Team USA’s Golden Hockey Victory Captivates Nearly 21 Million Viewers

Team USA’s thrilling 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the men’s gold medal hockey game at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday captivated a massive television and streaming audience, drawing nearly 21 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and USA Network. The game peaked at 26 million viewers during Jack Hughes’ game-winning goal according to NBC Sports.

Record-Breaking Viewership Despite Early Start Time

Despite an 8:15 a.m. ET puck drop, the USA-Canada gold medal game ranks as NBC Sports’ second-most-watched hockey game ever, surpassed only by the 2010 Vancouver Olympics men’s gold medal game as reported by NBC Sports. The match delivered an average live audience of 18.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, marking the most-watched pre-9 a.m. ET sporting event on record in the U.S.

Streaming Numbers Surge

Streaming played a significant role in the viewership numbers, with an average of 3.7 million viewers live streaming the game on Peacock. This marks NBC Sports’ most streamed event to date, excluding NFL games according to NBC Sports.

First Gold in 46 Years

Team USA’s victory secured their first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years, echoing the historic “Miracle on Ice” win in 1980 as highlighted by NBC Olympics. The winning goal was scored by Jack Hughes in overtime, giving the U.S. A 2-1 advantage.

Milan Cortina Olympics: A Ratings Success

The Milan Cortina Olympics as a whole have been a ratings success, becoming the most-watched Winter Games since 2014 NBC Sports confirmed. NBC Sports President Rick Cordella praised the competition, calling the gold medal game “a fitting crescendo to a spectacular 17 days.”

Celebration and Remembrance

The team celebrated their victory with a tribute to former teammate Johnny Gaudreau, displaying his jersey during the celebration as shown in images from NBC Olympics.