2026 NHL Schedule

The 2025-26 NHL regular season runs through April 16, 2026, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs expected to begin on April 18. Each of the 32 teams plays 82 games — the final season under that format, as the schedule expands to 84 games starting in 2026-27 under the new collective bargaining agreement.

Use the schedule widget above to browse today's games, upcoming matchups, and recent scores. Below you'll find everything you need to know about the NHL schedule, how to watch, and how to use the schedule to bet smarter.

NHL TV Schedule 2025-26

The NHL has never been easier to find on television. For the 2025-26 season, a total of 172 nationally televised games are split between two broadcast partners in the United States: the ESPN family of networks and Turner Sports (TNT).

ESPN / ABC / ESPN+ / Hulu ESPN and The Walt Disney Company hold rights to 100 exclusive regular-season games, spread across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, and Hulu. Key windows include:

• Opening Night (Oct. 7): ESPN aired a tripleheader to kick off the season
• Thursday nights: ESPN's primary regular-season slot
• ABC Saturday afternoons/nights: Select weekend games on 10 weekends
• Stadium Series (Feb. 1): Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, broadcast on ESPN
• Stanley Cup Final: ABC holds exclusive rights to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final (the Disney company rotates Finals rights with TNT in alternating years)
• All games are also available to stream on the ESPN App via ESPN DTC or a qualifying pay-TV subscription. Out-of-market games (1,050+) are available via NHL Power Play on the ESPN App (ESPN Select subscription, $12.99/month)

TNT / TBS / truTV / MAX Turner Sports holds rights to 72 regular-season games, primarily airing on:

• Tuesday nights: 13 select Tuesdays (filling TNT's former NBA Tuesday slot)
• Wednesday nights: TNT's main NHL window throughout the season
• Winter Classic (Jan. 1): New York Rangers vs. Florida Panthers at loanDepot Park in Miami
• Thanksgiving Showdown (Nov. 28): New York Rangers at Boston Bruins
• Select Sundays (March 1 – April 12): Five Sunday doubleheaders on TNT to close the regular season
• Games also stream on MAX. TNT/TBS are not available over the air — a cable/satellite package or live TV streaming service (Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV) is required

NHL Network NHL Network continues to air games when the primary national broadcasters are not in action, often simulcasting local coverage. It is the go-to channel for non-primetime matchups and day games.

In Canada, the NHL's national partners are Sportsnet (including Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Saturdays and French-language coverage on TVA Sports) and Amazon Prime Video. This is the final season of Sportsnet's current 12-year rights deal; a new 12-year agreement begins in 2026-27. SiriusXM and SiriusXM Canada simulcast all 32 teams' local broadcasts.

CHECK OUT: The Latest NHL Odds From Top Online Sportsbooks

2025-26 NHL Season: Key Dates

When Are The NHL Playoffs Projected To Start?

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18, two days after the regular season ends on April 16. The postseason runs four rounds, with the first three rounds determining the Eastern and Western Conference champions, who then meet in the Stanley Cup Final. Every round is a best-of-seven series. Based on current standings, the playoffs are projected to finish in mid-to-late June 2026.

CHECK OUT: The Latest NHL Futures Odds From Top Online Sportsbooks

Why the NHL Schedule Matters for Betting

For NHL betting enthusiasts, the schedule is one of the most underrated research tools available. Here's what sharp bettors pay attention to:

Back-to-back games are one of the biggest edges in NHL betting. Teams frequently start their backup goalie in the second game of a back-to-back, which can significantly shift the odds. Always check the schedule and confirmed lineup before betting a team on zero rest.

Long road trips create fatigue. Games at the tail end of five-game (or longer) road swings tend to go against the travelling team, especially if the opponent is well-rested at home.

Altitude matchups still matter. The Colorado Avalanche play their home games at altitude (Denver sits over 5,000 feet above sea level), which gives their players a conditioning edge — especially on Eastern road trips, where opponents are accustomed to sea-level play. This effect has historically shown up in the Avalanche's road results against Eastern teams. The reverse is also true: Eastern teams playing in Denver often underperform relative to the odds.

Home-and-away splits vary widely by team. Some clubs are dramatically better at home; others are road warriors. Checking a team's home/away record before betting adds context the moneyline alone won't give you.

Divisional games tend to be lower-scoring and tighter, as teams know each other extremely well. Over/under bettors should note that divisional matchups trend toward the Under more consistently than non-divisional games.

CHECK OUT: NHL Expert Picks Throughout The Season

How the NHL Creates Its Schedule

With 32 teams each playing 82 games, the NHL regular season features 1,312 total games. The schedule is built around a divisional format with four divisions of eight teams each: the Atlantic and Metropolitan in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and Pacific in the Western Conference.

Each team plays more games against divisional opponents than against teams from other divisions or conferences, keeping regional rivalries front and center. Every team is guaranteed to play at least one game in every opposing arena during the season. The schedule also incorporates special events — the Winter Classic, Stadium Series, Global Series games in Europe, and "Frozen Frenzy" all-team days — to keep marquee matchups on the national calendar.

Notable 2025-26 schedule highlights:

• The season opened with a Florida-centric double focus: defending champions Florida Panthers raising their banner vs. the Blackhawks, followed by the Penguins at the Rangers
• Two regular-season games were held in Stockholm, Sweden (Nov. 14 & 16) — Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Nashville Predators
• The 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami marked the NHL's first-ever outdoor game in Florida
• The 2026 Stadium Series was held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa — also in Florida, making it an unprecedented two outdoor events in one state in one season
• NHL players competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, marking the first Olympic participation since 2014, with an 18-day regular-season pause built around it (Feb. 6 – Feb. 24)