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.

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