The 4 Nations Face-Off championship clash between Canada and the United States on Thursday night drew a total of 16.1 million viewers across North America, making it the second-most-watched hockey game in the continent in a decade, per NHL PR.
Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers garnered 16.3 million viewers across North America.
ESPN averaged 9.3 million viewers in the U.S. during the 4 Nations final with a peak of 10.4 million, good for the network's largest-ever hockey audience.
North of the border, 10.7 million Canadians - just over a quarter of the country's population - tuned into the 4 Nations final on Sportsnet with a peak of 7.3 million viewers and an average of 5.7 million. It was the second-most-watched hockey game ever on the network behind only last spring's Cup-clinching game, which reached 15 million Canadians with an average audience of 7.55 million.
Canada bested the United States 3-2 in overtime Thursday, with forward Nathan MacKinnon winning tournament MVP.
NHL players are expected to return to the Olympics one year from now after missing the previous two Games.
