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| The current logo for ABC and ESPN’s NHL coverage (2021-present). (NewscastStudio) |
| ► Wednesday, August 26, 2026
✵ Highlights:
- ESPN gets ready to televise its sixth season (2026-27) of NHL hockey under its current deal, with ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ also set to be involved in NHL coverage this season. ESPN will exclusively televise 37 games, while ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ will see 47 NHL games streamed throughout the season
- The puck drops on the new season with an Opening Night tripleheader on Tuesday, September 29.
- The “Frozen Frenzy” returns to ESPN platforms on Tuesday, October 13 with a tripleheader of games, including Devils-Red Wings (6:00 PM ET), Avalanche-Stars (8:30 PM ET), and Bruins-Sharks (11:00 PM ET).
- 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend features the Skills Competition from UBS Arena in Elmont, New York (home of the New York Islanders) on Friday, February 5 on ESPN.
- ESPN’s 2026-27 NHL coverage also includes first-round and second-round playoff games, culminating with a Conference Final series.
This week, ESPN announced its full 2026-27 NHL regular-season schedule, with 100 exclusive game broadcasts, starting on Tuesday, September 29 and continuing through the end of the regular season in April. ESPN begins its sixth season covering the National Hockey League (NHL) under the current media rights deal. 84 games will be part of the ESPN package in some fashion, including 37 exclusive games on the network and 47 more games that can be seen on ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu.
The regular season calendar features an Opening Night tripleheader on September 29, the fourth version of the NHL Frozen Frenzy, and Honda NHL All-Star Weekend following a two-year hiatus. The comprehensive slate of games leads into ESPN’s coverage of the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning in April.
ESPN’s weekly studio program, The Point, debuts for the season on Tuesday, September 29, with weekly pregame coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The first episode will be available on Tuesday, September 29 at 4:00 PM ET on ESPN and ESPN+ leading into ESPN’s Opening Night tripleheader. The Point remains a central part of ESPN’s NHL coverage, with regular episodes before regular season and playoff games.
NHL Opening Night on ESPN:
As previously mentioned earlier this year, the NHL is expanding to an 84-game regular season schedule beginning with the 2026-27 season. This year marks the first time since the 1994-95 season that 84 regular season games will be played. With that in mind, ESPN will be televising an Opening Night tripleheader on Tuesday, September 29.
Coverage begins at 5:00 PM ET when the Carolina Hurricanes, the defending Stanley Cup champion, raise their championship banner before hosting the Florida Panthers. At 8:00 PM ET, the New York Rangers visit the Boston Bruins in a matchup of two Original Six teams. Finally, at 10:30 PM ET, three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane returns to the Chicago Blackhawks as they go up against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
NHL Frozen Frenzy Returns Tuesday, October 13:
This year’s NHL Frozen Frenzy, a wonderful night of hockey action featuring all 32 clubs, is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13. During this special evening, ESPN will televise a tripleheader of games — Devils at Red Wings (6:00 PM ET), Avalanche at Stars (8:30 PM ET) & Bruins at Sharks (11:00 PM ET).
NHL Power Play on the ESPN App will feature an additional 13 NHL Frozen Frenzy games, all scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT with 15-minute staggered intervals, ensuring a night filled with uninterrupted action. As every team takes to the ice, ESPN2 will air a whip-around show, offering live updates and highlights from each game, spotlighting the most impressive plays, hits, and goals of the evening.
2027 Honda All-Star Weekend:
For the first time since 2025, the All-Star Weekend is back on the NHL schedule! This year’s All-Star skills competition from UBS Arena in Elmont, New York (home of the New York Islanders) will take place on Friday, February 5 at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN.
Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Starting in early April, ESPN will be your home for live coverage of the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs. ESPN will showcase first- and second-round playoff games before ending its NHL season with an exclusive presentation of the Conference Finals.
2026-27 NHL on ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu, & Disney+ Exclusive Game Highlights:
- Thursday, January 14: USA gold medalists take the ice as Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk lead the Florida Panthers versus Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy, and Brock Faber and the Minnesota Wild (9:30 PM ET, ESPN).
- Sunday, March 7: Former Golden Knight Pavel Dorofeyev faces the Golden Knights for the first time as a New York Ranger when New York welcomes Vegas to Madison Square Garden (7:00 PM ET, ESPN).
- Sunday, April 4: Two legends and future first-ballot Hall of Famers pick up their long-time rivalry in the District, as Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins battle Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals from Capital One Arena, in what could be Ovi’s last home game (pending Washington’s playoff status at that time).
- Tuesday, April 6: A unique playoff push whip-around program delivers highlights amid the playoff chase, bridging the gap between Penguins-Rangers (7:00 PM ET) and Blues-Golden Knights (10:30 PM ET).
For more information about the 2026-27 NHL on ABC schedule, please click the link below.
You can find ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+’s full 2026-27 NHL regular season schedule below, with updates made regularly throughout the season.
