NHL Viewing guide for 2025/2026 (USA and Canada) | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League

NHL Viewing guide for 2025/2026 (USA and Canada)

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Fenway

HF Bookie and Bruins Historian
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Sep 26, 2007
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Hampton, New Hampshire
Hockey is back!

The NHL drops the puck for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday with a tripleheader on ESPN, followed by a doubleheader on TNT on Wednesday. If you’re wondering how to catch all of the action through the Stanley Cup Final in June, the viewing options are more plentiful – and complicated – than ever.

National and local broadcasts will be scattered across over-the-air antennas, cable packages and a variety of streaming services. Whether you live in the U.S. or Canada, and whether you want to watch a local team or an out-of-market team, we have you covered.

You can watch in-market and nationally televised NHL games on Fubo (Stream Free Now).


How to watch nationally-televised NHL games in the United States

Of the 1,312 regular-season games in the NHL schedule, 172 will be broadcast nationally in the U.S., across ABC, ESPN, ESPN+/ESPN Unlimited, Hulu and TNT Sports. This will be the fifth year of the league’s seven-year rights deal with the ESPN family of networks and TNT Sports, so you’ll find the vast majority of nationally televised games on those platforms, in addition to NHL Network.

ESPN will broadcast mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while TNT handles mostly Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and ABC airs games on Saturday.

The NHL is also bringing back its “Frozen Frenzy” on Oct. 28, with all 32 teams in action on a single night, with start times staggered by 15 minutes to create more than seven hours of non-stop hockey. Several games will be aired on ESPN, with the remaining contests streamed on the ESPN app. There will also be a whip-around show with live look-ins on every game airing on ESPN2.

ABC

ABC is the home for nationally broadcast NHL games on Saturdays. The station will televise 16 NHL games on 13 different Saturdays during the 2025-26 season, most of which will be afternoon doubleheaders.

What you need to watch these games: A broadcast antenna will suffice, though ABC is also available on any cable provider or streaming service. These games also are available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.

ESPN

ESPN will broadcast 36 regular games this season on select Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends. As part of the annual rotation, ESPN and ABC will also broadcast the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, along with games from the first three rounds of playoff action. The station’s studio show — The Point with hosts John Buccigross, Steve Levy and Arda Ocal — will air weekly this fall on ESPN2 and ESPN+/ESPN Unlimited.

What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers and streaming services have this channel. ESPN Unlimited subscribers also will have access to these games. Subscribers to ESPN+/ESPN Select will not be able to view these games unless they log in through a separate cable/streaming subscription.

TNT

The home of Tuesday and Wednesday night hockey. TNT’s studio crew of Liam McHugh, Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter and Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be back for 2025-26. The station will broadcast the NHL on 12 Tuesday nights and 20 Wednesday nights throughout the season, most of which are doubleheaders, and will also have several Sunday doubleheaders.

The station will also air games in the first and second rounds of the playoffs, as well as the conference finals. All NHL games, as well as pre- and postgame coverage, will be simulcast on truTV and available to stream on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On.

What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers include TNT and truTV. Otherwise, all are available streaming on Max via the B/R Sports add-on.


NHL Network

The game schedule isn’t nearly as regular for the league’s network, but you will find a live game or two most weeks.

What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers include the channel as part of a premium package. You can stream it through Fubo, Sling and DirecTV Stream.

Hulu

All 47 of the games exclusively broadcast on ESPN+ will also be shown live on Hulu.

What you need to watch these games: A subscription to Hulu ($9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year) or ESPN+ ($11.99 per month or $119.99 per year).


How to watch out-of-market NHL games in the U.S.

More than 1,050 out-of-market games will be broadcast on NHL Power Play through the ESPN App throughout the season. The games include the choice of two separate live streams with either home team or away team commentary, as well as Canadian national presentations of Hockey Night in Canada. Replays of most games are available the next day on the streaming service, including games that air on TNT.

What you need to watch these games: An ESPN+ subscription ($11.99 per month or $119.99 per year).

How to watch out-of-market NHL games in Canada

Sportsnet+ Premium will broadcast over 1,000 out-of-market NHL games, including Hockey Night in Canada.

