ABC secured a significant victory with its broadcast of the high-scoring Stanley Cup Final, marking the largest audience for the NHL's championship series in seven years on Tuesday.
ABC's broadcast of the high-scoring Stanley Cup Final earned the network its highest viewership for the NHL's championship round in seven years, as reported by the network on June 17, a Tuesday.
Related ↗Garrick Higgo's absence from the U.S. Open explained by a surprising reason.The Hurricanes' six-game victory over the Golden Knights drew a massive audience of approximately 5.2 million viewers. This marked the first time since 2019 that more people had flocked to watch the Stanley Cup Final, when an average of 5.3 million spectators witnessed the Blues dominate the Bruins in their seven-game series.
The Hurricanes' championship push culminated in a record-breaking television audience of 5.9 million for their pivotal game. This milestone viewing figure eclipsed all previous Game 6 ratings, dating back to 2019. In contrast, the Panthers' Game 6 triumph over the Oilers last year attracted significantly less viewership.
Read next ↗Sri Lanka series sees return of Joseph and Da Silva to the West Indies team.Turner's broadcast of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final reached unprecedented TV audiences. A staggering 40% increase in viewership was recorded on that pivotal Sunday compared to ABC's 2024 coverage of a similar showdown between the Panthers and Oilers.
Carolina's second championship win brought a surge of 7.2 million viewers to the Sunday evening broadcast, marking a milestone in franchise history.
In the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, every game except the final match saw a minimum of six total goals scored, with both teams staging impressive comebacks and two games going into overtime. The lone exception was the decisive Hurricanes victory, which ended 3-0.
The company's ratings for ABC and ESPN reached an all-time high during the entire 2026 playoffs, totaling 2.2 million viewers across 43 games. This surge in viewership marked a significant increase of 127% from the previous year, 2025 and 19% more than 2024. The NHL playoffs have been broadcast on ESPN since 1994, with an interruption from 2003 to 2020.
