Jets’ miraculous win, which peaked with 2.4 million viewers during the first overtime, delivered the second-largest audience of the postseason.
The opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 727,000 on ESPN/ABC (25 games) and 704,000 viewers on TNT Sports (22 games), down 29 and 16 percent respectively from last year. It should be noted that last year’s TNT Sports average includes the streaming service Max, and that is apparently not the case this year.
This year’s postseason field includes the most Canadian teams since 2017 and zero of the U.S.-based Original Six, including the TV-friendly Bruins and Rangers. In Canada, the opening round averaged 1.8 million viewers — up 12% from last year. The combined average across the U.S. and Canada is 2.5 million, which per the league is on par with a year ago.
