
Canadian TV ratings surge after thrilling start to Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup final
Article content
Combined, the two opening games mark a healthy increase of 14% over the 2024 Cup final contested between the same two teams.
Of note, those two big numbers came despite the ridiculous schedule for the final, one that had almost a week off between rounds to dull momentum. As well, with games played on Wednesday and Friday, the opening salvos for a repeat of last year's combatants was without the ratings bonanza slot of Hockey Night In Canada 's traditional Saturday night home.
Making up for it, of course, was the wildly entertaining action of both games, with lead changes and plenty of scoring from both teams. As usual, the NHL will mercilessly drag out the schedule with two off days between Game 2 and Monday's Game 3 and another two days of before Thursday's Game 4.
Meanwhile, the big Canadian audiences are in sharp contrast to what is happening with TNT south of the border.
According to reports, the Game 1 audience in the U.S. was just 2.42 million viewers, a plunge of 22% from last year and the lowest Game 1 rating for the final (not including the COVID-affected 2020 and 2021 versions) since 2008.
A year ago, with all seven games on ABC — which offers much better reach — an average of 4.17 viewers tuned in over the seven games.

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X: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.