The NHL is on a hot streak, and it's not just the players who are scoring. Local broadcasts saw a 15% jump in viewership this regular season, mirroring the impressive gains seen nationally. What's driving this surge? A powerful combination of streaming growth and a shift to over-the-air broadcasts.

According to a recent report, streaming viewership for local NHL games skyrocketed 51% year-over-year. Meanwhile, teams moving away from traditional regional sports networks are reaping the rewards. Playfly Sports CEO Craig Sloan noted that most teams making this transition have seen their viewership increase by over 50%. "Fans are finding these teams no matter where they're ending up," he said.

Some standout examples include the Chicago Blackhawks, who got a boost after Comcast finally added the Chicago Sports Network following lengthy negotiations. The Anaheim Ducks are also thriving in their second season on over-the-air TV, while the Colorado Avalanche enjoyed their first full season available to Comcast customers in years.

These local numbers align with the bigger picture: national NHL viewership rose 23% this season, averaging 546,000 viewers across ESPN, ABC, and TNT/truTV. While it's tough to separate the impact of new distribution models from hockey's growing popularity, one thing is clear—the league has serious momentum right now. Whether it's an Olympic bump, a heated rivalry effect, or simply a hockey revival, the NHL is happy to ride this wave.