All-Access NHL Coverage Returns to ESPN and The Walt Disney Company for the 2025-26 Season
The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) and ESPN today announced their comprehensive broadcast plan for the 2025-26 National Hockey League (NHL) season. With 100 exclusive games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, and Hulu, fans will have more access to hockey than ever before. All games will be available for live streaming on the ESPN App via either an ESPN direct-to-consumer (DTC) or Pay TV subscription. The season will feature marquee events, including the NHL Opening Night tripleheader, the return of NHL Frozen Frenzy, the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, and the exclusive broadcast of the Stanley Cup Final on TWDC networks.
What’s Happening:
- The season kicks off on Tuesday, October 7, with three exciting matchups on ESPN. The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will raise their banner before taking on the Chicago Blackhawks at 5 p.m. ET. The night continues with the Pittsburgh Penguins facing the New York Rangers at 8 p.m. ET, and the Colorado Avalanche battling the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET.
- Mark your calendars for October 28, a special night where all 32 NHL teams will be in action. ESPN's exclusive tripleheader begins at 6 p.m. ET with the "Battle of Pennsylvania" between the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, followed by the Washington Capitals at the Dallas Stars, and the Los Angeles Kings at the San Jose Sharks. NHL Power Play will feature the remaining 13 games with staggered start times.
- 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series returns on February 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins on ESPN.
- For the first time since 2021, the Stanley Cup Final will return exclusively to The Walt Disney Company in June 2026, culminating the season on either ABC or ESPN.
- ESPN’s weekly NHL studio show, The Point, premieres October 7 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+. The show will be a weekly staple on ESPN2 and ESPN+ throughout the fall.
- For fans who want to follow their favorite teams out of market, NHL Power Play on the ESPN App will offer more than 1,050 out-of-market games. This service, available to all ESPN DTC subscribers, includes options for home and away commentary and Canadian broadcasts of Hockey Night in Canada.
Key Matchups to Watch:
- Oct. 14: Alexander Ovechkin attempts to reach 900 career goals as the Washington Capitals take on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
- Oct. 16: The highly anticipated matchup between two No. 1 draft picks, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and 2025's No. 1 pick, Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders.
- Oct. 21: A must-see return as former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand, now with the Florida Panthers, faces his old team at TD Garden.
- Nov. 6: A battle of future Hall of Famers as Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Jan. 15: An ESPN doubleheader featuring the "Battle of Pennsylvania" between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, followed by Mitch Marner’s first game against his former team as the Vegas Golden Knights host the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Feb. 5: The "Battle of Florida" featuring the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
- April 11: An ABC Hockey Saturday tripleheader includes the Lightning vs. Bruins, Capitals vs. Penguins, and Golden Knights vs. Avalanche.
Date | Time (ET) | Teams | Platform(s) |
Tue, Oct. 7 | 5 p.m. | Chicago Blackhawks vs. Florida Panthers | ESPN |
8 p.m. | Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers | ESPN | |
10:30 p.m. | Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings | ESPN | |
Thu, Oct. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Tue, Oct. 14 | 7 p.m. | Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Washington Capitals | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars | ESPN | |
Thu, Oct. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. New York Islanders | ESPN+/Hulu |
Fri, Oct. 17 | 9 p.m. | San Jose Sharks vs. Utah Mammoth | ESPN+/Hulu |
Tue, Oct. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins | ESPN |
10 p.m. | Colorado Avalanche vs. Utah Mammoth | ESPN | |
Thu, Oct. 23 | 6:45 p.m. | Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | ESPN+/Hulu |
9 p.m. | Los Angeles Kings vs. Dallas Stars | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Fri, Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres | ESPN+/Hulu |
Tue, Oct. 28 | 6 p.m. | Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers | ESPN |
8:30 p.m. | Washington Capitals vs. Dallas Stars | ESPN | |
11 p.m. | Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks | ESPN | |
Thu, Oct. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | New York Islanders vs. Carolina Hurricanes | ESPN+/Hulu |
Tue, Nov. 4 | 8 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, Nov. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Florida Panthers vs. Los Angeles Kings | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Tue, Nov. 11 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Sharks vs. Minnesota Wild | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, Nov. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, Nov. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Wed, Nov. 26 | 8:30 p.m. | Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks | ESPN+/Hulu |
Tue, Dec. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vegas Golden Knights | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Thu, Dec. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Tue, Dec. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Carolina Hurricanes | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, Dec. 11 | 9 p.m. | Florida Panthers vs. Colorado Avalanche | ESPN |
