Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final averages 2.8 million viewers in U.S.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday averaged 2.8 million viewers in the United States across TNT, TBS and truTV.

It was an increase of 11 percent when compared to the average Cup Final cable viewership from 2017-21, and it was the second-most watched Stanley Cup Final game ever on cable (Carolina Hurricanes vs. Detroit Red Wings in 2002).

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Viewership peaked at 3.3 million Saturday from 10:45-11 p.m. ET.

"By every metric, the National Hockey League is stronger than it has ever been, and that's both on and off the ice," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman prior to Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. "This is due, first and foremost, to the fact that our game, our players, have never been faster, more skillful, more entertaining or more competitive."

Last season's Stanley Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche was televised on ABC in the U.S.

This is the second year of a seven-year media rights agreement between the NHL and Turner Sports.

The NHL also began a historic and innovative seven-year television, streaming and media rights deal with the Walt Disney Company and ESPN.