What you need to watch these games: A Sportsnet+ Premium subscription ($42.99 per month or $324.99 annually).


How to watch in-market NHL games​

This is where things get a bit more complicated. If you’re located inside the regional area for the local team, you won’t be able to watch the games live on ESPN+ as they will be blacked out. Instead, you’ll have to buy the cable package that includes your market’s regional sports network, or in some cases, simply find the over-the-air broadcast that can be watched for free.

Here are the options for each team:

Anaheim Ducks: Watch locally on KCOP-13 (54 games) and KTTV FOX 11 (10 games), which are both free with a broadcast antenna. All 82 games will be streamed on Victory+ (free).

Boston Bruins: Watch locally on NESN (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on NESN 360 ($29.99 per month or $239.99 per year).

Buffalo Sabres: Watch locally on MSG (available on cable and FuboTV) or stream games on Gotham Sports ($41.99 per month or $359.99 per year).

Calgary Flames: Watch locally on Sportsnet West, Sportsnet One and Sportsnet West (available on cable).

Carolina Hurricanes: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network South (available on cable and satellite) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Chicago Blackhawks: Watch locally on Chicago Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on CHSN app ($19.99 per month).

Colorado Avalanche: Watch 20 select games locally on 9NEWS (Channel 9) and KTVD (Channel 20), which are free with a broadcast antenna. The remaining games will air on Altitude (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) and stream on Altitude+ ($19.95 per month).

Columbus Blue Jackets: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (available on cable and satellite) or stream games on FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Dallas Stars: Stream games on Victory+ for free.

Detroit Red Wings: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network (available on cable and satellite) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Edmonton Oilers: Watch locally on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet One (available on cable) or on Sportsnet+ ($29.99 per month or $249.99 per year).

Florida Panthers: Watch locally on Scripps Sports (available on cable and satellite) or stream on Panthers+ ($69.99 per season).

Los Angeles Kings: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network West (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month). Select games will simulcast on KCAL-TV (free with a broadcast antenna).

Minnesota Wild: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network North (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Montreal Canadiens: Watch locally on TSN (English) and RDS (French), both of which are available on cable.

Nashville Predators: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network South (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month).

New Jersey Devils: Watch locally on MSG Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on Gotham Sports ($41.99 per month or $359.99 per year).

New York Islanders: Watch locally on MSG Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on Gotham Sports ($41.99 per month or $359.99 per year).

New York Rangers: Watch locally on MSG Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on Gotham Sports ($41.99 per month or $359.99 per year).

Ottawa Senators: Watch locally on TSN5 or RDS (available on cable), or stream on TSN+ ($8 per month or $80 per year).

Philadelphia Flyers: Watch locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) and stream games on the NBC Sports app (requires cable subscription).

Pittsburgh Penguins: Watch locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream on SNP 360 ($21.99 per month or $99.99 for a season pass).

San Jose Sharks: Watch locally on NBC Sports California (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) and stream games on NBC Sports app (requires cable subscription).

Seattle Kraken: Watch locally on KONG or KING 5 (both free with a broadcast antenna) or stream on Prime Video if you live in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana or Alaska ($14.99 per month or $139 per year).

St. Louis Blues: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Tampa Bay Lightning: Watch locally on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 (free with a broadcast antenna or available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the Lightning app ($66 per season).

Toronto Maple Leafs: Watch locally on Sportsnet and TSN (available on cable) with select Monday games streaming on Amazon Video ($14.99 per month or $139 per year).

Utah Mammoth: Watch locally on Utah 16 (free with a broadcast antenna) or stream games on Mammoth+ ($69.99 per season).

Vancouver Canucks: Watch locally on SportsNet Pacific (available on cable) or streaming on Sportsnet+ ($29.99 per month or $249.99 per year). Select Monday games will be streaming on Amazon Video ($14.99 per month or $139 per year).

Vegas Golden Knights: Watch locally on Vegas 34 (free with a broadcast antenna) or stream games on KnightTime+ ($69.99 per season).

Washington Capitals: Watch locally on Monumental Sports Network (available on cable and satellite) or stream on Monumental+ ($19.99 per month or 179.99 per year).

