Before the puck drops on the 2024–2025 NHL regular season, each team will compete in a series of preseason matchups starting September 21, 2024. NHL Network and TNT will televise select games nationwide, but most preseason hockey action airs on regional sports networks (RSNs).
DIRECTV STREAM is our favorite service for catching the NHL preseason. It comes with every national NHL channel and offers most RSNs based on your location. But if you support a team far from home, you’ll want ESPN+ for out-of-market streaming access.
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 games mostly air locally on regional sports networks or stream on each NHL team’s website. NHL Network and TNT broadcast some matchups nationwide, and you can stream 40+ out-of-market preseason games on ESPN+.
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.
2024 NHL preseason schedule
This year’s NHL preseason runs from September 21 to October 5. Like previous seasons, the two-week period includes neutral-site exhibition games happening domestically and internationally. Buffalo Sabres fans in Germany will get a special treat as the NHL Global Series makes a preseason stop at SAP Garden in Munich.
| Game | Day | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres | Saturday, Sept. 21 | 7:00 p.m. |
| St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars | Saturday, Sept. 21 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Minnesota Wild at Winnipeg Jets | Saturday, Sept. 21 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Nashville Predators (split squad) at Florida Panthers (split squad) | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 3:00 p.m. |
| New York Rangers at Boston Bruins | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Nashville Predators (split squad) at Florida Panthers (split squad) | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 6:00 p.m. |
| New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 7:00 p.m. |
| St. Louis Blues vs. Utah Hockey Club (in Des Moines, Iowa) | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres | Monday, Sept. 23 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Philadelphia Flyers at Montreal Canadiens | Monday, Sept. 23 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Calgary Flames (split squad) at Edmonton Oilers (split squad) | Monday, Sept. 23 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche | Monday, Sept. 23 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Edmonton Oilers (split squad) at Calgary Flames (split squad) | Monday, Sept. 23 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Los Angeles Kings at Utah Hockey Club | Monday, Sept. 23 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins | Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning | Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New Jersey Devils at Montreal Canadiens | Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New York Islanders at New York Rangers | Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators | Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins | Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks | Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks | Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (in Orlando, Fla.) | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 7:00 p.m. |
| St. Louis Blues at Columbus Blue Jackets | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks (in Abbotsford, B.C.) | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Boston Bruins at New York Rangers | Thursday, Sept. 26 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators | Thursday, Sept. 26 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs | Thursday, Sept. 26 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers | Thursday, Sept. 26 | 7:00 p.m. |
| San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks | Thursday, Sept. 26 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Buffalo Sabres vs. Red Bull Munich (in Munich, Germany) | Friday, Sept. 27 | 2:30 p.m. |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings | Friday, Sept. 27 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals | Friday, Sept. 27 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes | Friday, Sept. 27 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Nashville Predators at Tampa Bay Lightning | Friday, Sept. 27 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders | Friday, Sept. 27 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars | Friday, Sept. 27 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild | Friday, Sept. 27 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Utah Hockey Club at Vegas Golden Knights | Friday, Sept. 27 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Vancouver Canucks at Seattle Kraken | Friday, Sept. 27 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings (in Ontario, Calif.) | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Seattle Kraken at Edmonton Oilers | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 9:00 p.m. |
Data effective as of post date.
| Game | Day | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild | Sunday, Sept. 29 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (in Sudbury, Ont.) | Sunday, Sept. 29 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Utah Hockey Club at Colorado Avalanche | Sunday, Sept. 29 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres | Monday, Sept. 30 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils | Monday, Sept. 30 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Philadelphia Flyers at New York Islanders | Monday, Sept. 30 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers | Monday, Sept. 30 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets | Monday, Sept. 30 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames | Monday, Sept. 30 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers | Monday, Sept. 30 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks | Monday, Sept. 30 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Philadelphia Flyers at Boston Bruins | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Blue Jackets at St. Louis Blues | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 9:30 p.m. |
| Utah Hockey Club at San Jose Sharks | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Nashville Predators at Carolina Hurricanes | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Calgary Flames at Winnipeg Jets | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Utah Hockey Club at Anaheim Ducks | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Boston Bruins vs. Los Angeles Kings (in Quebec City, Que.) | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins | Friday, Oct. 4 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New York Rangers at New York Islanders | Friday, Oct. 4 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings | Friday, Oct. 4 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes | Friday, Oct. 4 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks | Friday, Oct. 4 | 8:30 p.m. |
| Winnipeg Jets at Calgary Flames | Friday, Oct. 4 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks | Friday, Oct. 4 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks | Friday, Oct. 4 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Carolina Hurricanes at Nashville Predators | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Florida Panthers vs. Los Angeles Kings (in Quebec City, Que.) | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Colorado Avalanche at Utah Hockey Club | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues (in Milwaukee, Wisc.) | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 8:00 p.m. |
| San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 10:00 p.m. |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching the NHL preseason
The best TV plans for watching the NHL preseason depend on the games you wish to see. If you prefer having access to every preseason duel, you’ll want DIRECTV STREAM and ESPN+.
