2021 - 2022 NHL on ESPN / ABC / ESPN + / Hulu Schedule

The NHL is back on ESPN! The following screenshot is a logo of the NHL's return to ESPN networks (2021-present). Photo credit: NHL.com

• ESPN and ABC Return to Televising NHL Games for the First Time Since 2004 (!!)
• ESPN and ABC Combine to Showcase 28 Exclusive Regular-Season Games

For the first time since the 2003-04 season (2004-05 season was canceled due to lockout), the National Hockey League (NHL) will return to the Walt Disney Company this fall. ESPN's sharp and extensive collection of television and direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming options will showcase the world's best hockey beginning a season-opening on Tuesday, October 12th.

Beginning on October 12th, ESPN is the destination of Tuesday night hockey games throughout the course of the regular season. ABC will carry regular Saturday afternoon and/or night games, starting in February.

The 2021 NHL Face Off will take place on Tuesday, October 12th, with a doubleheader on ESPN. First, at 7:30 PM (ET), the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions Tampa Bay Lightning. Then later at 10:00 PM (ET), the Seattle Kraken officially begins as the NHL's 32nd franchise when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights.

ESPN will carry 18 exclusive NHL telecasts during the regular season this year. In October, ESPN will feature an exclusive NHL telecast Tuesday night (except for Opening Night). On October 19th, three-time Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks have their home opener at United Center in Chicago vs. the New York Islanders at 8:00 PM (ET). On October 26th, the Vegas Golden Knights travel to play the 2021 President's Cup winners, the Colorado Avalanche, also at 8:00 PM (ET). ESPN will then carry exclusive games on Thursday nights during the month of January: Minnesota at Boston (January 6th), Philadelphia at Boston (January 13) & Colorado at Los Angeles (January 20).

In February, ESPN will carry the 2022 NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Friday, February 4th, live in primetime from Las Vegas (in advance of the 2022 NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, February 5th, on ABC). ESPN has three more doubleheaders in April as the regular season glides towards a finishing point following the Winter Olympic Break. On Tuesday, April 12th, the Flyers visit the Capitals in Washington, D.C. (7:00 PM ET), followed by Lightning-Stars in Dallas (9:30 PM ET). On Thursday, April 21st, last season's leading goalscorer Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs visiting the Lightning at 8:00 PM (ET), followed up by the Blues vs. Sharks telecast from San Jose at 10:30 PM (ET). Then on Tuesday, April 26th, Islanders vs. Capitals, and Blues vs. Avalanche.

ABC will exclusively carry 10 NHL games, including the 2021 Thanksgiving Showdown between the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins, on Friday, November 26th at 1:00 PM (ET) / 12:00 PM (CT). Additional highlights include the 2022 NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 5th, at 3:00 PM (ET). Beginning on Saturday, February 26th - following the Winter Olympic break - ABC will host a weekly Saturday NHL game throughout the remainder of the regular season.

Besides the games offered on linear television through ABC and ESPN, ESPN will also offer produce games that will air exclusively on ESPN+ & Hulu.

The 2021-2022 NHL on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+/Hulu complete game schedule can be found below (please see attached):

* Tuesday, October 12th - ESPN

. Penguins vs. Lightning - 7:30 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

. Kraken vs. Golden Knights - 10:00 (John Buccigross, Brian Boucher, AJ Mleczko)

* Friday, October 15th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Wild vs. Ducks - 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Brian Boucher, Linda Cohn)

* Tuesday, October 19th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Avalanche vs. Capitals - ESPN+/Hulu, 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Cassie Campbell-Pascall)

. Islanders vs. Blackhawks - ESPN, 8:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Friday, October 22nd - ESPN+/Hulu

. Bruins vs. Sabres - 7:00 (John Buccigross, Ryan Callahan)

. Kings vs. Stars - 8:30 (Leah Hextall, Brian Boucher)

