How To Watch NHL Games on ESPN+: 2025–2026 TV Guide
Skate into endless hours of NHL action with ESPN+ and catch every out-of-market game this season.
Heads up! As of October 2025, ESPN+ has been rebranded as ESPN Select. This page still refers to the service as ESPN+ for familiarity’s sake.
ESPN+ is an essential streaming service for any serious NHL fan, offering exclusive matchups and over 1,050 out-of-market games at a competitive price. It even hosts extensive college hockey coverage among thousands of other live sporting events.
Still unsure if ESPN+ is the right fit for your hockey obsession? In this guide, I’ll give you a hands-on review of what the service offers from an NHL perspective. Most importantly, I’ve also compiled a list of every national NHL matchup that’ll stream on ESPN+ this season.
Is ESPN Plus worth it for NHL fans?
ESPN+ is worth it for NHL fans who prefer streaming over traditional cable TV. Its NHL Power Play coverage gets you every out-of-market game this season, which is perfect if you support a team in a different region. Additionally, ESPN+ includes exclusive NHL matchups you won’t be able to watch live anywhere else but on Hulu.
Content-wise, existing cable or satellite customers can get the same out-of-market coverage with the NHL Center Ice add-on. But you’ll still miss the nearly 50 games exclusive to ESPN+/Hulu this season.
ESPN+ isn’t without its detractors. While its NHL game quantity is impressive, navigating the ESPN app on most streaming devices can be a headache. Sure, ESPN recently revamped its app interface. But it’s still kind of clunky, and nothing’s more frustrating than technical difficulties when watching live sports.
In short, if you’re willing to overlook its technical shortcomings, ESPN+’s massive content library makes it well worth the investment.
Watch 100 national NHL games on ESPN platforms this season
During the 2025–2026 NHL regular season, ESPN+ will stream 47 games exclusively and possibly simulcast others from ABC and ESPN. That’s on top of the 1,050+ out-of-market games available to all ESPN+ subscribers based on location. But keep in mind that several ESPN games will require an ESPN Unlimited subscription or a TV provider login to stream in the ESPN app. That includes the 2026 NHL Stadium Series.
The table below features all the nationally televised NHL games streaming on ESPN platforms this season. Now, you can plan which type of ESPN subscription you’ll need to follow your team.
2025–2026 NHL on ESPN schedule
| Game | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
|
October |
|||
| Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers | Tuesday, Oct. 7 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers | Tuesday, Oct. 7 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings | Tuesday, Oct. 7 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes | Thursday, Oct. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks | Thursday, Oct. 9 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals | Tuesday, Oct. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars | Tuesday, Oct. 14 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Edmonton Oilers at New York Islanders | Thursday, Oct. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| San Jose Sharks at Utah Mammoth | Friday, Oct. 17 | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins | Tuesday, Oct. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Colorado Avalanche at Utah Mammoth | Tuesday, Oct. 21 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning | Thursday, Oct. 23 | 6:45 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars | Thursday, Oct. 23 | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres | Friday, Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers | Tuesday, Oct. 28 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Washington Capitals at Dallas Stars | Tuesday, Oct. 28 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks | Tuesday, Oct. 28 | 11:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
|
November |
|||
| Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars | Tuesday, Nov. 4 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins | Thursday, Nov. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Florida Panthers at Los Angeles Kings | Thursday, Nov. 6 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| San Jose Sharks at Minnesota Wild | Tuesday, Nov. 11 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Edmonton Oilers at Columbus Blue Jackets | Thursday, Nov. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Edmonton Oilers at Tampa Bay Lightning | Thursday, Nov. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks | Thursday, Nov. 20 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks | Wednesday, Nov. 26 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
|
December |
|||
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers | Tuesday, Dec. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights | Tuesday, Dec. 2 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes | Thursday, Dec. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Los Angeles Kings | Thursday, Dec. 4 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes | Tuesday, Dec. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Florida Panthers at Colorado Avalanche | Thursday, Dec. 11 | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues | Friday, Dec. 12 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres | Thursday, Dec. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Nashville Predators at Minnesota Wild | Tuesday, Dec. 23 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
|
January |
|||
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings | Friday, Jan. 3 | 12:00 p.m. | ABC |
| New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders | Monday, Jan. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| New York Rangers at Boston Bruins | Friday, Jan. 10 | 1:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Carolina Hurricanes at St. Louis Blues | Monday, Jan. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Utah Mammoth | Monday, Jan. 13 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins | Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Vegas Golden Knights | Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Carolina Hurricanes | Wednesday, Jan. 22 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Detroit Red Wings at Minnesota Wild | Wednesday, Jan. 22 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks | Thursday, Jan. 23 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues | Monday, Jan. 27 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Washington Capitals at Detroit Red Wings | Wednesday, Jan. 29 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Dallas Stars at Vegas Golden Knights | Wednesday, Jan. 29 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Colorado Avalanche at Detroit Red Wings | Friday, Jan. 31 | 1:00 p.m. | ABC |
| New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins | Friday, Jan. 31 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
|
February |
|||
|
2026 NHL Stadium Series Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning |
Saturday, Feb. 1 | TBD | ESPN |
| Vegas Golden Knights at Anaheim Ducks | Saturday, Feb. 1 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning | Monday, Feb. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning | Wednesday, Feb. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers | Wednesday, Feb. 26 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings | Wednesday, Feb. 26 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers | Friday, Feb. 28 | 12:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers | Friday, Feb. 28 | 3:00 p.m. | ABC |
|
March |
|||
