NHL viewership sees significant increases ahead of Stanley Cup Final

The NHL is experiencing a surge in viewership as it heads towards the Stanley Cup Final. Recent statistics show nearly 50% increases in viewership for both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals compared to last year. ESPN's coverage of the Western Conference Finals, featuring the Vegas Golden Knights sweeping the Colorado Avalanche, averaged 2.2 million viewers, a 44% rise. TNT's coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens reached an average of 2 million viewers. The growth in viewership reflects broader interest following the U.S. gold medal win in the Winter Olympics. The upcoming Stanley Cup Final will return to ABC, where historical ratings have outperformed those on pay-TV networks.

• 1:30 AMYahoo Sports — NHL viewership maintains post-Olympic glow through conference finals