* Saturday, October 23rd - ESPN+/Hulu

. Canucks vs. Kraken - 10:00 (Steve Levy, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, October 26th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Golden Knights vs. Avalanche - ESPN, 8:00 (Sean McDonough, Brian Boucher, Emily Kaplan)

. Sharks vs. Predators - ESPN+/Hulu, 8:30 (Bob Wischusen, Cassie Campbell-Pascall)

* Friday, October 29th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Panthers vs. Red Wings - 7:00 (John Buccigross, AJ Mleczko, Leah Hextall)

* Tuesday, November 2nd - ESPN+/Hulu

. Devils vs. Ducks - 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Kevin Weekes, Linda Cohn)

. Sabres vs. Sharks - 10:30 (John Buccigross, Brian Boucher)

* Friday, November 5th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Coyotes vs. Ducks - 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Kevin Weekes)

. Devils vs. Kings - 10:30 (John Buccigross, Ray Ferraro, Linda Cohn)

* Tuesday, November 9th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Panthers vs. Devils - 7:00 (Sean McDonough, Brian Boucher)

. Kraken vs. Golden Knights - 10:00 (Bob Wischusen, Kevin Weekes)

* Friday, November 12th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Oilers vs. Sabres - 7:00 (John Buccigross, AJ Mleczko, Ryan Callahan)

. Coyotes vs. Blackhawks - 8:30 (Leah Hextall, Dominic Moore)

* Tuesday, November 16th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Islanders vs. Panthers - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, AJ Mleczko)

. Red Wings vs. Stars - 8:30 (Leah Hextall, Kevin Weekes)

* Friday, November 19th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Avalanche vs. Kraken - 10:00 (John Buccigross, Ray Ferraro)

* Tuesday, November 23rd - ESPN+/Hulu

. Oilers vs. Stars - 8:30 (Bob Wischusen, AJ Mleczko)

* Friday, November 26th - ABC/ESPN+, Hulu

. Rangers vs. Bruins - ABC, 1:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, AJ Mleczko)

- Replaces Blues vs. Blackhawks

. Blues vs. Blackhawks - ESPN+/Hulu, 3:30 (John Buccigross, Brian Boucher, Emily Kaplan)

. Devils vs. Predators - ESPN+/Hulu, 6:00 (Leah Hextall, Kevin Weekes)

* Tuesday, November 30th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Sharks vs. Devils - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher)

. Lightning vs. Blues - 8:00 (John Buccigross, AJ Mleczko, Emily Kaplan)

* Friday, December 3rd - ESPN+/Hulu

. Golden Knights vs. Coyotes - 9:30 (Leah Hextall, Ray Ferraro)

* Tuesday, December 7th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Predators vs. Red Wings - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Cassie Campbell-Pascall)

. Ducks vs. Sabres - 7:30 (John Buccigross, Ryan Callahan)

* Friday, December 10th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Penguins vs. Capitals - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

. Predators vs. Devils - 7:30 (John Buccigross, Dominic Moore, AJ Mleczko)

* Tuesday, December 14th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Rangers vs. Avalanche - 9:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, AJ Mleczko)

- Note: ESPN+ & Hulu was also scheduled to televise the Hurricanes vs. Wild game at 8 p.m. (ET) with Leah Hextall, Cassie Campbell-Pascall & Emily Kaplan, but that game was postponed.

* Friday, December 16th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Stars vs. Blues - 8:00 (John Buccigross, AJ Mleczko, Dominic Moore)

. Coyotes vs. Ducks - 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Kevin Weekes, Linda Cohn)

* Tuesday, December 21st - ESPN+/Hulu

. Capitals vs. Flyers - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Kevin Weekes, Emily Kaplan) (postponed)

. Coyotes vs. Kraken - 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Dominic Moore) (postponed)

* Tuesday, December 28th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Canadiens vs. Lightning - 7:00 (John Buccigross, AJ Mleczko)

. Coyotes vs. Sharks - 10:30 (Leah Hextall, Dominic Moore)

