NHL Playoffs See Massive Ratings Boost

0:00It's April 24th. Welcome in. This is NHL News Today, where your team meets AI. I'm Corey, with the story. The NHL playoffs kicked off with killer TV ratings, even without big market powerhouses like the New York Rangers or Toronto Maple Leafs. ESPN clocked three of the most watched first round games ever on cable, skipping Game 7s. They averaged 1.6 million viewers across five games that opening weekend. A massive 141% jump from last year. Topping the list was Saturday night's Pittsburgh Penguins versus Philadelphia Flyers Game 1, pulling in 2.1 million viewers. Right behind, Minnesota Wild against Dallas Stars hit 1.9 million, and Buffalo Sabers versus Boston Bruins grabbed 1.7 million. That Sunday night, fans are loving the fresh matchups, and NHL Commissioner Gary Betman says it's all about that constant turnover. Six new teams this year, more than usual.

1:00He pointed out how last year no American original six teams made it, and this playoffs marks the first without New York or Jersey squads since the Devils moved. The regular season built hype 2, with 17 scrapping for wild car spots right to the end, plus ESPN's best ratings yet at 700, 60,000 average viewers up 30%. Two bloodline Buffalo, ending a 14 year drought, and a high after 7 years, and Utah's first playoffs since relocating keeps things exciting. Betman sums it up perfect. He loves all 32 teams equally, and seeing any squad bounce back to compete fires of fans everywhere, making these. Fans feel alive and unpredictable.