Win or lose, South Florida is hooked: Panthers TV numbers reach new heights

The wins have been uneven but Florida Panthers fans keep tuning in

That's the takeaway from a fresh local broadcast update, even with the Panthers grinding through a tight Eastern Conference race.

Through 48 games, viewership is up more than 51% compared with this time last season, a big year over year jump for South Florida.

The shift to over the air broadcasts and a simple streaming option has made it easier to catch the Cats without hunting for a cable package.

December was the loudest month on the ratings side, and the Dec 30 game against the Montreal Canadiens was the most watched of the season.

David Dwork shared the update here, and it's a fun little flex for a fanbase that's heard every joke.

On the ice, Florida sits at 25-20-3 with 53 points, good enough to stay in the mix but not comfortable enough to relax.

That tension is part of the draw, because every night feels like a two point swing in the wild card chase.

Sam Reinhart has kept the offense breathing with 24 goals and 47 points in 47 games, and you can see how often he ends up on the right side of chaos around the crease.

The blue line is where the stress starts, with Seth Jones sidelined and Florida looking thin behind its top pair.

Before he went down, Jones had 24 points in 40 games, plus a heavy 23:29 average workload that is hard to replace without somebody getting stretched.

When your defense is patched up, the broadcast becomes part comfort food, part therapy session, and Panthers fans know the feeling.

There's real pride in seeing those numbers pop, even while the hockey is messy, because it shows this market is sticking with the team.

It also helps that the local crew feels familiar, so the broadcast sounds like home even when the Panthers are chasing the game.

And it's not just TV, the streaming option has made it way easier to watch on a phone when life gets in the way.

If Florida starts stacking wins, these audience bumps can turn into a real wave that carries into spring.

The next stretch on the schedule is a chance to give those viewers a reason to high five, not sigh, and that's the next milestone everyone's waiting for.