By The Numbers – A snapshot of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which ended with Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers becoming first-time champions in their 30th season after fending off a historic rally by ConnorMcDavid and the Edmonton Oilers (the third team in NHL history, and first in nearly 80 years, to force Game 7 after losing the first three games of the Final). Click here for a thorough look at the Panthers’ championship run.
16.3 Million – Viewers watched Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final across North America (CBC/SN/TVA Sports/ABC/ESPN+). This is the second most-watched NHL game across North America on record (data since 2004).
8.8 Million – Average viewership across North America throughout the 2024 Stanley Cup Final (CBC/SN/TVAS/ABC/ESPN+), up 85% YOY. This was the most-watched Stanley Cup Final across North America since 2013.
3.4 Million – Average audience across North America throughout the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/TNT/TBS/TRU/CBC/SN/TVAS), up 14% YOY. These were the most-watched playoffs across North America since 2017.
1.5 Million – Average viewership across the U.S. throughout the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/TNT/TBS/TRU), up 25% YOY. This was the most-watched Stanley Playoffs in 28 years (second-most all time).
89% – An NHL record 89% of games in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs were decided by one goal or multiple goals following an empty-net tally (78 of 88 GP). The previous benchmark for percentage of “close games” in one postseason was 81% in 2021 (68 of 84 GP).
80 – Number of emojis implemented per game in the ‘NHL in ASL’ alternate telecast during the Stanley Cup Final. For the first time in history, the NHL produced the alt-cast for the Deaf community, by the Deaf community, using American Sign Language (ASL). The alt-cast was available widely on ESPN+ in the U.S. and Sportsnet+ in Canada and featured Deaf commentators providing fans with real-time play-by-play and color commentary in ASL for all seven games of the Stanley Cup Final. Eight different emojis were used approximately 80 times per game to help visually depict dramatic moments.
67% – Percentage of best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series since 2014 to require six or more games (111 of 165). This was the third straight year that at least 10 of 15 series went past Game 5 (10 of 15 in 2023 and 2024; 11 of 15 in 2022).
46 – Number of NHL partners that activated during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs to engage our passionate fans with NHL-themed advertising, TV spots, and contests/sweepstakes. Among those activating was Disney and Pixar’s new hit animated movie ‘Inside Out 2,’ which was the Official Emotions of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Canada. During the Final, the NHL Foundation and PWHL hosted an exclusive screening of the film for nearly 100 girls and boys from five different hockey teams and NHL/NHLPA Learn to Play programs – an event that included a $75,000 donation toward the NHL Foundation’s Empowerment Grant Program for Girls Hockey.
46 – Road wins during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, one shy of the NHL record set in 2012 and matched in 2023. Across the League, fans celebrated their club’s visiting victories from viewing parties either inside (like Madison Square Garden, Rogers Arena or Amerant Bank Arena) or outside (Maple Leaf Square, The “Moss Pit” and the “Winnipeg Whiteout” on Donald Street) their home arenas. In many cases, the outdoor viewing parties also occurred during home games.
45% – Nearly half of all games in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs were comeback wins, the third-highest rate over the past 30 years behind 1999 (51%), along with 2006 and 2010 (both 47%). Excluding the extended 2020 postseason, the 40 comeback wins ranked fourth all time (tied with 1987) behind 1991 (45), 1999 (44) and 2010 (42).
42 – Playoff point total by Conn Smythe Trophy winner Connor McDavid, the fourth highest on record behind two Wayne Gretzky entries and one from Mario Lemieux. McDavid’s 34 assists broke the record Gretzky set 36 years ago (31 in 1988). Click here for more on McDavid’s record-breaking playoff run that included his first trip to the Final.
9 – Teams in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup after losing in the previous Final, with Florida adding its name to that list (the third club to do so in the League’s expansion era, since 1967-68).
1 – Number of teams under the 16-team playoff format to go from being the lowest-ranked playoff team one year to Stanley Cup champions the next, with the Florida Panthers accomplishing that feat after a Wild-Card run to the 2023 Final and a Stanley Cup championship in 2024.
