Wednesday, April 15, 2026

TNT, TBS Smash First-Round Ratings Record for NHL Playoffs

  • Viewership averaged 959,000 on TNT and TBS, the most-watched NHL first-round ever on cable.
  • Game 7 between the Panthers and Bruins was the NHL’s all-time most-viewed first-round game on cable.
The Panthers Game 7 win over the Bruins set an NHL first-round ratings record.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Warner Bros. Discovery Sports says that its first-round NHL playoff broadcasts on TNT and TBS reached an average of 959,000 viewers, setting a new record as the all-time most-watched first-round of the NHL playoffs on cable. 

The record breaks last year’s first-round mark of 768,000 average viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and TBS, which was also an NHL cable viewership record. 

Viewership for NHL first-round games on TNT and TBS was up 18% this year compared to the networks’ first-round ratings in 2022.

On Sunday, TNT’s Game 7 telecast of the Florida Panthers’ comeback victory over the Boston Bruins scored 3.2 million viewers, the most-watched NHL first-round game ever on a cable network. The epic Game 7 peaked at 4.1 million viewers on TNT.

In the Western Conference, the Seattle Kraken’s win on Sunday against the defending champion Colorado Avalanche drew more than 2 million viewers on TNT—making it the most-watched late-window game ever recorded in the NHL’s first round.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA Playoffs Set to Leave Local TV Behind in Streaming-Heavy Shift

The league’s new TV deals introduce a stark reality.
Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.

Men’s March Madness Title Game Draws 18.3M Viewers, Up 23%

Michigan’s title win completes an emphatic run of audience increases.

NHL Playoff Race Tightens As Coaching Shake-Ups Fuel Wild Finish

Coach firings and a muddled playoff chase mark the regular season’s end.

Featured Today

blake griffin

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
April 9, 2026

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.
April 8, 2026

Why Did FIFA Do a Deal With an Obscure Prediction Market?

The product is scheduled to launch on Thursday.
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) and center Tomislav Ivisic (13) react in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center.
April 4, 2026

Loopholes Enable Int’l College Basketball Players to Cash In

Schools have scrambled to find a way to compensate international players.

Amazon Prime Crashes in Final Minute of Its Biggest NBA Game Yet

Viewers missed 22 critical seconds of the Hornets–Heat game.
Feb 10, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dianna Russini appears on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors awards presentation at YouTube Theater. Mandatory Credit:
April 14, 2026

Dianna Russini Resigns From The Athletic After Mike Vrabel Photos

The Athletic previously sidelined Russini from reporting as it investigated.
April 14, 2026

Rory Triumph Delivers 14M Masters Viewers for CBS, Most Since 2015

CBS peaked with more than 20 million viewers Sunday.
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
Apr 12, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy celebrates after winning the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
April 14, 2026

Masters Disaster: Why CBS Sports’s Coverage Went Off The Rails

TV experts offer their theories on what went wrong.
ESPN's Jay Bilas speaks during ESPN's 'College GameDay' broadcast ahead of No. 4 Tennessee's basketball game against No. 10 Texas at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.
exclusive
April 13, 2026

Bilas to Fill Malone’s Role on ESPN NBA Playoff Coverage

Bilas will call playoff games alongside Ryan Ruocco.
opinion
April 12, 2026

Masters Sunday Was Rare Golf Stumble for CBS

Viewers were left hanging on the most important shot of the tournament.
Feb 10, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dianna Russini appears on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors awards presentation at YouTube Theater. Mandatory Credit:
exclusive
April 10, 2026

The Athletic Probing Dianna Russini Over Mike Vrabel Photos

The Athletic previously released a statement defending the NFL reporter.