Stanley Cup Playoffs set opening weekend viewership record with biggest draw in history

[p]Both ESPN and TNT, which broadcast the playoffs, also brought in record numbers for each of their stations. [/p][embed guid="2d3e7ee8-d77e-4d69-b143-26a15486d88c" url="https://x.com/NHLPR/status/2047052829945114901?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The first two days (Saturday and Sunday) were electric.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-flyers/QySGG7oT/"]Philadelphia Flyers[/a] won Game 1 against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-penguins/AkN0nWU6/"]Pittsburgh Penguins[/a] in their first playoff appearance in five years ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/flyers-take-game-1-from-penguins-in-battle-of-pennsylvania/2HSPsS1D/"]full recap[/a]). [/p][p]Keeping it in the east, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/montreal-canadiens/nu2G7VWc/"]Montreal Canadiens[/a] bested the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tampa-bay-lightning/YVE3zk1c/"]Tampa Bay Lightning[/a] in the 2026 playoffs' first overtime game behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/slafkovsky-juraj/ATgrbSxq/"]Juraj Slafkovsky[/a]'s hat trick ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/slafkovsky-scores-hat-trick-to-give-canadiens-overtime-win-over-lightning/fBqV3O9e/"]full recap[/a]).[/p][p]Then, in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/buffalo-sabres/UobjtMIP/"]Buffalo[/a], the game of opening weekend, the Sabres were down 3-0 entering the third period of Game 1 against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-bruins/jeans23J/"]Boston Bruins[/a] before surmounting a historic comeback in their first playoff appearance in 15 years.[/p][embed guid="249e3d46-f6bc-411b-8ac7-eacde5bf93ea" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtIVOJQRzcA" social-type="youtube" /][p]Over in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/carolina-hurricanes/Sx0gl0tm/"]Carolina[/a], the Hurricanes blanketed the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ottawa-senators/noTCHmWM/"]Senators[/a] for a 2-0 shutout in the very first game of the playoffs ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/hurricanes-shutout-senators-to-win-first-game-of-2026-stanley-cup-playoffs/lz8OJoel/"]highlights[/a]), while the Presidents' Trophy-winning [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colorado-avalanche/hACAnvBa/"]Colorado Avalanche[/a] barely scraped by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-kings/CIDo8i2o/"]Los Angeles Kings[/a] in a close 2-1 win ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/avalanche-hold-off-kings-to-win-close-game-1-in-stanley-cup-playoffs/YLv841aD/"]highlights[/a]).[/p][p]Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild put up a current playoff-high six goals on the Dallas Stars to take Game 1 of the series ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/wild-light-up-stars-for-six-goals-to-take-a-1-0-series-lead/YHvhg14c/"]highlights[/a])[/p][p]Then, to top off the first two days, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vegas-golden-knights/fTT0TsUg/"]Vegas Golden Knights[/a] rallied from down 2-1 against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/utah-mammoth/hnwxhtVp/"]Utah Mammoth[/a] by scoring three straight in the third period as both teams combined for a total of 64 shots.[/p][embed guid="c6266006-b6d8-42d0-abc9-0abd9c9cbcb7" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkDFAH4DG6Q&pp=ygUWS25pZ2h0cyBNYW1tb3RoIEdhbWUgMQ%3D%3D" social-type="youtube" /]