4 Nations Game Between US & Canada Breaks Recent NHL Viewership Records

The 4 Nationals Face-Off has proven to be a highly successful venture for the NHL. The new format that replaces the annual All-Star Game has drawn plenty of eyes and interest from the sports world, and Saturday’s game between the United States and Canada had a viewership number that breaks recent records.

US vs. Canada Breaks Recent NHL Viewership Records

The idea was cooked up during last year’s All-Star break. Four countries would be pitted against one another in a round-robin tournament featuring only NHL players. The original idea was to have six teams participate, but Russia was barred from entry due to their war with Ukraine, and Germany did not have enough players to fill a roster. The United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden were the four that made the final cut.

After Canada beat Sweden and the US defeated Finland in the first round, the two North American powerhouses faced off at the Bell Centre in Montreal this past Saturday night. Interest was piqued not only due to countries playing for regional pride, but also due to the ongoing political issues between the two sides.

Last night’s #4Nations game between the U.S. and Canada averaged 4.4 million viewers in the U.S. on ABC, according to Nielsen fast national data. It peaked at 5.2 million. Most-viewed non-Stanley Cup Final hockey telecast since 2019.

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It was a must-watch from the start. As soon as the puck dropped in the opening period, American Matthew Tkachuk and Canadian Brandon Hagel dropped the gloves and proceeded to fight at center ice, igniting the crowd. That was followed by two more fights before there was any real hockey played, making it three in the first 9 seconds of game action.

The entire game was physical, and eventually ended with a 3-1 victory by the United States.

According to the NHL viewership returns, it ended up being the most-watched non-Stanley Cup Final game since 2019, with an average of 4.4 million American viewers over the course of the broadcast.

There may be an even larger interest for the 4 Nations Face-Off Final on Thursday night. The championship game will feature a rematch between the United States and Canada, with the winner taking home the glory and bragging rights in what is a contentious time between the two sides.

The game will be played on home soil for the US, inside TD Garden in Boston, and the puck is set to drop at 8PM Eastern.