| Florida Panthers at New York Islanders | Saturday, March 1 | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils | Tuesday, March 4 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| St. Louis Blues at Seattle Kraken | Tuesday, March 4 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets | Wednesday, March 5 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| New York Islanders at Los Angeles Kings | Wednesday, March 5 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins | Friday, March 7 | 12:30 p.m. | ABC |
| New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils | Friday, March 7 | 3:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils | Saturday, March 8 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights | Saturday, March 8 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Utah Mammoth at Minnesota Wild | Monday, March 10 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars | Wednesday, March 12 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Edmonton Oilers at St. Louis Blues | Thursday, March 13 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals | Friday, March 14 | 3:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils | Sunday, March 16 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche | Sunday, March 16 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild | Wednesday, March 19 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights | Wednesday, March 19 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings | Friday, March 21 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers | Monday, March 24 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Edmonton Oilers at Utah Mammoth | Monday, March 24 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Minnesota Wild at Florida Panthers | Wednesday, March 26 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights | Wednesday, March 26 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings | Friday, March 28 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets | Monday, March 31 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
|
April |
|||
| Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils | Wednesday, April 2 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Utah Mammoth at Seattle Kraken | Wednesday, April 2 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers | Friday, April 4 | 12:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars | Friday, April 4 | 3:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Washington Capitals at New York Rangers | Saturday, April 5 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche | Saturday, April 5 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils | Monday, April 7 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Edmonton Oilers at Utah Mammoth | Monday, April 7 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings | Wednesday, April 9 | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars | Wednesday, April 9 | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu |
| Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins | Friday, April 11 | 12:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins | Friday, April 11 | 3:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche | Friday, April 11 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Los Angeles Kings at Seattle Kraken | Sunday, April 13 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets | Monday, April 14 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues | Monday, April 14 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| St. Louis Blues at Utah Mammoth | Wednesday, April 16 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche | Wednesday, April 16 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Data effective as of post date.
Get affordable out-of-market coverage with ESPN Plus
At $12.99/mo., ESPN+ is one of the cheapest streaming services to offer out-of-market coverage of any major sports league. The fact that it goes well beyond delivering just NHL coverage makes it a versatile viewing platform for all sports fans. That’s not something other out-of-market services like NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, or MLB.TV can offer.
Whether you’re a die-hard NHL fan or enjoy a variety of sports, ESPN+ has tremendous value. Visit my What To Watch on ESPN+ page to explore some of my favorite sports and series included with the service.
| Plan | Monthly price | Annual price | Channels | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN Select | $12.99/mo. | $129.99/yr. | ESPN+ | View Plans for ESPN+ |
| ESPN Unlimited | $29.99/mo. | $299.99/yr. | ESPN+, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SECN, ACCN, ESPN on ABC, SECN+, ACCNX, and ESPN3 | View Plans for ESPN+ |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Pro tip: If you’re looking for a more robust live TV option, Hulu + Live TV includes ESPN+ at no extra cost and carries key sports channels like ESPN, FS1, and TNT. The only downside for hockey fans is that Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer NHL Network.
Don’t miss college hockey and more on ESPN Plus
Beyond live NHL games, ESPN+ offers a range of college hockey action. Most of those matchups come from the Hockey East and ECAC Hockey leagues, but subscribers also get many non-conference and independent games. The service even streams most games from the NCAA hockey tournament—including men’s and women’s Frozen Four action.
Unfortunately, ESPN+ scaled back on some of its original hockey programming, such as In the Crease and Quest for the Stanley Cup. But it still features several hockey specials and carries The Point for in-depth analysis throughout the NHL season. It also streams NHL Frozen Frenzy, an annual whip-around show that occurs when all 32 NHL teams play on the same night.
NHL on ESPN+ FAQ
Will ESPN+ have all NHL games?
ESPN+ (via ESPN Select) will stream every live out-of-market NHL game this season, along with 47 nationally televised matchups. While it won’t include other nationally televised games or those airing on in-market channels, ESPN+ offers all NHL games on demand for up to 30 days.
Do I need NHL Center Ice if I have ESPN+?
No, NHL Center Ice is the league’s out-of-market service for cable and satellite subscribers. If you already have ESPN+, you’ll get the same out-of-market coverage and around 50 exclusive games. NHL Center Ice’s only content benefit over ESPN+ is that it includes access to NHL Network.
How soon are NHL replays available on ESPN+?
Most NHL replays are available on ESPN+ shortly after the final horn. But replays of games broadcast on TNT Sports, NHL Network, or local channels with blackout restrictions won’t be available until 24 hours after the match ends. Once added, on-demand replays remain on ESPN+ for 30 days.
How can I watch blacked-out NHL games on ESPN+?
NHL games blacked out on ESPN+ are usually available live on national channels like TNT or regional sports networks (RSNs). You can’t watch these games live on ESPN+ due to location restrictions, but the full replays are available 24 hours later. Some users bypass blackouts using a VPN to connect to a server in a region where the game is available. But this is a risky method that violates ESPN+’s terms of service. To avoid blackouts legally, you’ll want a TV service like DIRECTV that offers every national NHL channel and your local RSN.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, continuously tests ESPN+ to evaluate its worth for NHL fans. Entering this season, Taylor analyzed the service’s cost, compared its game coverage to other NHL viewing platforms, and assessed its additional features. Our constant hands-on research ensures you get the most reliable information for choosing your NHL viewing options.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