Winnipeg Jets: Watch locally on TSN3 (available on cable) or stream on the TSN app (cable subscription required) with select Monday games streaming on Amazon Video ($14.99 per month or $139 per year).
 
Thanks, Fenway.

I didn't follow a lot of the goings on during the off-season, but thought I heard rumors the Dallas Stars found a new network. Guess they are still just online. Every game of theirs gets blacked out on Center Ice, at least in Houston.
 
Caps - I currently dont have any watching options not on national tv.

Caps ownership said Youtube and Hulu both are not carrying any Regional Sports Networks, not just Caps or Washington DC

Options - pay directv for the 119/mos package OR pay monument sports 20/mos

Going to probably do nothing, see if the natl games is enough scratch to ease the itch

Add monument sports after allstar games?

----------------

Bottom line - this hockey fan is going from 2-3 games a week to maybe 2-3 a month; treat nationally televised games like must see tv and have fam plans work around games

Hockey - you are going to the wrong f***ing way
 
San Jose Sharks: Watch locally on NBC Sports California (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) and stream games on NBC Sports app (requires cable subscription).

For the NBC Affiliates, you can also add the RSNs if you already have Peacock. That was introduced for the Baseball season.
 
My understanding of the full streaming breakdown for Canada is:

Sportsnet+, $249.99 per year: National and in-market Sportsnet Leafs (50), Flames, Oilers, Canucks (76-78 each), Sens, Jets, and Canadiens (? national broadcasts) games plus some out-of-market US vs US games ("over 170").

Sportsnet+ Premium, $349.99 per year: All of the above plus all out-of-market games. The only exceptions are dual-broadcast games in your local market. E.g., A Canucks fan in Winnipeg will not get the out-of-market Sportsnet broadcast for Canucks-Jets games because its being broadcast locally by TSN. I believe out-of-market French broadcast Habs games require an additional add-on package.

Amazon Prime, $99 per year: Monday night Leafs, Flames, Oilers, Canucks, Jets, Sens, and Canadiens games (2-6 each).

TSN, $199.90 per year: In-market TSN Leafs (26), Jets, Senators, and Canadiens (?) games.

It's a mess. Sportsnet getting rid of an out-of-market only option and packaging it in its premium tier is ridiculous.

$550 per year to watch 82 Leafs games if you live in Ontario. That's why I steal it.

Edit: Added the Jets, Sens, and Canadiens games that are on Sportsnet and Prime.
 
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Amazon Prime, $99 per year: Monday night Leafs, Flames, Oilers, Canucks, Jets, Sens, and Canadiens games (2-6 each).

I wish they made this avaliable for all users in North America. I love the Amazon Prime presentation, but I don't get to see the whip around coverage (I guess it's like MLB Big Inning) because I'm from the US. If I subscribe to Amazon Prime, I should be able to have access. If they are worried about it interfering with Thursday Night Football, I don't think that's going to happen.

We don't have a Hockey version of Big Inning or Red Zone here and I wish we did. We get close with the Frozen Frenzy but that's only one day.
 
I wish they made this avaliable for all users in North America. I love the Amazon Prime presentation, but I don't get to see the whip around coverage (I guess it's like MLB Big Inning) because I'm from the US. If I subscribe to Amazon Prime, I should be able to have access. If they are worried about it interfering with Thursday Night Football, I don't think that's going to happen.

Prime is on Monday nights, so no, there wouldn’t be a conflict.
US doesn’t get it, as Sportsnet sells off some games to Prime.
Would need ESPN or someone to do the same in the US.
 
Many thanks to Fenway for posting this much-needed info for watching NHL games on TV. Last night, for the first time, I was able to watch a Tampa Lightning home game on my YouTube TV pkg, which includes a Fox 35 Plus channel. The in-game announcers said they would cover of all Tampa's games, except for games covered nation-wide, such as on ESPN.
 
Hockey is back!

The NHL drops the puck for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday with a tripleheader on ESPN, followed by a doubleheader on TNT on Wednesday. If you’re wondering how to catch all of the action through the Stanley Cup Final in June, the viewing options are more plentiful – and complicated – than ever.