DIRECTV STREAM will get you every national NHL channel and your regional sports network, while ESPN+ provides out-of-market access. Together, DIRECTV STREAM with a standalone ESPN+ subscription is the most expensive route for NHL fans. It’s also unnecessary if you want only the televised games featuring your favorite team. In that case, you may look to one of these options:
- Local games: Watching locally televised NHL preseason games is tricky because every team has different TV affiliates. In most cases, you’ll need a TV provider like DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo to get RSN access. Otherwise, depending on your local team’s broadcaster, a simple TV antenna can pick up games over the air.
- Out-of-market games: ESPN+ and NHL Center Ice carry out-of-market NHL games. You won’t get every out-of-market preseason game because not every game airs on TV, but ESPN+ is a great streaming option for only $10.99 a month.
- National games: Sling TV is the cheapest way to get national NHL channels like ESPN, NHL Network, and TNT. All you’ll need is the Sling Orange plan ($45.99/mo.) and the Sports Extra add-on ($11.00/mo.).
Which TV providers carry NHL preseason games?
Any TV plan offering NHL Network and TNT will get you nationally televised NHL preseason games. To help your search, we listed 13 popular TV services in the table below and illustrated whether they carry the two channels.
| Provider | Price | NHL Network | TNT | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $71.00–$162.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $84.99–$164.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $84.99–$154.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | $91.99–$121.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $14.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ | — |
View plans Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $81.99–$95.99/mo. | — | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $30.00–$160.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $28.00/mo. | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $45.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $45.00–$105.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Xfinity | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Xfinity review |
| Verizon Fios | $95.00–$139.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Verizon Fios review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | — | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date.
How to watch the NHL preseason for free
Unfortunately, no straightforward viewing methods exist to watch NHL preseason games for free. In some metropolitan areas with NHL teams, you might catch a few matchups using an over-the-air (OTA) antenna—such as KMCC in Las Vegas airing Vegas Golden Knights preseason games. However, this option is not viable for most NHL fans, especially if you don’t live near your favorite team.
While scouring Reddit for free NHL streams is possible, we don’t endorse that approach due to its illegality, unreliability, and potential risks to your streaming device. Instead, a legitimate and inexpensive option is subscribing to ESPN+ at $10.99 a month, which provides access to over 40 preseason matchups with no additional commitments.
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, you’ll need a TV plan with your local team’s regional sports network. You can also explore out-of-market options like ESPN+ and NHL Center Ice if you support a non-local team. In cases where no viewing option is available, games are typically still accessible through each team’s radio partner.
How to watch the NHL preseason FAQ
Can you stream NHL preseason games?
Yes, you can stream NHL preseason games on any live TV streaming service that offers NHL Network, TNT, and your local team’s RSN affiliate. ESPN+ also carries select out-of-market games during the preseason.
Are NHL preseason games blacked out?
Yes, broadcasting blackouts occur for all locally televised NHL preseason games. In-market games will appear on RSNs, while ESPN+ and NHL Center Ice will show some out-of-market matchups.
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?
In Canada, some NHL preseason games air nationally on Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, and TSN. Sportsnet+ (formerly Sportsnet NOW) will show select out-of-market preseason games, while in-market games may appear on TSN’s regional networks and individual team websites.
Why you should trust us
Our experts conducted thorough research and hands-on testing to identify the best ways to watch this year’s NHL preseason. We compiled a comprehensive list of preseason matchups and channel listings. Utilizing that data, we 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.
