NHL: Ratings spike for Bruins-Leafs, first-round playoff games

The Boston Bruins' overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 on Saturday was the most-watched first-round playoff game across North America on record, the NHL said Tuesday. Shown on multiple platforms — ABC, CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports — the Bruins' 2-1 clincher in the Eastern Conference series drew 8.82 million viewers. The ABC telecast drew an average of 3.22 million viewers — peaking at 4.1 million — making it the most-watched first-round game since 2012 and third highest ever. The average and peak figures were increases of 59 and 37 percent from Game 7 of the first-round series between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils last season. The first round of the Stanley Cup