The Detroit Red Wings have spent years in rebuild mode, but the tide may finally be turning. Captain Dylan Larkin leads a maturing core, Moritz Seider anchors the blue line, Lucas Raymond looks ready for a breakout, and newcomer John Gibson adds stability in goal. In Hockeytown, there’s growing belief the long playoff drought could soon end.
I’ve followed the Wings through both glory years and lean seasons, and one thing’s clear: keeping up with every game on TV can be tricky. That’s because broadcast rights are split between regional networks, national channels, and streaming platforms. This guide cuts through the clutter, so whether you’re watching from Michigan, across the U.S., or in Canada, you’ll know exactly where to find every puck drop.
From FanDuel Sports Network Detroit’s local coverage to national broadcasts on ESPN and TNT, I’ll walk you through the best ways to follow the Red Wings. I even outline my picks for the most reliable and cost-effective TV setup.
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What channels have Detroit Red Wings games?
In the U.S., most Red Wings games air locally on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (FDSDET). Detroit’s home TV market includes all of Michigan and parts of Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. If you live outside that region, you can catch those FDSDET broadcasts on ESPN+ (streaming) or NHL Center Ice (cable/satellite).
Nationally televised games appear on ESPN, TNT, ABC, and occasionally NHL Network. Most live TV services carry these channels, but you can also stream all ABC and ESPN matchups on ESPN Unlimited and catch TNT games through HBO Max‘s higher-tier plans.
Want radio coverage? The Red Wings’ flagship radio station is 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM) in Detroit, which broadcasts all regular-season and playoff games.
2025–2026 Detroit Red Wings TV schedule
From October’s Opening Night at Little Caesars Arena to the final push for a playoff spot in April, every game will be part of Detroit’s comeback story. The big question is, can they finally squash the longest playoff drought in franchise history?
Here’s the complete 2025–2026 Red Wings TV schedule with start times and channel listings. Now, you can follow the action from the first puck drop to the last horn.
| Opponent | Date | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Preseason |
|||
| Chicago Blackhawks | Tuesday, Sept. 23 | 7:00 p.m. | DetriotRedWings.com |
| Buffalo Sabres | Thursday, Sept. 25 | 7:00 p.m. | DetriotRedWings.com |
| At Pittsburgh Penguins | Friday, Sept. 26 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Buffalo Sabres | Saturday, Sept. 27 | 3:00 p.m. | DetriotRedWings.com |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Monday, Sept. 29 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Chicago Blackhawks | Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 8:00 p.m. | DetriotRedWings.com |
| At Toronto Maple Leafs | Thursday, Oct. 2 | 7:00 p.m. | DetriotRedWings.com |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
|
October |
|||
| Montreal Canadiens | Thursday, Oct. 9 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Toronto Maple Leafs | Monday, Oct. 13 | 4:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Florida Panthers | Wednesday, Oct. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | TNT, HBO Max |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Friday, Oct. 17 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Edmonton Oilers | Sunday, Oct. 19 | 3:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Buffalo Sabres | Wednesday, Oct. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, HBO Max |
| At New York Islanders | Thursday, Oct. 23 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| St. Louis Blues | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At St. Louis Blues | Tuesday, Oct. 28 | 8:15 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Los Angeles Kings | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 10:30 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Anaheim Ducks | Friday, Oct. 31 | 10:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
|
November |
|||
| At San Jose Sharks | Sunday, Nov. 2 | 8:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Vegas Golden Knights | Tuesday, Nov. 4 | 10:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| New York Rangers | Friday, Nov. 7 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Sunday, Nov. 9 | 1:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Anaheim Ducks | Thursday, Nov. 13 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Buffalo Sabres | Saturday, Nov. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At New York Rangers | Sunday, Nov. 16 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Seattle Kraken | Tuesday, Nov. 18 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| New York Islanders | Thursday, Nov. 20 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Saturday, Nov. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At New Jersey Devils | Monday, Nov. 24 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Nashville Predators | Wednesday, Nov. 26 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Friday, Nov. 28 | 12:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Boston Bruins | Saturday, Nov. 29 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
|
December |
|||
| Boston Bruins | Tuesday, Dec. 2 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Columbus Blue Jackets | Thursday, Dec. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+, Hulu |
| At Seattle Kraken | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 10:00 p.m. | FDSDET Extra |
| At Vancouver Canucks | Monday, Dec. 8 | 10:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Calgary Flames | Wednesday, Dec. 10 | 8:30 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Edmonton Oilers | Thursday, Dec. 11 | 9:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Chicago Blackhawks | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 8:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| New York Islanders | Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Utah Mammoth | Wednesday, Dec. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, HBO Max |
| At Washington Capitals | Saturday, Dec. 20 | 12:30 p.m. | FDSDET, NHL Network |
| Washington Capitals | Sunday, Dec. 21 | 1:00 p.m. | FDSDET, NHL Network |
| Dallas Stars | Tuesday, Dec. 23 | 6:30 p.m. | TNT, HBO Max |
| At Carolina Hurricanes | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Sunday, Dec. 28 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Winnipeg Jets | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 6:30 p.m. | FDSDET |
|
January |
|||
| At Pittsburgh Penguins | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Saturday, Jan. 3 | 12:00 p.m. | ABC |
| At Ottawa Senators | Monday, Jan. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Vancouver Canucks | Thursday, Jan. 8 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Montreal Canadiens | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Carolina Hurricanes | Monday, Jan. 12 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Boston Bruins | Tuesday, Jan. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, HBO Max |
