The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue its historic start on ESPN, as the network aired the two most-watched First Round Game 2’s ever on cable, following a weekend of multiple Game 1 record-breaking viewership. Monday’s Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins matchup (Game 2, 7 p.m. ET) delivered 1.6 million viewers and Tuesday’s Boston Bruins-Buffalo Sabres matchup (Game 2, 7:30 p.m.) delivered 1.2 million viewers, setting the new Game 2 record.

Both record-setting Game 2s were up significantly from ESPN’s First Round Game 2 average last year, with Flyers-Penguins Game 2 up 148% and Bruins-Sabres up 83%. Minnesota Wild-Dallas Stars Game 2 (Monday, 9:30 p.m.) was up 41% (924K viewers), continuing the trend of ESPN’s year-over-year growth.

Adding to the network’s record-setting start to the Playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens-Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2 (Tuesday, 7 p.m.) delivered most viewed First Round Game 2 matchup on ESPN2 with 899K viewers. The matchup was also up 120% vs. ESPN2’s First Round Game 2 average last year. On the same network, Ottawa Senators-Carolina Hurricanes Game 2 (Monday, 7:30 p.m.) averaged 682K viewers, up 67% and Utah Mammoth-Vegas Golden Knights Game 2 (Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.) delivered 562K viewers, up 37%.

In overall First Round success, ESPN opened the postseason this past weekend delivering the three most-watched First Round games on cable ever, excluding Game 7’s. Monday’s Flyers-Penguins Game 2 became the fourth most-watched.

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continues with First Round coverage across ESPN and ESPN2, with two-month Playoffs stretch that will culminate with exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final in June.

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Andrea DiCristoforo | [email protected] | 213-405-4612
Ardi Dwornik | [email protected] | 347-702-0742