Before the puck drops on the 2026–2027 NHL regular season, the NHL’s 65-game preseason runs from September 19 through September 26. Local team broadcasters carry most games, while NHL Network and ESPN+ provide additional access to select matchups.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for catching the NHL preseason because it carries NHL Network and many local team broadcasters, depending on your location. But if you support a team far from home, ESPN Select covers ESPN+ access for many out-of-market preseason broadcasts.
Keep reading for more info on NHL preseason channels and recommended TV services. We also have a section dedicated to the full preseason schedule so you can quickly check game times.
What channels are NHL preseason games on?
NHL preseason channels are a bit of a mixed bag. Depending on the team, games may air on a regional sports network or local station, stream through a team website or app, or appear on services such as Amazon Prime Video.
NHL Network carries select matchups, while TNT and truTV carry the Dallas Stars–Minnesota Wild game on September 25, with HBO Max providing streaming access. Meanwhile, ESPN+ streams many locally produced broadcasts to out-of-market U.S. viewers. That ESPN+ content is available through the ESPN app with either an ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited subscription.
Want radio coverage? While not all NHL preseason games appear on TV, you can listen to game audio through team radio affiliates online via TuneIn.
2026 NHL preseason schedule
This year’s NHL preseason runs from September 19 to 26 and features 65 games over eight days. It’s the first season of the NHL’s shortened preseason format, paired with the regular season’s expansion from 82 to 84 games under the new collective bargaining agreement.
Because preseason broadcasts are often produced locally, one matchup may have different viewing options depending on where you live. In the table below, U.S. identifies national or out-of-market U.S. coverage, while team abbreviations identify local team broadcasts. Canadian national or regional coverage is labeled Canada.
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | ||
| Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs* | 7:00 p.m. | Canada: Sportsnet One, RDS Info |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens* | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network MTL: TSN2, RDS TOR: TSN4 |
| Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ STL: StLouisBlues.com, Blues App DAL: DallasStars.com |
| Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers | 8:00 p.m. |
EDM: Oilers+ WPG: WinnipegJets.com |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild | 8:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ MIN: Wild.com CHI: CHSN+ |
| Los Angeles Kings vs. Vegas Golden Knights (in Ontario, Calif.) | 9:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ LAK: SLVR, LAKings.com, LA Kings App VGK: The Spot – Vegas 34, KnightTime+ |
| Vancouver Canucks at Seattle Kraken | 9:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ SEA: KONG, Prime Video VAN: Sportsnet |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | ||
| New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils | 1:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network NJD: MSG, DAZN NYI: MSGSN, DAZN |
| San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks | 4:00 p.m. |
ANA: AnaheimDucks.com SJS: SJSharks.com |
| Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins | 5:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network BOS: NESN+ WSH: MNMT2 |
| Nashville Predators at Tampa Bay Lightning | 5:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ TBL: The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, Lightning App NSH: The Spot – Nashville 28, Preds App |
| Utah Mammoth at Colorado Avalanche | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ UTA: Utah 16, Mammoth+ |
| Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ FLA: The Spot – South Florida, Panthers Plus CAR: Hurricanes.com |
| Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames | 8:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network CGY: CalgaryFlames.com, Flames App SEA: KONG, Prime Video |
| Monday, Sept. 21 | ||
| Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals (in Hershey, Pa.) | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ WSH: MNMT PHI: NBCSP |
| Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets | 7:00 p.m. |
CBJ: BlueJackets.com DET: DetroitRedWings.com |
| Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ PIT: SNP BUF: MSGB |
| New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ NJD: MSGSN, DAZN NYR: MSG, DAZN |
| Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators (in Trois-Rivières, Que.) | 7:00 p.m. | U.S.: NHL Network |
| Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets | 8:00 p.m. | WPG: WinnipegJets.com |
| Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks | 8:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ CHI: CHSN MIN: Wild.com |
| St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars | 8:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ DAL: DallasStars.com STL: StLouisBlues.com, Blues App |
| Tuesday, Sept. 22 | ||
| Philadelphia Flyers at Boston Bruins | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ BOS: NESN+ PHI: NBCSP |
| Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ PIT: SNP+ DET: DetroitRedWings.com |
| Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres | 7:00 p.m. |
BUF: Sabres.com CBJ: BlueJackets.com |
| New York Islanders at New York Rangers | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ NYR: MSG NYI: MSGSN, DAZN |
| Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network CAR: Hurricanes.com FLA: The Spot – South Florida, Panthers Plus |
| Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets | 8:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ WPG: TSN3 EDM: Oilers+ |
| Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators | 8:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ NSH: The Spot – Nashville 28, Preds App TBL: The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, Lightning App |
| Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames | 9:00 p.m. | VAN: Sportsnet |
| Utah Mammoth at Los Angeles Kings | 10:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ LAK: SLVR, LAKings.com, LA Kings App UTA: Utah 16, Mammoth+ |
| Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks | 10:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network SJS: SJSharks.com VGK: The Spot – Vegas 34, KnightTime+ |
| Wednesday, Sept. 23 | ||
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators* | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network TOR: TSN4 OTT: TSN5 |
| Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs* | 7:00 p.m. | Canada: Sportsnet One |
| Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars | 8:00 p.m. |
DAL: DallasStars.com MIN: KSTC-TV (5.2), Wild.com |
| Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks | 10:00 p.m. |
ANA: FOX Los Angeles+ LAK: SLVR, LAKings.com, LA Kings App |
| Thursday, Sept. 24 | ||
| Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ PHI: NBCSP BOS: NESN+ |
| Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ DET: DSN BUF: MSGB |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets | 7:00 p.m. | CBJ: BlueJackets.com |
| New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network NYR: MSG, DAZN NJD: MSGSN, DAZN |
| Nashville Predators vs. Carolina Hurricanes (in Greensboro, N.C.) | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ CAR: Hurricanes.com NSH: The Spot – Nashville 28, Preds App |
| Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ TBL: The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, Lightning App FLA: The Spot – South Florida, Panthers Plus |
| Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues | 8:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ STL: StLouisBlues.com, Blues App CHI: CHSN |
| Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks | 9:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ Canada: Sportsnet |
| Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken | 9:40 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ SEA: KONG, Prime Video CGY: CalgaryFlames.com |
| Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights | 10:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network VGK: The Spot – Vegas 34, KnightTime+ UTA: Utah 16, Mammoth+ |
| Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks | 10:00 p.m. |
SJS: SJSharks.com ANA: AnaheimDucks.com, Ducks App |
| Friday, Sept. 25 | ||
| Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ WSH: MNMT BOS: NESN+ |
| New York Rangers at New York Islanders | 7:30 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ NYI: MSGSN, DAZN NYR: MSG, DAZN |
| Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild | 8:00 p.m. | U.S.: TNT, truTV, HBO Max |
| Winnipeg Jets at Colorado Avalanche | 8:30 p.m. | WPG: WinnipegJets.com |
| Saturday, Sept. 26 | ||
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres | 3:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network BUF: MSGB PIT: SNP+ |
| Carolina Hurricanes at Nashville Predators | 3:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ NSH: The Spot – Nashville 28, Preds App CAR: Hurricanes.com |
| Anaheim Ducks at Los Angeles Kings | 4:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ LAK: ABTV ANA: FOX Los Angeles+ |
| Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers | 5:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ PHI: NBCSP WSH: MNMT |
| Colorado Avalanche at Utah Mammoth | 5:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ UTA: Utah 16, Mammoth+ |
| Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers | 6:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ FLA: The Spot – South Florida, Panthers Plus TBL: The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, Lightning App |
| Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators* | 7:00 p.m. | OTT: Senators digital platforms |
| Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens* | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ Canada: RDS OTT: TSN5 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ DET: DSN CBJ: BlueJackets.com |
| Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ VAN: Sportsnet SEA: KONG, Prime Video |
| St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks | 7:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network CHI: CHSN+ STL: StLouisBlues.com, Blues App |
| New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders | 7:30 p.m. |
U.S.: ESPN+ NYI: MSGSN, DAZN NJD: MSG, DAZN |
| Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers | 9:00 p.m. |
EDM: Oilers+ CGY: CalgaryFlames.com |
| San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights | 10:00 p.m. |
U.S.: NHL Network VGK: The Spot – Vegas 34, KnightTime+ SJS: SJSharks.com |
Data effective as of post date. Broadcast availability may vary by location and is subject to blackout restrictions.
*Denotes split-squad games.
Best TV plans for watching the NHL preseason
The best TV setup depends on which preseason games you want to watch because no single service carries every matchup. To make things easier, we’ve broken preseason viewing into three categories: local games, out-of-market games, and national broadcasts.
Coverage can vary significantly by team and location, so check our schedule before signing up for anything. Local stations, regional networks, team-run streams, and national channels can all come into play depending on the matchup.