* Tuesday, January 4th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Avalanche vs. Blackhawks - 8:30 (Bob Wischusen, Kevin Weekes, Emily Kaplan)

* Thursday, January 6th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Wild vs. Bruins - ESPN, 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, AJ Mleczko)
. Penguins vs. Flyers - ESPN+/Hulu, 7:00 (John Buccigross, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, January 11th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Red Wings vs. Sharks - 10:30 (Leah Hextall, Dominic Moore)

* Thursday, January 13th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Flyers vs. Bruins - ESPN, 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, AJ Mleczko, Brian Boucher)

. Blue Jackets vs. Hurricanes - ESPN+/Hulu, 7:00 (John Buccigross, Kevin Weekes, Ryan Callahan)

* Monday, January 17th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Canadiens vs. Coyotes - 4:00 (Leah Hextall, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Linda Cohn)

* Tuesday, January 18th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Islanders vs. Flyers - 7:00 (John Buccigross, Kevin Weekes)

* Thursday, January 20th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Capitals vs. Bruins - ESPN+/Hulu, 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, AJ Mleczko)

. Avalanche vs. Kings - 9:30 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, January 25th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Stars vs. Devils - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Kevin Weekes)

. Predators vs. Kraken - 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Dominic Moore, Linda Cohn)

* Thursday, January 27th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Kings vs. Islanders - 7:00 (John Buccigross, AJ Mleczko, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, February 1st - ESPN+/Hulu

. Panthers vs. Rangers - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, AJ Mleczko)

. Sabres vs. Golden Knights - 10:00 (Sean McDonough, Dominic Moore, Emily Kaplan)

* Friday, February 4th - ESPN

. 2022 NHL All-Star Game Skills Competition (Las Vegas) - 7:30 (John Buccigross, Brian Boucher, Emily Kaplan, AJ Mleczko) (Indoor); (Gerry Dee, Laura Rutledge) (Outdoor)

* Saturday, February 5th - ABC

2022 NHL All-Star Game from Las Vegas:

. Metropolitan vs. Pacific (Las Vegas) - 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan, Laura Rutledge)

. Atlantic vs. Central (Las Vegas) - 4:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan, Laura Rutledge)

. Central vs. Metropolitan (Las Vegas) - 5:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan, Laura Rutledge)

* Friday, February 11th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Kraken vs. Ducks - 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Kevin Weekes)

* Friday, February 18th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Panthers vs. Wild - 8:00 (John Buccigross, Brian Boucher, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, February 22nd - ESPN+/Hulu

. Islanders vs. Kraken - 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Dominic Moore, Linda Cohn)

* Thursday, February 24th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Capitals vs. Rangers - ESPN, 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, Leah Hextall)

. Blue Jackets vs. Panthers - ESPN+/Hulu, 7:00 (John Buccigross, Cassie Campbell-Pascall)

* Saturday, February 26th - ABC

. Rangers vs. Penguins - 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, March 1st - ESPN+/Hulu

. Devils vs. Blue Jackets - 7:00 (Leah Hextall, AJ Mleczko)

* Thursday, March 3rd - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Hurricanes vs. Capitals - ESPN+/Hulu, 7:00 (John Buccigross, Brian Boucher, Emily Kaplan)

. Bruins vs. Golden Knights - ESPN, 9:00 (Steve Levy, Mark Messier, Chris Chelios)

* Saturday, March 5th - ABC, ESPN+/Hulu

. Blackhawks vs. Flyers - ABC, 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

. Red Wings vs. Panthers - ESPN+/Hulu, 6:00 (Leah Hextall, Brian Boucher)

* Monday, March 7th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets - 7:00 (John Buccigross, Cassie Campbell-Pascall)

* Tuesday, March 8th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Coyotes vs. Red Wings - 7:30 (Leah Hextall, Dominic Moore)

* Thursday, March 10th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Golden Knights vs. Sabres - 7:00 (John Buccigross, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

. Wild vs. Red Wings - 7:00 (Leah Hextall, Dominic Moore)

