No television market in the United States tuned into Sunday's Gold Medal Game between Team USA and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics at a higher rate than Buffalo.
The home of the Sabres edged out Pittsburgh for the top spot, and those two cities held a sizable TV ratings advantage over the rest of the country as the U.S. scored a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over the Canadians.
Here are the full results released Thursday by NBC Sports PR:
NBCUniversal’s “Legendary February” has reached 223.8 Million Viewers with official data now in for Sunday’s gold medal hockey game, Closing Ceremony & Celtics-Lakers game (source: Nielsen) pic.twitter.com/M2EyLMyRT9
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) February 26, 2026
Sabres fans, who've been coming back in droves as the Blue and Gold surged up the NHL standings prior to the NHL's Olympic break, had an extra reason to tune in as Buffalo superstar Tage Thompson was among those on the American squad.
Thompson returned to the Sabres on Wednesday, picking up right where he left off with a goal and an assist in the club's 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Buffalo moved up to third in the Atlantic Division with the triumph and remains on pace to finally end the organization's 14-year playoff drought.
Buffalo Sabres fans are finally being rewarded for their long-term dedication
Yes, the Sabres' attendance had dipped in recent years as some supporters understandably decided to stop spending their hard-earned money on a franchise stuck in a perpetual rebuild.
There was never a shred of doubt about the area's love of hockey, however, and it was a guarantee that the moment Buffalo turned a corner, the city's sports fans would return in full force.
Well, that moment has certainly arrived.
The Sabres have posted a remarkable 22-5-2 record over their past 29 games dating back to early December. Their playoff chances, which appeared incredibly remote before a 10-game winning streak amid that hot streak, are now up to 91%, per HockeyStats.com.
Unsurprisingly, Buffalo fans have returned to the KeyBank Center in full force as a result. The team sold out its final five home games before the three-week hiatus, and the arena's average capacity has ticked over 90% for the season, according to Sabres Attendance Today.
The barn should be packed for the remainder of the regular season and, barring a collapse, Sabres supporters will once again get an opportunity to Party in the Plaza this spring.
Those celebrations outside the arena are a fond memorable for fans from the Chris Drury-Daniel Briere Era of Sabres hockey, and now a new generation should get a chance to join the fun.
Buffalo may not yet be a true Stanley Cup contender — the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning appear a step above the rest heading into the stretch run of the NHL's regular season — but that doesn't mean the Blue and Gold can't make some noise if they do clinch a playoff berth.
Regardless of how this season concludes, it feels like the Sabres are back on the right path toward sustainable success for the first time in over a decade.
That's music to the ears of Buffalonians, who are once again starting to prove why they help form the best hockey market in the United States.