Where to Watch NHL 2026-27: Every Network and App

If you are wondering where to watch NHL 2026 games in the US, the season is split between two national partners: ESPN and ABC on one side, and TNT, truTV and HBO Max on the other. ESPN has most Tuesday and Thursday games, ABC has Saturday nights, TNT has Wednesday nights, and out-of-market games stream in the ESPN app. Your local team’s games air on a regional sports network or team streaming service.

The 2026-27 regular season starts on September 29, the league’s earliest start ever, and each team plays 84 games for the first time since 1993-94. Here is the full map, with approximate prices at the time of writing.

The 2026-27 NHL TV map

Night-by-night national schedule

• Tuesday and Thursday: ESPN and ESPN2 carry most of their national games on these nights.
• Wednesday: TNT’s Wednesday night hockey, often doubleheaders, also streaming on HBO Max. truTV picks up overflow and alternate broadcasts.
• Saturday: ABC’s Hockey Saturday, with 16 regular-season games.
• Sunday: ESPN doubleheaders on four weekends.
• Any night: the ESPN app’s 47 exclusive national games, which also stream on Hulu and Disney+.

In opening week, ESPN has an opening-day tripleheader and TNT has a Friday doubleheader.

Big events and the playoffs

ABC and TNT alternate the Stanley Cup Final each year. ABC had it in 2026, so the 2027 Final is on TNT. With TNT’s deal ending after this season, the future of national rights is worth watching.

Out-of-market games in the ESPN app

NHL Power Play in the ESPN app is the main way to watch out-of-market games in the US. It includes most games that are not on your local team’s regional network and not exclusive to another national partner, plus on-demand replays of national games.

• Your local team is blacked out live in the out-of-market package.
• Games exclusive to TNT or ABC are not part of it live.
• ESPN Select includes the out-of-market package, while ESPN Unlimited adds the ESPN TV channels.

For a breakdown of ESPN’s plans and bundles, see our guide to the cheapest way to watch ESPN.

Local team games

Most of your team’s 84 games are not national. They air on a regional sports network, a local broadcast partner, or a team-run streaming service, depending on the club. Check your team’s website for its in-market streaming options and the live TV services that carry its network.

Our comparison of the best US live TV options for locals and sports covers which bundles include regional sports networks.

What is new for 2026-27

Several changes make this season different from the last few, and they affect where you watch.

1. 84-game schedule. Every team plays two more games than before, so there are more national windows to fill across ESPN, ABC and TNT.
2. Earliest start ever. The season begins on September 29, overlapping with the end of the baseball season and the start of the NBA.
3. Disney+ joins the simulcast. ESPN’s streaming exclusives now stream on Disney+ alongside Hulu, so many households already have access without a separate ESPN plan.
4. Last season of the current TNT deal. TNT has the 2027 Stanley Cup Final, the third and last Final in its seven-year contract.

Watching on your TV

Every national partner has apps on the major platforms: the ESPN app, HBO Max, Hulu and Disney+ run on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV and most smart TVs. An antenna adds ABC’s Saturday games, the All-Star Game and the Stadium Series for free. Regional sports network apps vary more by platform, so check your team’s network before you pick a device.

Which setup fits you?

Some fans look at IPTV subscriptions as well. Our own plan, IPTV Journal, is $89 for 12 months. IPTV is a legal technology, but only licensed services can legally carry NHL games, so check what any provider is authorized to show in your area. Our guide to subscribing to IPTV safely covers what to check.

FAQ

What channels show the NHL in 2026-27?

ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, truTV and NHL Network carry national games, while HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+ and the ESPN app stream them. Local games air on regional sports networks or team streaming services.

When does the 2026-27 NHL season start?

The regular season starts on September 29, 2026, the earliest start in league history, and runs to April 10, 2027. Teams play 84 games each this season.

Where can I watch out-of-market NHL games?

In the ESPN app through NHL Power Play, which is included with ESPN Select. Your local team’s games are blacked out there, and you watch them on your regional network instead.

What network has the 2027 Stanley Cup Final?

TNT has the 2027 Stanley Cup Final in the US, the last Final of its current deal. You can stream it on HBO Max or through a live TV service that carries TNT.

Is the 2027 Winter Classic on TNT?

Yes. The Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, with the Utah Mammoth hosting the Colorado Avalanche, airs on TNT and streams on HBO Max.