National and local broadcasts will be scattered across over-the-air antennas, cable packages and a variety of streaming services. Whether you live in the U.S. or Canada, and whether you want to watch a local team or an out-of-market team, we have you covered.

You can watch in-market and nationally televised NHL games on Fubo (Stream Free Now).


How to watch nationally-televised NHL games in the United States

Of the 1,312 regular-season games in the NHL schedule, 172 will be broadcast nationally in the U.S., across ABC, ESPN, ESPN+/ESPN Unlimited, Hulu and TNT Sports. This will be the fifth year of the league’s seven-year rights deal with the ESPN family of networks and TNT Sports, so you’ll find the vast majority of nationally televised games on those platforms, in addition to NHL Network.

ESPN will broadcast mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while TNT handles mostly Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and ABC airs games on Saturday.

The NHL is also bringing back its “Frozen Frenzy” on Oct. 28, with all 32 teams in action on a single night, with start times staggered by 15 minutes to create more than seven hours of non-stop hockey. Several games will be aired on ESPN, with the remaining contests streamed on the ESPN app. There will also be a whip-around show with live look-ins on every game airing on ESPN2.

ABC

ABC is the home for nationally broadcast NHL games on Saturdays. The station will televise 16 NHL games on 13 different Saturdays during the 2025-26 season, most of which will be afternoon doubleheaders.

What you need to watch these games: A broadcast antenna will suffice, though ABC is also available on any cable provider or streaming service. These games also are available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.

ESPN

ESPN will broadcast 36 regular games this season on select Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends. As part of the annual rotation, ESPN and ABC will also broadcast the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, along with games from the first three rounds of playoff action. The station’s studio show — The Point with hosts John Buccigross, Steve Levy and Arda Ocal — will air weekly this fall on ESPN2 and ESPN+/ESPN Unlimited.

What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers and streaming services have this channel. ESPN Unlimited subscribers also will have access to these games. Subscribers to ESPN+/ESPN Select will not be able to view these games unless they log in through a separate cable/streaming subscription.

TNT

The home of Tuesday and Wednesday night hockey. TNT’s studio crew of Liam McHugh, Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter and Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be back for 2025-26. The station will broadcast the NHL on 12 Tuesday nights and 20 Wednesday nights throughout the season, most of which are doubleheaders, and will also have several Sunday doubleheaders.

The station will also air games in the first and second rounds of the playoffs, as well as the conference finals. All NHL games, as well as pre- and postgame coverage, will be simulcast on truTV and available to stream on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On.

What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers include TNT and truTV. Otherwise, all are available streaming on Max via the B/R Sports add-on.


NHL Network

The game schedule isn’t nearly as regular for the league’s network, but you will find a live game or two most weeks.

What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers include the channel as part of a premium package. You can stream it through Fubo, Sling and DirecTV Stream.

Hulu

All 47 of the games exclusively broadcast on ESPN+ will also be shown live on Hulu.

What you need to watch these games: A subscription to Hulu ($9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year) or ESPN+ ($11.99 per month or $119.99 per year).


How to watch out-of-market NHL games in the U.S.

More than 1,050 out-of-market games will be broadcast on NHL Power Play through the ESPN App throughout the season. The games include the choice of two separate live streams with either home team or away team commentary, as well as Canadian national presentations of Hockey Night in Canada. Replays of most games are available the next day on the streaming service, including games that air on TNT.

What you need to watch these games: An ESPN+ subscription ($11.99 per month or $119.99 per year).

How to watch out-of-market NHL games in Canada

Sportsnet+ Premium will broadcast over 1,000 out-of-market NHL games, including Hockey Night in Canada.

What you need to watch these games: A Sportsnet+ Premium subscription ($42.99 per month or $324.99 annually).


How to watch in-market NHL games​

This is where things get a bit more complicated. If you’re located inside the regional area for the local team, you won’t be able to watch the games live on ESPN+ as they will be blacked out. Instead, you’ll have to buy the cable package that includes your market’s regional sports network, or in some cases, simply find the over-the-air broadcast that can be watched for free.

Here are the options for each team:

Anaheim Ducks: Watch locally on KCOP-13 (54 games) and KTTV FOX 11 (10 games), which are both free with a broadcast antenna. All 82 games will be streamed on Victory+ (free).

