ESPN’s NHL Opening Night Up 37% Year-Over-Year

HockeyNHL

ESPN’s NHL Opening Night Up 37% Year-Over-Year

Photo of Andrea DiCristoforo Andrea DiCristoforoOctober 9, 2025
  • Tripleheader Averaged 768K Viewers (peak: 1.27M)
  • Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Rangers Delivered Second-Best Opening Night Game on Cable

The 2025-26 NHL season on ESPN opened with a tripleheader, up 37% year-over-year (768K viewers). Chicago Blackhawks-Florida Panthers averaged 743K viewers, up 114% vs. 2024 opening night early window (St. Louis-Seattle). The Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Rangers matchup delivered an impressive 1.09M viewers, up 38% vs. 2024 primetime window (Boston-Florida). Penguins-Rangers also delivered ESPN’s second-best opening night game on cable behind the Blackhawks-Penguins in 2023.

– 30 –

CONTACTS:

ESPN
Danny Chi | [email protected] | 213-405-4400
Andrea DiCristoforo | [email protected] | 213-405-4612

Tags
Photo of Andrea DiCristoforo Andrea DiCristoforoOctober 9, 2025
Photo of Andrea DiCristoforo

Andrea DiCristoforo

Based out of the Los Angeles Production Center in LA, California, Andrea DiCristoforo is a Communications Manager focusing on the NHL, X Games, ESPN Events and Men's & Women's College Hockey. Prior to joining ESPN in 2022, Andrea worked in Olympic Sports. She is also a proud graduate from the University of New Hampshire.
Back to top button