ABC delivers the most-viewed Second Round Game 1 on record

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ESPN has aired an unprecedented First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, capturing the most-viewed First Round of the Playoffs across ESPN networks in the current rights era.

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The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continue on Monday and Tuesday for back-to-back Second Round action on ESPN. The puck drops Monday for an ESPN doubleheader, beginning at 7 p.m. ET with Philadelphia Flyers-Carolina Hurricanes Game 2. Following at 9:30 p.m., the Vegas Golden Knights host the Anaheim Ducks (Game 1) who make their first Second Round appearance since 2017. Pregame coverage begins with The Point at 6 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN+).

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The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO move onto the Second Round in prime time on Saturday, May 2, with Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes at 8 p.m. ET on ABC in their first‑ever postseason meeting. First Round action continues Friday with three Game 6’s featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning-Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m., ESPN2), Buffalo Sabres-Boston Bruins (7:30 p.m., ESPN) and Vegas Golden Knights-Utah Mammoth (10 p.m., ESPN). More on the First Round here.

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On Monday, 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs action continued with the highly anticipated Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins Game 5 (7 p.m. ET). The game delivered 2 million viewers, up 190% vs. ESPN’s First Round Game 5 average last year. This also ranks as the second most-viewed First Round game ever on cable (excluding Game 7’s).

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The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continue this week on ESPN networks with confirmed matchups for Friday, May 1. A trio of Game 6’s continues First Round action with the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Following at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, the Boston Bruins will look to avoid elimination as they host the Buffalo Sabres. Closing out the night at 10 p.m., the Vegas Golden Knights will face the Utah Mammoth on ESPN.

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This past weekend, the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued with a First Round ESPN doubleheader. Tampa Bay Lightning-Montreal Canadiens (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET), delivered the second most-viewed First Round Game 4 on cable ever with 1.9 million viewers, up 73%. Following on Sunday, Edmonton Oilers-Anaheim Ducks also performed well with 1.1 million viewers, up 3%. Both games are compared to ESPN’s First Round Game 4 average last year.

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The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continue this week with two confirmed Game 5’s on ESPN networks. In a back-and-forth series, the Montreal Canadiens will face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday for Game 5 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

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2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continue Monday with an ESPN doubleheader.

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