Boston Bruins: Watch locally on NESN (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on NESN 360 ($29.99 per month or $239.99 per year).

Buffalo Sabres: Watch locally on MSG (available on cable and FuboTV) or stream games on Gotham Sports ($41.99 per month or $359.99 per year).

Calgary Flames: Watch locally on Sportsnet West, Sportsnet One and Sportsnet West (available on cable).

Carolina Hurricanes: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network South (available on cable and satellite) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Chicago Blackhawks: Watch locally on Chicago Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on CHSN app ($19.99 per month).

Colorado Avalanche: Watch 20 select games locally on 9NEWS (Channel 9) and KTVD (Channel 20), which are free with a broadcast antenna. The remaining games will air on Altitude (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) and stream on Altitude+ ($19.95 per month).

Columbus Blue Jackets: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (available on cable and satellite) or stream games on FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Dallas Stars: Stream games on Victory+ for free.

Detroit Red Wings: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network (available on cable and satellite) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Edmonton Oilers: Watch locally on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet One (available on cable) or on Sportsnet+ ($29.99 per month or $249.99 per year).

Florida Panthers: Watch locally on Scripps Sports (available on cable and satellite) or stream on Panthers+ ($69.99 per season).

Los Angeles Kings: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network West (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month). Select games will simulcast on KCAL-TV (free with a broadcast antenna).

Minnesota Wild: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network North (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Montreal Canadiens: Watch locally on TSN (English) and RDS (French), both of which are available on cable.

Nashville Predators: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network South (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month).

New Jersey Devils: Watch locally on MSG Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on Gotham Sports ($41.99 per month or $359.99 per year).

New York Islanders: Watch locally on MSG Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on Gotham Sports ($41.99 per month or $359.99 per year).

New York Rangers: Watch locally on MSG Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on Gotham Sports ($41.99 per month or $359.99 per year).

Ottawa Senators: Watch locally on TSN5 or RDS (available on cable), or stream on TSN+ ($8 per month or $80 per year).

Philadelphia Flyers: Watch locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) and stream games on the NBC Sports app (requires cable subscription).

Pittsburgh Penguins: Watch locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream on SNP 360 ($21.99 per month or $99.99 for a season pass).

San Jose Sharks: Watch locally on NBC Sports California (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) and stream games on NBC Sports app (requires cable subscription).

Seattle Kraken: Watch locally on KONG or KING 5 (both free with a broadcast antenna) or stream on Prime Video if you live in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana or Alaska ($14.99 per month or $139 per year).

St. Louis Blues: Watch locally on FanDuel Sports Network (available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the FanDuel Sports Network app ($19.99 per month or $189.99 per year).

Tampa Bay Lightning: Watch locally on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 (free with a broadcast antenna or available on cable, satellite and FuboTV) or stream games on the Lightning app ($66 per season).

Toronto Maple Leafs: Watch locally on Sportsnet and TSN (available on cable) with select Monday games streaming on Amazon Video ($14.99 per month or $139 per year).

Utah Mammoth: Watch locally on Utah 16 (free with a broadcast antenna) or stream games on Mammoth+ ($69.99 per season).

Vancouver Canucks: Watch locally on SportsNet Pacific (available on cable) or streaming on Sportsnet+ ($29.99 per month or $249.99 per year). Select Monday games will be streaming on Amazon Video ($14.99 per month or $139 per year).

Vegas Golden Knights: Watch locally on Vegas 34 (free with a broadcast antenna) or stream games on KnightTime+ ($69.99 per season).

Washington Capitals: Watch locally on Monumental Sports Network (available on cable and satellite) or stream on Monumental+ ($19.99 per month or 179.99 per year).

Winnipeg Jets: Watch locally on TSN3 (available on cable) or stream on the TSN app (cable subscription required) with select Monday games streaming on Amazon Video ($14.99 per month or $139 per year).

NHL Center Ice is $69.99 for US cable subscribers and allows you to watch almost every game throughout the entire season. Many games are available in feeds from both markets as well. I know people like to $hit on cable but this is a great deal IMO.
 

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