- Local games: Start with your team’s local broadcast partner. Preseason games may air on an RSN, a local over-the-air station, or a team website or app. DIRECTV carries many local and regional sports channels, but some team-operated streams require separate access.
- Out-of-market games: Many locally produced preseason broadcasts stream out of market under the ESPN+ banner in the ESPN app. ESPN Unlimited includes ESPN+ content, and customers with eligible TV packages from providers such as DIRECTV, Spectrum, Xfinity, Cox, Verizon Fios, and YouTube TV may already receive ESPN Unlimited with their service. NHL Center Ice also carries select out-of-market preseason games on cable and satellite.
- National games: NHL Network carries several preseason matchups, while TNT Sports channels also get in on the action. DIRECTV’s MySports Genre Pack is our preferred option because it combines NHL Network, TNT, truTV, and ESPN Unlimited without requiring one of DIRECTV’s larger TV packages.
Which TV providers carry NHL preseason games?
The most useful TV providers for the NHL preseason offer some combination of NHL Network, TNT, and ESPN Unlimited. The table below compares popular services across those three viewing options.
Data effective as of post date.
How to watch the NHL preseason for free
Unfortunately, no straightforward way exists to watch every NHL preseason game for free. But depending on your favorite team and location, you may have a few options.
In some metropolitan areas with NHL teams, you can catch select matchups with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. For example, The Spot – Vegas 34 (KMCC) in Las Vegas airs Vegas Golden Knights preseason games. This option isn’t viable for every NHL fan, especially if you don’t live near your favorite team, but it’s worth checking the schedule section above for OTA details.
Some NHL teams also offer free preseason streams through their websites or apps. For example, Panthers Plus carries all four Florida Panthers preseason games for free with registration, while all four Nashville Predators games stream for free through the Predators app. Other team-run streams may be limited to viewers inside a team’s local broadcast territory, so check the schedule above for the options available for each matchup.
Another option is to try a free trial from a live TV streaming service that carries the channels showing your team’s preseason games. DIRECTV and Fubo are useful options for regional and national coverage, but trial availability and length vary by service.
Are all NHL preseason games on TV?
Most NHL preseason games appear on TV or online, although some matchups may not have an official broadcast. Regional blackout restrictions can also prevent certain games from airing in your area.
For in-market coverage, start with your team’s local broadcast options. Depending on the club, that may include a regional or over-the-air channel, a team website or app, or a streaming service such as Amazon Prime Video. Out-of-market fans can also check ESPN Select and NHL Center Ice for additional coverage.
How to watch the NHL preseason FAQ
Can you stream NHL preseason games?
Yes, NHL preseason games stream on several services, including ESPN Select for many out-of-market broadcasts and team-specific options such as websites, apps, and direct-to-consumer streaming services. Live TV streaming services can also provide access to NHL Network, TNT, and select local channels.
Are NHL preseason games blacked out?
Blackout restrictions can apply to NHL preseason games, especially when a local broadcaster holds the rights in your area. If a game is unavailable through the ESPN app or another out-of-market platform, check the team's local TV, streaming, website, or app options instead. Availability varies by matchup and location.
Does NHL Center Ice include preseason games?
Yes, NHL Center Ice carries select out-of-market preseason games. Unlike the regular season, NHL Center Ice doesn't offer complete out-of-market access during the preseason. Blackout restrictions may also prevent certain games from airing in your area.
Where can I watch NHL preseason games in Canada?
NHL preseason coverage in Canada varies by matchup and may appear on Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, TSN regional feeds, RDS, or team websites and streaming services. Check the schedule above for the Canadian viewing options currently announced for each game.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, conducted thorough research and hands-on testing to identify the best ways to watch this year’s NHL preseason. He compiled a comprehensive list of preseason matchups and channel listings. Using that data, he compared popular TV providers to determine the most efficient way to watch the most games — considering in-market, out-of-market, and nationally televised broadcasts.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
More ways to watch NHL games
There are a lot of channels and services to keep tabs on this NHL season. But don't worry. Our guide gives you a complete rundown, highlighting the best TV providers so you don't miss a single body check.
NHL Center Ice is an out-of-market sports package for cable and satellite TV subscribers that gets you around 40 NHL games per week. It also includes NHL Network for around-the-clock hockey coverage.
Skate into endless hours of NHL action with ESPN+. Stream 1,050+ out-of-market games and 47 exclusive national matchups with ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited.
