Series opener between Panthers and Bruins was most-watched first round Game 1 on cable ever

The game averaged 1.1 million viewers, according to ESPN

The Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins played an exciting Game 1 of their first round playoff series on Monday night.

A sellout crowd packed TD Garden and was loud and raucous throughout as the Presidents' Trophy winners took down the visiting Panthers 3-1.

It was a fun, evenly matched hockey game featuring the NHL's best regular season team ever (Boston set league records for wins and points this year) and the upstart team from South Florida still trying to establish itself as a perennial playoff club.

Viewers watching on television at home apparently agreed.

According to ESPN, Monday's game between the Panthers and Bruins was the most-watched first round Game 1 on cable TV.

Ever.

The game averaged 1.1 total million viewers, peaking at 1.3 million, per ESPN PR.

It will be interesting to see if these kind of numbers carry over during the rest of the series.

Game 2 from Boston is set for Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m., and it will once again air nationally on ESPN.