Story perspectives

Flyers, Avalanche Take 2-0 Series Leads; Teen Martone Shines

4/23/2026

Summary

Porter Martone Wins

The Flyers beat the Penguins 3-2 on April 22, 2026, taking a 2-0 series lead.
Porter Martone became the teen to record game-winning goals in his first two playoff games.
Boston beat Buffalo 4-2, tying series 1-1, while Tampa Bay won 3-2 in OT over Montreal as J.J. Moser scored the winner.
Colorado beat Los Angeles 2-1 in OT on Nicolas Roy’s 7:44 goal, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 series lead.

Summary

NHL Viewership Soars

Sabres-Bruins Game 1 on TNT/TruTV drew 1.7 million ESPN viewers, the third-most-watched first-round cable telecast.
Average NHL playoff viewership rose to 546,000 per game, a 23 % increase and the best in 14 years.
TNT/TruTV’s 72-game slate averaged 381,000 viewers, up 21 % with 70,000 extra impressions per window.
Geico, Honda and Discover Card secured multiyear playoff ad slots on TNT Sports, with remaining inventory sold at premium scatter rates.

History

Historical Context

The NHL's television deal in 2012, under NBC Sports, significantly increased playoff viewership to an average of 3.6 million per game, a 30% rise from previous years. This marked a pivotal moment in hockey's popularity, as advertisers like Geico and Honda capitalized on the growing audience. The current playoff viewership of 546,000 per game reflects this enduring trend, indicating a promising future for the league.

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Porter Martone Wins

The Flyers beat the Penguins 3-2 on April 22, 2026, taking a 2-0 series lead.
Porter Martone became the teen to record game-winning goals in his first two playoff games.
Boston beat Buffalo 4-2, tying series 1-1, while Tampa Bay won 3-2 in OT over Montreal as J.J. Moser scored the winner.
Colorado beat Los Angeles 2-1 in OT on Nicolas Roy’s 7:44 goal, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 series lead.

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