The current logo used for ESPN and ABC's NHL coverage (2021-present). (NewscastStudio)
| 🞙 Wednesday, August 27, 2025
- Watch all ABC NHL broadcasts on the ESPN App.
- The Stanley Cup Final returns to ABC in 2026.
- "ABC Hockey Saturday" debuts on Saturday, January 3, as Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins drop the puck against the Detroit Red Wings in a Saturday afternoon presentation (12:00 PM ET).
Earlier this week, ESPN and The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) officially disclosed their 2025-26 NHL regular-season broadcast schedule. This season, 100 exclusive games will be televised across ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, and Hulu. Additionally, games will be made available on the newly enhanced ESPN App throughout the entire season. Key events that ESPN and TWDC are set to cover during the 2025-26 NHL season, including the NHL Opening Night Tripleheader (October 7), NHL Frozen Frenzy (October 28), and 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series (February 1). ESPN and ABC will begin their coverage of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in mid-April, culminating with ABC's exclusive presentation of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final in June.
ESPN's weekly NHL studio program, "The Point", makes its season debut on Tuesday, October 7 at 4:00 PM (ET)/1:00 PM (PT) on ESPN and ESPN+, in advance of ESPN's tripleheader of opening night action. Generally, "The Point" will air weekly on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
"ABC Hockey Saturday":
For the fourth straight season, ABC will present NHL hockey coverage on Saturday afternoons and/or nights. The franchise, called "ABC Hockey Saturday", will consist of a 16-game package airing most Saturdays from Saturday, January 3 through Saturday, April 11 (with the exceptions of January 17, January 24, February 7, February 14, & February 21).
Stanley Cup Final:
ABC will televise the Stanley Cup Final in June 2026.
2025-26 Exclusive Game Highlights (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, & Hulu):
- Thursday, October 9 — A rematch of a 2025 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series between the Devils and the Hurricanes. (ESPN+/Hulu)
- Tuesday, October 14 — Following a historic 2024-25 season in which he set the new all-time record for most goals scored by a single NHL player, Alexander Ovechkin (897 goals), looks to get closer to 900 career games as the Washington Capitals visit the Tampa Bay Lightning. (ESPN)
- Thursday, October 16 — Former No. 1 overall pick Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers square off against 2025 No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer and the New York Islanders. (ESPN+/Hulu)
- Tuesday, October 21 — Brad Marchand is set to visit TD Garden to face his former Bruins teammates as the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers take on the Bruins. (ESPN)
- Tuesday, November 4 — A 2025 Western Conference Finals Rematch as Oilers, Stars clash. (ESPN+/Hulu)
- Thursday, November 6 — A pair of Future Hall of Famers square off one more time as Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins host Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. (ESPN+/Hulu)
- Wednesday, November 26 — A special Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday) ESPN+/Hulu game as the Blackhawks play the Wild in a Central Division showdown from the United Center.
- Saturday, January 3 — The Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby open the "ABC Hockey Saturday" schedule on the road against the Detroit Red Wings for an early matinee in the Motor City. (ABC)
- Saturday, January 10 — "Original Six" game between the Rangers and Bruins from TD Garden in Boston. (ABC)
- Thursday, January 15 — An ESPN doubleheader starts off with the "Battle of Pennsylvania" between the Flyers and the Penguins. Later, Mitch Marner gets a chance to face his former squad as the Maple Leafs travel to play the Golden Knights.
- Thursday, January 29 — A Thursday Doubleheader on ESPN+/Hulu. First, the Washington Capitals tussle with the Detroit Red Wings in an Eastern Conference matchup. Then, the Stars challenge the Golden Knights in a Western Conference duel.
- Thursday, February 5 — We go inside "The Battle of Florida" as Sam Reinhart and the two-time reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers take on Nikita Kucherov and their longtime rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning. (ESPN+/Hulu)
- Thursday, February 26 — Following a lengthy break due to the Winter Olympics, ESPN hosts a doubleheader of games. The Flyers and Rangers are set to renew their rivalry at Madison Square Garden. In the nightcap, the Oilers and Kings play each other in the rematch of the 2025 Western Conference Quarterfinals. (ESPN)
- Saturday, March 21 - Bruins vs. Red Wings in an "Original Six" "ABC Hockey Saturday" primetime affair (8:00 PM ET). (ABC)
- Saturday, March 28 - Two Eastern Conference clubs duke it out under the primetime lights as the Philadelphia Flyers compete against the Detroit Red Wings, with "ABC Hockey Saturday" set to document the action beginning at 8:00 PM ET. (ABC)
- Sunday, April 5 - ESPN is your home for a super rare Sunday NHL Doubleheader. The Capitals and Rangers participate in Metropolitan Division play at 7:00 PM ET, and the Blues visit the Avalanche in Denver at 9:30 PM ET. (ESPN)
- Saturday, April 11 - ABC completes its regular-season NHL coverage with a special "ABC Hockey Saturday" tripleheader. The Lightning collide with the Bruins in Boston (12:30 PM ET), the Capitals invade Pittsburgh for a meeting with the Penguins (3:00 PM ET), & two Western Conference teams share the primetime slot as the Golden Knights battle the Avalanche (8:00 PM ET). (ABC)
ABC's 2025-26 NHL regular-season broadcast schedule is posted below. Updates will be made regularly to broadcast schedules. Additionally, commentators will be added throughout the season as they are confirmed.
- NHL on ABC: 2025-26 NHL Regular Season Broadcast Schedule (All Times Eastern and Subject to Change)
| Saturday, January 3 ("ABC Hockey Saturday" Premiere)
. Penguins at Red Wings - ABC, 12:00 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, January 10
. Rangers at Bruins - ABC, 1:00 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, January 31 (Doubleheader)
. Avalanche at Red Wings - ABC, 1:00 PM (ET) -
. Rangers at Penguins - ABC, 3:30 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, February 28 (Doubleheader)
. Penguins at Rangers - ABC, 12:30 PM (ET) -
. Bruins at Flyers - ABC, 3:00 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, March 7 (Doubleheader)
. Capitals at Bruins - ABC, 12:30 PM (ET) -
. Rangers at Devils - ABC, 3:00 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, March 14
. Bruins at Capitals - ABC, 3:00 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, March 21
. Bruins at Red Wings - ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, March 28
. Flyers at Red Wings - ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, April 4 (Doubleheader)
. Red Wings at Rangers - ABC, 12:30 PM (ET) -
. Avalanche at Stars - ABC, 3:00 PM (ET) -
| Saturday, April 11 (Tripleheader)
. Lightning at Bruins - ABC, 12:30 PM (ET) -
. Capitals at Penguins - ABC, 3:00 PM (ET) -
. Golden Knights at Avalanche - ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) -
|| Sources 🛈: ESPN Press Room ||
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