Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers set viewership records for both Sportsnet and ESPN in Canada and the USA.
In Canada, the game became Sportsnet’s most-watched broadcast ever, with an average audience of 7.55 million across Sportsnet, Citytv, and CBC, according to Rogers Sports & Media. It was the second most-watched NHL game in Canada since 2009, reaching 15 million Canadians, or 39% of the population. The game also set a record on Sportsnet+ with 1.93 million streamers.
In the USA, the game drew one of the top NHL audiences in the past 30 years, with 7.66 million viewers on ABC. This was the largest NHL audience since Game 7 of the 2019 Cup Final (Blues vs. Bruins) and the most-watched NHL game ever on ESPN networks. Combined Canadian and US viewership averaged 16.3 million, making it the second-largest audience for an NHL game since 2004.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that this was the biggest Stanley Cup Final viewership for a matchup not involving one of the league’s original six teams, peaking at 10.3 million viewers in the final minutes.
Bob Stauffer, host of “Oilers Now,” emphasized the game’s significance in the USA. Former NHL GM Brian Lawton praised Edmonton’s fan support during the final, noting that despite being considered a small market team, Edmonton’s performance and fan engagement were impressive.
1. These viewership numbers are excellent news for Sportsnet and ESPN, as well as for the Oilers. The team’s high profile demonstrates that hockey superstars can generate significant marketing opportunities even in a smaller city like Edmonton. Success as an Oiler brings plenty of attention, even if larger cities might offer more money for players on Stanley Cup contenders.
2. Some Canadian fans believe the NHL favors US-based teams to boost the game’s popularity in the USA. However, the strong interest in the Oilers during this exciting era with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl counters this conspiracy theory, showing that a compelling Canadian team can also generate massive interest in the USA.
