It’s almost time for the 2025-26 NHL season to begin. Headed into the NHL regular season, all eyes are on the Florida Panthers, who will be playing in pursuit of a three-peat Stanley Cup win. But there’s also the 2026 Winter Olympics to contend with. This upcoming season will feature a break in February so that NHL players can compete in the Olympics for the first time since 2014. The regular-season action kicks off this Tuesday, Oct. 7, with a triple-header featuring the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Florida Panthers, the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers, and the Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings.
Are you ready to watch? Here’s what to know about how to watch the upcoming NHL season, plus the full first week schedule.
How to watch NHL games in 2025:
Dates: Oct. 7, 2025 - Apr. 16, 2026
TV channel: ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, truTV
Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, HBO Max and more
When does the NHL season start?
The 2025-26 NHL season kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with a stacked triple-header slate. The regular NHL season runs through Apr. 16, 2026.
Will the 2025-26 NHL season take a break for the Olympics?
For the first time since 2014, NHL players will participate in the Winter Olympics. That means the NHL season will break from Feb. 3 - Feb. 22 so that players can compete in Beijing. There’s no confirmation yet on who will be playing for Team USA.
2025-26 NHL season opener schedule:
Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers: 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings: 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
What channel are NHL games on in 2025?
This season, NHL games will air across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and truTV.
How to watch NHL games without cable:
NHL 2025-26 season Week 1 schedule:
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers: 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings: 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals: 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT / Max)
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights: 10:00 p.m. ET (TNT / Max)
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Philadelphia Flyers at Florida Panthers: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes: 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+ / Hulu)
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Nashville Predators: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Utah Mammoth at Colorado Avalanche: 9:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+ / Hulu)
Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Los Angeles Kings at Winnipeg Jets: 1:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames: 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Montreal Canadiens at Chicago Blackhawks: 7:00 p.m. ET (NHL Network)
Utah Mammoth at Nashville Predators: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Minnesota Wild: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche: 9:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken: 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders: 7:00 p.m. ET (NHL Network)
Monday, October 13, 2025
Colorado Avalanche at Buffalo Sabres: 12:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins: 1:00 p.m. ET (NHL Network)
Nashville Predators at Ottawa Senators: 1:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Winnipeg Jets at New York Rangers: 1:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs: 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Florida Panthers at Philadelphia Flyers: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
New Jersey Devils at Columbus Blue Jackets: 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks: 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Utah Mammoth at Chicago Blackhawks: 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
NHL 2025-26 season key dates:
When is the NHL Hall of Fame game?
The Bruins vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs Hall of Fame game will be on Nov. 8.
When is the NHL Global Series?
The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the Nashville Predators in Stockholm, Sweden on Nov. 14 and 16.
When is the Stanley Cup Final rematch?
The Panthers will play the Oilers in a rematch of the last two Stanley Cup Finals on Nov. 22, and again on Mar. 19.
When is the NHL Winter Classic?
The Panthers will host the Rangers for the NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 2, 2026.
When will the NHL season take a break for the Olympics?
The NHL season will break from Feb. 3 - Feb. 22 so that NHL players can compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
NHL trade deadline date:
The NHL trade deadline is Mar. 6, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season will conclude with six games on April 16, 2026.