. Ducks vs. Predators - 8:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher)

* Saturday, March 12th - ABC

. Flyers vs. Hurricanes - 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, March 15th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Panthers vs. Sharks - 10:30 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher)

* Thursday, March 17th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Sharks vs. Kings - 10:30 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, Linda Cohn)

* Saturday, March 19th - ABC

. Rangers vs. Lightning - 8:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, March 22nd - ESPN+/Hulu

. Oilers vs. Stars - 8:30 (Steve Levy, Mark Messier)

. Predators vs. Kings - 10:30 (Leah Hextall, Ray Ferraro, Linda Cohn)

* Thursday, March 24th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Stars vs. Hurricanes - ESPN, 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher)

. Flyers vs. Blues - ESPN+/Hulu, 8:00 (Mike Monaco, Dominic Moore)

. Blackhawks vs. Kings - ESPN+/Hulu, 10:00 (Leah Hextall, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Saturday, March 26th - ABC, ESPN+/Hulu

. Blackhawks vs. Golden Knights - ABC, 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

. Blue Jackets vs. Wild - ESPN+/Hulu, 8:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, Leah Hextall)

* Tuesday, March 29th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Hurricanes vs. Lightning - 7:00 (Steve Levy, AJ Mleczko, Hilary Knight)

* Thursday, March 31st - ESPN+/Hulu

. Blue Jackets vs. Islanders - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher)

* Saturday, April 2nd - ABC

. Penguins vs. Avalanche - 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, April 5th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Hurricanes vs. Sabres - 7:00 (Mike Monaco, Ryan Callahan)

. Wild vs. Predators - 8:00 (Steve Levy, AJ Mleczko)

* Thursday, April 7th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Penguins vs. Rangers - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, AJ Mleczko)

. Sabres vs. Hurricanes - 7:30 (Leah Hextall, Ryan Callahan)

* Saturday, April 9th - ABC

. Capitals vs. Penguins - 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Tuesday, April 12th - ESPN

. Flyers vs. Capitals - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, Leah Hextall)

. Lightning vs. Stars - 9:30 (Steve Levy, Ray Ferraro)

* Thursday, April 14th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Red Wings vs. Hurricanes - ESPN+/Hulu, 7:00 (John Buccigross, Ryan Callahan, Emily Kaplan)

. Wild vs. Stars - ESPN, 8:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher)

* Saturday, April 16th - ABC

. Wild vs. Blues - 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Sunday, April 17th - ESPN

. Panthers vs. Red Wings - 1:00 (John Buccigross, Dominic Moore)

- Replaces Blues vs. Sharks

* Tuesday, April 19th - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Bruins vs. Blues - ESPN+/Hulu, 8:00 (Roxy Bernstein, Dominic Moore, Caley Chelios)

. Kings vs. Ducks - ESPN, 10:00 (Steve Levy, Barry Melrose, Linda Cohn)

* Thursday, April 21st - ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu

. Red Wings vs. Panthers - ESPN+/Hulu, 7:00 (Roxy Bernstein, Kevin Weekes)

. Maple Leafs vs. Lightning - ESPN, 8:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, Leah Hextall)

* Saturday, April 23rd - ABC

. Rangers vs. Bruins - 3:00 (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan)

* Sunday, April 24th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Maple Leafs vs. Capitals - 7:00 (Bob Wischusen, Brian Boucher, Emily Kaplan)

. Lightning vs. Panthers - 7:00 (John Buccigross, Ryan Callahan)

* Monday, April 25th - ESPN+/Hulu

. Flyers vs. Blackhawks - 8:00 (Mike Monaco, Dominic Moore)

* Tuesday, April 26th - ESPN

. Oilers vs. Penguins - 7:00 (Sean McDonough, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Leah Hextall)

- Replaces Islanders vs. Capitals

. Blues vs. Avalanche - 9:30 (Steve Levy, AJ Mleczko, Hilary Knight)