| San Jose Sharks | Friday, Jan. 16 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Ottawa Senators | Sunday, Jan. 18 | 5:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Toronto Maple Leafs | Wednesday, Jan. 21 | 7:00 p.m. | TNT, HBO Max |
| At Minnesota Wild | Thursday, Jan. 22 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| At Winnipeg Jets | Saturday, Jan. 24 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Los Angeles Kings | Tuesday, Jan. 27 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET Extra |
| Washington Capitals | Thursday, Jan. 29 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+, Hulu |
| Colorado Avalanche | Saturday, Jan. 31 | 1:00 p.m. | ABC |
|
February |
|||
| At Colorado Avalanche | Monday, Feb. 2 | 9:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Utah Mammoth | Wednesday, Feb. 4 | 9:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Ottawa Senators | Thursday, Feb. 26 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Carolina Hurricanes | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
|
March |
|||
| At Nashville Predators | Monday, March 2 | 8:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Wednesday, March 4 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Florida Panthers | Friday, March 6 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At New Jersey Devils | Sunday, March 8 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| At Florida Panthers | Tuesday, March 10 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Tampa Bay Lightning | Thursday, March 12 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Dallas Stars | Saturday, March 14 | 8:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Calgary Flames | Monday, March 16 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Montreal Canadiens | Thursday, March 19 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Boston Bruins | Saturday, March 21 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Ottawa Senators | Tuesday, March 24 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Buffalo Sabres | Friday, March 27 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Saturday, March 28 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC |
| At Pittsburgh Penguins | Tuesday, March 31 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
|
April |
|||
| At Philadelphia Flyers | Thursday, April 2 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET Extra |
| At New York Rangers | Saturday, April 4 | 12:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Minnesota Wild | Sunday, April 5 | 1:00 p.m. | TNT, HBO Max |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Tuesday, April 7 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Thursday, April 9 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| New Jersey Devils | Saturday, April 11 | 5:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Tampa Bay Lightning | Monday, April 13 | 7:00 p.m. | FDSDET |
| At Florida Panthers | Wednesday, April 15 | 7:00 p.m. | TNT, HBO Max |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching the Detroit Red Wings
If you’re in Michigan or within the FanDuel Sports Network Detroit region, DIRECTV‘s CHOICE plan or higher is my top pick. It combines FDSDET’s local coverage with ESPN, TNT, ABC, and NHL Network for national games. A standalone FanDuel Sports Network streaming subscription is also a solid option for local broadcasts, but you’ll still need another service for national matchups.
For out-of-market fans, I recommend Hulu + Live TV because it bundles ESPN+ directly into the subscription. That means you get every out-of-market game alongside the core national channels—a better value than paying for ESPN+ and a separate live TV service. You’ll only miss out on NHL Network, which Hulu + Live TV doesn’t carry.
If you’re budget-conscious, pair ESPN+ with a short-term subscription to a national-channel service during the busiest parts of the season. It’s a flexible way to follow the team without committing to full-season costs.
Canadian TV and streaming options
In Canada, most Red Wings games air on Sportsnet or TSN. But national matchups may appear on Amazon Prime Video’s Monday Night Hockey or CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. Out-of-market matchups not picked up nationally stream on Sportsnet+ Premium, which works on mobile devices, desktops, and smart TVs.
French-language coverage, when available, is shown on RDS and TVA Sports. Select NHL Network games may also appear on Canadian TV, depending on the schedule.
How to watch the Detroit Red Wings for free
Most Red Wings games require a subscription, but there are a few ways to watch without paying. DIRECTV, Fubo, and YouTube TV often have free trials of varying lengths that can cover nationally televised matchups. Even Hulu + Live TV occasionally offers free trials, giving you temporary access to out-of-market games on ESPN+
You can also catch select national broadcasts on ABC in the U.S. or CBC in Canada for free using an over-the-air antenna. These free options cover only a small portion of the schedule, so a paid plan is still the best way to follow the team all season.
How to watch the Detroit Red Wings FAQ
How can I watch the Detroit Red Wings if I don’t live in Michigan?
For out-of-market Red Wings fans, your most important service will be ESPN+, which streams nearly every regular-season game. I recommend getting Hulu + Live TV since it bundles ESPN+ with national NHL channels. But if you’re an existing cable or satellite TV subscriber, you’ll need the NHL Center Ice add-on for out-of-market coverage.
Does ESPN+ show every Red Wings game?
While ESPN+ streams every out-of-market Red Wings game, it’s not a complete one-stop shop due to blackout rules. Most games airing nationally on ESPN or TNT will be blacked out, as will local games on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit if you’re in Michigan. The silver lining? ESPN+ has on-demand replays of every single game after the final horn.
How can I watch the Red Wings in Canada?
Because of the team's popularity and proximity to the border, Red Wings games frequently appear on national TV in Canada. Games against Canadian teams typically air on Sportsnet or TSN. But you'll want Sportsnet+ Premium for out-of-market coverage, and you should also check Amazon Prime Video for exclusive Monday Night Hockey matchups.
What happened to Bally Sports Detroit?
Bally Sports Detroit rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network Detroit in October 2024. It remains the go-to place for in-market Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers games and is available through most of the same local TV providers. For cord-cutters, the network also offers a standalone streaming subscription, and you can check your eligibility on FanDuelSportsNetwork.com.
Why you should trust us
This guide was written by CableTV.com contributor Ian McLaren, a lifelong NHL fan who’s covered the sport and followed the Red Wings through both championship runs and rebuilding years.
Ian knows firsthand how tricky it can be to keep up with every game amidst regional blackouts and shifting broadcast rights. That’s why he used his expertise to analyze the full 2025–2026 NHL broadcast schedule, sorting through the complex rules to create a clear and reliable guide for Red Wings fans.
Check out CableTV.com’s How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