Fri, Dec. 12 | 8 p.m. | Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, Dec. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres | ESPN+/Hulu |
Tue, Dec. 23 | 8 p.m. | Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild | ESPN+/Hulu |
Sat, Jan. 3 | 12 p.m. | Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings | ABC |
Tue, Jan. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders | ESPN+/Hulu |
Sat, Jan. 10 | 1 p.m. | New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins | ABC |
Tue, Jan. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Carolina Hurricanes vs. St. Louis Blues | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Utah Mammoth | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Thu, Jan. 15 | 7 p.m. | Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vegas Golden Knights | ESPN | |
Thu, Jan. 22 | 7 p.m. | Chicago Blackhawks vs. Carolina Hurricanes | ESPN+/Hulu |
9:30 p.m. | Detroit Red Wings vs. Minnesota Wild | ESPN | |
Fri, Jan. 23 | 7 p.m. | Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks | ESPN |
Tue, Jan. 27 | 8 p.m. | Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, Jan. 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Sat, Jan. 31 | 1 p.m. | Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit Red Wings | ABC |
3:30 p.m. | New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | ABC | |
Sun, Feb. 1 | TBD | 2026 NHL Stadium Series Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks | ESPN | |
Tue, Feb. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, Feb. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, Feb. 26 | 8 p.m. | Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers | ESPN |
10:30 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings | ESPN | |
Sat, Feb. 28 | 12:30 p.m. | Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers | ABC |
3 p.m. | Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers | ABC | |
Sun, March 1 | 6:30 p.m. | Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders | ESPN |
Wed, March 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | St. Louis Blues vs. Seattle Kraken | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Thu, March 5 | 7 p.m. | Florida Panthers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | New York Islanders vs. Los Angeles Kings | ESPN | |
Sat, March 7 | 12:30 p.m. | Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins | ABC |
3 p.m. | New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils | ABC | |
Sun, March 8 | 7 p.m. | Detroit Red Wings vs. New Jersey Devils | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights | ESPN | |
Tue, March 10 | 8 p.m. | Utah Mammoth vs. Minnesota Wild | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, March 12 | 8 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars | ESPN+/Hulu |
Fri, March 13 | 8 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. St. Louis Blues | ESPN+/Hulu |
Sat, March 14 | 3 p.m. | Boston Bruins vs. Washington Capitals | ABC |
Mon, March 16 | 7 p.m. | Boston Bruins vs. New Jersey Devils | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche | ESPN | |
Thu, March 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Sat, March 21 | 8 p.m. | Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings | ABC |
Tue, March 24 | 7 p.m. | Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Philadelphia Flyers | ESPN+/Hulu |
9:30 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Utah Mammoth | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Thu, March 26 | 7 p.m. | Minnesota Wild vs. Florida Panthers | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights | ESPN | |
Sat, March 28 | 8 p.m. | Philadelphia Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings | ABC |
Tue, March 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Carolina Hurricanes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | ESPN+/Hulu |
Thu, April 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils | ESPN+/Hulu |
10 p.m. | Utah Mammoth vs. Seattle Kraken | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Sat, April 4 | 12:30 p.m. | Detroit Red Wings vs. New York Rangers | ABC |
3 p.m. | Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars | ABC | |
Sun, April 5 | 7 p.m. | Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | St. Louis Blues vs. Colorado Avalanche | ESPN | |
Tue, April 7 | 7 p.m. | Philadelphia Flyers vs. New Jersey Devils | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | Edmonton Oilers vs. Utah Mammoth | ESPN | |
Thu, April 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Philadelphia Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings | ESPN+/Hulu |
9 p.m. | Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars | ESPN+/Hulu | |
Sat, April 11 | 12:30 p.m. | Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins | ABC |
3 p.m. | Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | ABC | |
8 p.m. | Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche | ABC | |
Mon, April 13 | 9:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Kings vs. Seattle Kraken | ESPN |
Tue, April 14 | 7 p.m. | Washington Capitals vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | ESPN |
9:30 p.m. | Pittsburgh Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues | ESPN | |
Thu, April 16 | 8 p.m. | St. Louis Blues vs. Utah Mammoth | ESPN |
10:30 p.m. | Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche | ESPN |
Beyond the Broadcast: A Look at the NHL Landscape
- The 2025-26 NHL season marks a significant period for the league and its players.
- It will be the final regular season under the current 82-game schedule before a planned expansion to 84 games in 2026-27.
- This season also marks the first time since 2014 that NHL players will participate in the Winter Olympics, with a mid-season break scheduled for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. This break will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the league's top talent on a global stage.
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