The Montreal Canadiens gave fans a playoff run to remember in 2026, taking them on a thrilling journey through three hard-fought rounds for the first time since 2021. While the outcome was not what the team or fans had hoped for, one thing is clear: Canadians were all in.
Across Rounds 1 to 3, the Canadiens’ 19-game playoff run reached 22 million Canadians, with the average viewer tuning in for approximately 11 hours across the entire series. Engagement in Quebec Franco was especially strong with 81% of the market reached and the average viewer spending up to 19.5 hours with the series, well above the 13.7 hours captured during the 17-game run in 2021.
With higher ratings comes higher reach, and we can see that across all demographics when comparing the Canadiens’ playoff run to the regular season. Interestingly, the proportion of female viewers 2+ increased by 5 percentage points, while children and teens 2 to 17 also made up a larger share, particularly in Quebec Franco at 3 points. This suggests that when the Canadiens are in the spotlight, they are not only drawing a larger audience overall but are also bringing in new and more diverse viewers.
Source: Numeris TV Meter, Total Canada, 2026 NHL Playoffs*, Live + PB same day, AMA(000), AvHrsWk(View), TotHrsWk(000), CumRch(000), CumRch% * The NHL Playoffs aired on Sportsnet National+, Sportsnet National ST+, CBC Total, and TVA Sports+