Panthers-Oilers Game 7 was 2nd-most watched NHL game in 20 years

The decisive contest in the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup Final victory over the Edmonton Oilers averaged 16.3 million viewers across North America, according to the NHL.

The Panthers' 2-1 Game 7 win, which clinched the franchise's first title Monday night, was the second-most watched NHL matchup across the continent since the league began tracking the data in 2004.

The series as a whole averaged 8.8 million viewers in North America, making it the continent's most-watched Cup Final since 2013.

CBC, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports carried the games in Canada, while ABC and ESPN+ aired them in the United States.

The matchup reached an average audience of 7.55 million on Sportsnet with a total reach of 15 million, making it the network's most-watched broadcast ever.

Game 7 averaged 7.7 million viewers on ABC in the U.S., making it the country's most-viewed NHL contest since the last Cup Final Game 7, which came in 2019 and ended with the St. Louis Blues defeating the Boston Bruins.