Business of Sports · NHL · RATINGS
NHL Frozen Frenzy Ratings Rise 31%, With ESPN Tripleheader Averaging 600,000
ESPN’s October 13 tripleheader averaged 600,000 viewers, while the separate ESPN2 whiparound show drew 105,000. Both increased from the 2025 edition.
ESPN’s Frozen Frenzy tripleheader averaged 600,000 viewers on October 13, a 31% increase from last year’s edition, the network announced Thursday.
The Colorado Avalanche’s visit to the Dallas Stars drew an average of 603,000 viewers, up 67% from the comparable 2025 primetime window, which featured Washington and Dallas. Boston at San Jose averaged 492,000, an 87% increase over last year’s late window featuring Los Angeles and San Jose.
The separate Frozen Frenzy whiparound show on ESPN2 averaged 105,000 viewers, up 54% year over year. John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes hosted the five-hour program, which switched among action from around the league.
The three-game ESPN lineup began with New Jersey at Detroit. All 32 NHL teams played that night, with the other 13 games available through NHL Power Play on the ESPN App. The event was in its fourth season.
The tripleheader and ESPN2 averages measure different programs. They do not provide a combined, unduplicated audience for the full 16-game night.
ESPN attributed the audience figures to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Its release did not provide a separate Devils–Red Wings average or a combined total for the whiparound show’s television and streaming distribution.
