The Pittsburgh Penguins were ranked in the top 10 by Forbes in the magazine's annual listing of the most passionate fans in the four major North American sports leagues.
The Penguins were No. 9 among 132 teams in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.
"Our fans are the greatest," Pittsburgh president David Morehouse said. "We are so grateful for their support, and it's never a surprise to us when they're named the most passionate fans in the NHL. Because they are. We hope everyone is staying safe during this challenging time."
The NHL season has been paused since March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
Forbes determined its rankings using television ratings, game attendance, merchandise sales and social media reach.
"The NHL's only team in the top ten can thank All-Star Sidney Crosby, whose jersey has been a hot item since his 2005 debut," the magazine said. "Two [Stanley Cup championships] in the last five years help, as do 12 sellout seasons at PPG Paints Arena."
The Green Bay Packers were No. 1, followed by five other NFL teams (New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks).
The top-ranked NBA team was the No. 7 Golden State Warriors, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Boston Red Sox of MLB completed the top 10.
