Before the puck drops on the 2026-2027 NHL regular season, each team will compete in a series of preseason matchups starting September 19, 2026. NHL Network and TNT will televise select games nationwide, but most preseason hockey action airs on regional sports networks (RSNs).
DIRECTV 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 Select 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 channels are a bit of a mixed bag. Most games air locally on regional sports networks or stream with geo-restrictions on each team’s official website. NHL Network and TNT broadcast some matchups nationwide, and you can stream many out-of-market preseason games on ESPN Select.
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 19-26. It’s the first year with a reduced preseason schedule and an 84-game regular season after the league and players’ union negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement in 2025.
The one-week period includes neutral-site exhibition games happening domestically and internationally. One of the marquee events is a celebration of the 2025 Kraft Hockeyville-winning community, Saint-Boniface, Quebec. The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators will play that game on Sept. 21.
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | ||
| Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs* | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens* | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers | 8:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild | 8:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights | 9:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Vancouver Canucks at Seattle Kraken | 9:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | ||
| New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils | 1:00 p.m. | TBA |
| San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks | 4:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Nashville Predators at Tampa Bay Lightning | 5:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins | 5:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Utah Mammoth at Colorado Avalanche | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames | 8:00 p.m. | TBA |
Data effective as of post date.
* Denotes split-squad games
Data effective as of post date.
* Denotes split-squad games
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 and ESPN Select.
DIRECTV will get you every national NHL channel and your regional sports network, while ESPN Select provides out-of-market access on the ESPN+ channel. Together, DIRECTV with a standalone ESPN Select 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 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 Select 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 Select is a great streaming option for only $13.99 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 | $20.00–$184.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Cox Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $89.99–$169.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV Read DIRECTV review |
| Stream with DIRECTV | $84.99–$171.98/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM Read Stream with DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $89.99–$119.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DISH Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $14.99–$103.99/mo. | ✔ | — |
View Plans for FuboTV Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $88.99–$99.99/mo. | — | ✔ |
View Plans for Hulu Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $15.00–$140.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Optimum Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $33.00/mo. | — | — |
View Plans for Philo Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $19.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Sling TV Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $40.00–$145.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $105.00–$149.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Verizon Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $65.00–$135.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Xfinity Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | — | ✔ |
View Plans for YouTube TV 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 Select at $13.99 a month, which will provide access to many 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 Select 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 Select 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 Select 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 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. Utilizing 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.
