This week marks the beginning of the NHL season, and there will be five matchups on opening night, which is this Tuesday, Sept. 29. In the U.S., hockey fans can tune in to an opening night triple-header on ESPN, which begins at 5 p.m. ET with defending Stanley Cup Champion the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers. At 8 p.m., the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins face off, and then the night will wrap up with a 10:30 p.m. clash between the Chicago Blackhawks and Vegas Golden Knights. Also on the schedule for opening night are two all-Canadian clashes: the Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers, both of which will be available on Sportsnet in Canada and the ESPN App in the U.S.
These games, plus over 30 more, will kick off the opening week of the NHL. If you’re wondering how to tune in, you’ve got a lot of options. In the U.S., NHL games this season will air nationally across ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, NHL Network, TNT and HBO Max, and many will also air locally on regional sports networks.
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Here’s a look at every way to watch the 2026-27 NHL season, along with the opening night schedule to see how to tune in.
How to watch the 2026-27 NHL season
Dates: Sept. 29, 2026 – April 10, 2027
TV channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, NHL Network
Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, YouTube TV, HBO Max and more
How long is the NHL season?
The 2026-27 NHL season begins on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2027 and runs through April 10, 2027. The postseason will run from April through June 2027.
What channels are showing NHL games this season?
This season, NHL games will air across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and NHL Network.
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NHL opening night schedule:
Most NHL games are available locally, if a game is out of market in your area, it is likely available on ESPN+.)
All times Eastern
Tuesday, Sept. 29
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5 p.m. Carolina Panthers vs. Florida Hurricanes (ESPN)
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7 p.m. Montreal Candiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Sportsnet/ESPN+)
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8 p.m. New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins (ESPN)
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10 p.m. Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers (Sportsnet/ESPN+)
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10:30 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Las Vegas Golden Knights (ESPN)
How to watch NHL games in 2026 without cable
This season, the NHL’s opening-night triple-header airs on ESPN. TNT (along with truTV and HBO Max) will carry 72 national games on Wednesdays and Fridays this season; ESPN and the ESPN App will carry Thursday games; and most other opening-week games will air on regional and team outlets.
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