New York Rangers Driving Massive NHL Viewership For Stanley Cup Playoffs
The NHL narrowly missed out on a dream matchup for the Eastern Conference Final, which would have been the New York Rangers facing the Boston Bruins. However, the Florida Panthers defeated the Bruins in six games, sending the Cats to the Final to face New York instead.
Still, having the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final is a massive win for the league. New York draws fans better than any team in the NHL and the viewership numbers show that yet again.
Florida won the first game of the series, 3-0, in what was a dud of a match. I should know, I was there. Since then, though, the Rangers have won back-to-back thrillers, both in overtime.
Game 3, in particular, was one of the most exciting games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far.
The Panthers scored first, before the Rangers notched two goals to take the lead. After Florida tied the game at two, the Rangers struck twice more to regain and extend the lead to 4-2. But the Panthers roared back in the third period, tying the game at four and nearly winning it in regulation.
They didn't, though, and the Rangers eventually got the game winner in the first overtime period. Those matches have helped the NHL attract a lot of fans to their television sets.
According to Sports Media Watch, "Through three games, the Rangers-Panthers NHL Eastern Conference Final is averaging 2.2 million viewers on ESPN and ABC (based on Nielsen fast-nationals for Games 2 and 3) — up 45% from the first three games of Panthers-Hurricanes on TNT last year (1.51M) and 42% from the first three games of last year’s ESPN/ABC conference final, Stars-Golden Knights in the West (1.54M)."
In addition, "Sunday’s Game 3 averaged 2.4 million viewers on ABC, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 59% from Hurricanes-Panthers on TNT last year and the second-largest audience of the postseason. Only Maple Leafs-Bruins Game 7 in the first round, which also aired on ABC, ranks higher (3.24M)."
The New York Rangers-Florida Panthers Eastern Conference Final in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is drawing massive television ratings through three games.
(Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports)
Looking at the Bruins-Maple Leafs numbers, it's a real shame that the NHL didn't get a New York-Boston Eastern Conference Final. The league would be looking a potentially record-setting viewership.
Still, the Rangers are driving fans, as they always do. The league certainly is hoping that New York reaches the Stanley Cup Final. The question is which Western Conference team would draw better numbers.
The Dallas Stars lead the Edmonton Oilers two-games-to-one in the Western Conference Final. On the one hand, Dallas is an American franchise, which usually means better TV numbers in the States.
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On the other hand, the Oilers have Connor McDavid, hands-down the best player on the NHL. There are probably a lot of American sports fans that would like to see McDavid face the Rangers with the Stanley Cup on the line.
That's not to say the Rangers are guaranteed to advance, they certainly aren't. However, if the NHL gets its way, New York will find a way to win two more games to reach the Final for the first time since 2014-15. This season also marks the 30th anniversary of the last time the Rangers won the Stanley Cup, back in 1994.
A repeat of history would surely mean only good things for the NHL.