- NHL on ESPN (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+): 2026-27 NHL Regular Season Broadcast Schedule | All Times Eastern and Subject to Change
|| ● Tuesday, September 29 (Tripleheader) — Opening Night:
. Panthers at Hurricanes - ESPN, 5:00 PM ET -
. Rangers at Bruins - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET -
. Blackhawks at Golden Knights - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, October 1 (Doubleheader):
. Flyers at Devils - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:00 PM ET -
. Blackhawks at Mammoth - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, October 6 (Doubleheader):
. Islanders at Rangers - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET -
. Panthers at Kings - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, October 8:
. Sharks at Blues - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 8:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, October 13 (Tripleheader) — NHL Frozen Frenzy:
. Devils at Red Wings - ESPN, 6:00 PM ET -
. Avalanche at Stars - ESPN, 8:30 PM ET -
. Bruins at Sharks - ESPN, 11:00 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, October 15:
. Flyers at Red Wings - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, October 20 (Doubleheader):
. Bruins at Stars - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET -
. Lightning at Golden Knights - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, October 22 (Doubleheader):
. Kings at Islanders - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Mammoth at Kraken - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, October 27 (Doubleheader):
. Bruins at Hurricanes - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET -
. Sabres at Sharks - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, October 29 (Doubleheader):
. Blackhawks at Red Wings - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Sabres at Ducks - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, November 3:
. Oilers at Devils - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, November 5 (Doubleheader):
. Hurricanes at Islanders - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:00 PM ET -
. Predators at Avalanche - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, November 10 (Doubleheader):
. Panthers at Blue Jackets - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Predators at Kings - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, November 12 (Doubleheader):
. Red Wings at Panthers - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Islanders at Kings - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, November 17:
. Capitals at Lightning - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, November 19 (Doubleheader):
. Oilers at Lightning - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Stars at Golden Knights - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, December 1:
. Sharks at Devils - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, December 3 (Doubleheader):
. Islanders at Flyers - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Stars at Kraken - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, December 8:
. Avalanche at Blues - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 8:00 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, December 10 (Doubleheader):
. Penguins at Panthers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET -
. Capitals at Kraken - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, December 15:
. Kings at Red Wings - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, December 17:
. Maple Leafs at Devils - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Friday, December 18:
. Canadiens at Sabres - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, December 22:
. Kings at Wild - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 8:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, January 5 (Doubleheader):
. Oilers at Predators - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Wild at Ducks - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, January 7 (Doubleheader):
. Blackhawks at Rangers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET -
. Wild at Golden Knights - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, January 12:
. Avalanche at Penguins - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:00 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, January 14:
. Panthers at Wild - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, January 19 (Doubleheader):
. Stars at Devils - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:00 PM ET -
. Sharks at Kings - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, January 21:
. Red Wings at Wild - ESPN, 9:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, January 26:
. Blackhawks at Blues - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 8:00 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, January 28 (Doubleheader):
. Kings at Flyers - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Blackhawks at Ducks - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Friday, February 5 — 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend (Elmont, New York):
. 2027 NHL Skills Competition (UBS Arena) - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, February 9:
. Avalanche at Hurricanes - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, February 16:
. Panthers at Lightning - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, February 18:
. Flyers at Stars - ESPN, 9:00 PM ET -
|| ● Friday, February 19:
. Kraken at Mammoth - ESPN, 9:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, February 23:
. Hurricanes at Devils - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, February 25:
. Capitals at Bruins - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET -
|| ● Sunday, February 28 (Doubleheader):
. Avalanche at Blackhawks - ESPN, 6:30 PM ET -
. Stars at Blues - ESPN, 9:00 PM ET -
| ● Thursday, March 4 (Doubleheader):
. Devils at Red Wings - ESPN, 6:00 PM ET -
. Penguins at Panthers - ESPN, 8:30 PM ET -
|| ● Sunday, March 7 (Doubleheader):
. Golden Knights at Rangers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET -
. Capitals at Wild - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, March 9 (Doubleheader):
. Hurricanes at Wild - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 8:00 PM ET -
. Sharks at Golden Knights - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, March 11:
. Kings at Kraken - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Monday, March 15 (Doubleheader):
. Islanders at Bruins - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET -
. Oilers at Avalanche - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, March 16 (Doubleheader):
. Sharks at Blackhawks - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 8:00 PM ET -
. Hurricanes at Ducks - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, March 18 (Doubleheader):
. Capitals at Sabres - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
. Mammoth at Ducks - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 10:00 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, March 23 (Doubleheader):
. Red Wings at Capitals - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:00 PM ET -
. Mammoth at Avalanche - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Thursday, March 25 (Doubleheader):
. Flyers at Lightning - ESPN, 6:30 PM ET -
. Oilers at Wild - ESPN, 9:00 PM ET -
|| ● Sunday, March 28 (Doubleheader):
. Red Wings at Canadiens - ESPN, 6:00 PM ET -
. Sabres at Blues - ESPN, 8:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, March 30:
. Hurricanes at Islanders - ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu, 7:30 PM ET -
|| ● Sunday, April 4 (Doubleheader):
. Penguins at Capitals - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET -
. Blues at Sharks - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET -
|| ● Tuesday, April 6 (Doubleheader):
. Penguins at Rangers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET -
. Blues at Golden Knights - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET -
|| 🛈 Sources: NHL & ESPN Press Room ||
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