The 2026-27 NHL national TV schedule is taking shape. The season opens Tuesday, September 29, 2026 with an ESPN tripleheader, and the marquee events – the Winter Classic, Stadium Series, All-Star Weekend, Global Series and Heritage Classic – already have locked dates. The full game-by-game national slate across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS and truTV is announced by the NHL in late summer; below you will find every confirmed national game and event, a free printable PDF, and this page updates the moment the complete grid drops.
Download the Free Printable NHL National TV Schedule (PDF)
2026-27 NHL National TV Schedule: Quick Facts
- Last updated: July 17, 2026
- Season opener: Tue, Sept 29, 2026 – ESPN tripleheader
- US national partners: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPN+, Hulu; TNT, TBS, truTV, HBO Max
- Winter Classic: Thu, Dec 31, 2026 – Colorado at Utah (Salt Lake City)
- Stadium Series: Sat, Feb 20, 2027 – Vegas at Dallas (ABC)
- All-Star Weekend: Feb 5-6, 2027 – UBS Arena, Elmont NY
- Full national grid: Announced by the NHL in late summer 2026 – this page updates when it drops
Opening Week National Games
The NHL and ESPN open the 2026-27 season with a Tuesday tripleheader on September 29, followed by a TNT doubleheader on September 30. These are the confirmed national broadcasts to date:
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 29 | 5:00 PM | Florida at Carolina (banner night) | ESPN |
| Tue, Sep 29 | 8:00 PM | NY Rangers at Boston | ESPN |
| Tue, Sep 29 | 10:30 PM | Chicago at Vegas | ESPN |
| Wed, Sep 30 | 7:30 PM | Pittsburgh at Philadelphia | TNT |
| Wed, Sep 30 | 10:00 PM | Los Angeles at Colorado | TNT |
Marquee & Special Events (2026-27)
Every tentpole event on the 2026-27 calendar, with the expected national partner. Network assignments marked with an asterisk (*) follow the ESPN/TNT rights deal but have not been individually confirmed yet.
| Date | Event | Matchup / Site | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Oct 25 | Heritage Classic (outdoor) | Montreal at Winnipeg | TBD |
| Thu, Nov 12 | Global Series Finland | Seattle vs Carolina (Helsinki) | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Global Series Finland | Seattle vs Carolina (Helsinki) | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Thanksgiving Showdown | NY Rangers at Boston | TNT* |
| Fri, Dec 18 | Global Series Germany | Ottawa vs Chicago (Dusseldorf) | TBD |
| Sun, Dec 20 | Global Series Germany | Ottawa vs Chicago (Dusseldorf) | TBD |
| Thu, Dec 31 | Winter Classic (outdoor) | Colorado at Utah (Salt Lake City) | TNT* |
| Fri, Feb 5 | All-Star Skills | UBS Arena, Elmont NY | ESPN* |
| Sat, Feb 6 | All-Star Game | UBS Arena, Elmont NY | ABC* |
| Sat, Feb 20 | Stadium Series (outdoor) | Vegas at Dallas (Arlington TX) | ABC |
| Jun 2027 | Stanley Cup Final | TBD | TNT |
How to Watch: ESPN, TNT & ABC Windows
Disney (ESPN / ESPN2 / ABC): ESPN opens the season on September 29 and airs national games on select nights, with games sliding to ESPN2 when needed. ABC “Hockey Saturday” windows run on select weekends from January through April, and ABC carries the All-Star Game and the Stadium Series. ESPN+ and Hulu stream exclusive national games plus the out-of-market package.
Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT / TBS / truTV): TNT airs Wednesday nights all season, select Sundays, the Thanksgiving Showdown, and the Winter Classic, with TBS and truTV used for overflow and simulcasts. TNT Sports games also stream on HBO Max. TNT holds the 2027 Stanley Cup Final. Start times are Eastern and can shift for national windows. For the official source, see the NHL schedule.
2026-27 NHL National TV Schedule: FAQ
When does the 2026-27 NHL season start on national TV?
The 2026-27 season opens Tuesday, September 29, 2026 with an ESPN tripleheader: Florida at Carolina (5:00 PM ET banner-raising), NY Rangers at Boston (8:00 PM ET), and Chicago at Vegas (10:30 PM ET). TNT follows with a doubleheader on September 30.
What networks carry the NHL nationally in 2026-27?
U.S. national coverage is split between Disney (ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, plus ESPN+ and Hulu streaming) and Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT, TBS, truTV, streaming on HBO Max). ESPN opens the season and ABC airs Hockey Saturday windows from January through April; TNT airs Wednesday nights, select Sundays, the Thanksgiving Showdown, and the Winter Classic. TNT holds the 2027 Stanley Cup Final.
When is the full NHL national TV schedule announced?
The NHL and its partners announce the complete game-by-game national television slate in late summer, historically about five weeks before opening night (the 2025-26 national schedule was announced August 31, 2025). This page lists every confirmed national game and event now and will be updated with the full grid the moment it is released.
Is there a printable 2026-27 NHL national TV schedule?
Yes. This page has a free printable PDF of the confirmed 2026-27 NHL national TV games and marquee events (Winter Classic, Stadium Series, All-Star Weekend, Global Series and more), which you can download and print.
More 2026-27 NHL Schedules
- 2026-27 NHL Schedule Hub: All 32 Teams (Printable PDFs)
- 2026-27 NHL Opening Night Schedule
- 2026-27 NHL Outdoor Games: Winter Classic & Stadium Series
- 2027 NHL Playoff Bracket & Schedule
