The Islanders versus Rangers match has entered the top five most attended in the history of hockey

On Sunday, February 18th, the Stadium Series regular-season NHL match between the Islanders and Rangers took place.

The game concluded with a Rangers victory in overtime with a score of 6-5. Played outdoors in the Stadium Series format, the match was attended by 79,690 spectators. Consequently, this match ranks third in NHL history and fourth in hockey history for fan attendance.

Top 5 matches by attendance in hockey history:

1. Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans, NCAA - 104,173 spectators (December 11, 2010)
2. Detroit vs. Toronto, NHL - 104,173 spectators (January 1, 2014)
3. Dallas vs. Nashville, NHL - 85,630 spectators (January 1, 2020)
4. Islanders vs. Rangers, NHL - 79,690 spectators (February 18, 2024)
5. USA vs. Germany, IIHF World Championship - 77,803 spectators (May 7, 2010)

It's worth reminding that the National Hockey League (NHL), the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA), and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) have announced their plans for NHL players' participation in the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics. This decision marks a significant moment for global hockey, signifying the return of NHL players to the Olympic stage.