The NHL season returns on Oct. 12 with a doubleheader that will air on ESPN. The first game will feature the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:30 p.m. ET, and the nightcap will showcase the Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s newest franchise, against the Vegas Golden Knights. Both games will also have simulcasts available on ESPN+.
This will mark the first time ESPN has aired NHL games since 2004. ESPN+ will broadcast 75 exclusive regular-season games, with ABC and ESPN airing a combined 28 exclusive regular-season games for a total of 103 games.
The complete broadcast schedule can be found here.
How to watch
On ESPN+ and Hulu
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ESPN+ will air one exclusive matchup every Tuesday from Oct. 19 to Dec. 28.
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ESPN will have an exclusive Friday night matchup with Hulu until January.
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In 2022, exclusive matchups on ESPN+ will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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More than 1,000 out-of-market games will be available on ESPN+.
On ESPN
On ABC
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ABC will air 10 regular-season games.
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One of those 10 games will be the 2021 Thanksgiving Showdown between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, Nov. 26.
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The 2022 NHL All-Star game will air on ABC.
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Beginning Feb. 22, ABC will air a weekly game on Saturday night.
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All ABC games can be watched on ESPN+.
Stanley Cup playoffs
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The Stanley Cup playoffs and Stanley Cup Final will return to ESPN and ABC starting with the 2021-2022 season.
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As part of the seven-year TV deal between ESPN and the NHL, ESPN and ABC will have exclusive coverage of one conference finals and half of all first- and second-round games.
Featured games and networks
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Minnesota Wild vs. Anaheim Ducks: Oct. 15 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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Chicago Blackhawks vs. New York Islanders: Oct. 19 on ESPN
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Colorado Avalanche vs. Washington Capitals: Oct. 19 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche: Oct. 26 on ESPN
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Tampa Bay Lightning vs St. Louis Blues: Nov. 30 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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New York Rangers vs. Colorado Avalanche: Dec. 14 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers: Dec. 21 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks: Jan. 4 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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Minnesota Wild vs. Boston Bruins: Jan. 6 on ESPN
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers: Jan. 6 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings: Jan 20 on ESPN
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Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins: Jan. 20 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Feb. 26 on ABC
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Minnesota Wild vs. Detroit Red Wings: March 8 on ESPN+
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St. Louis Blues vs. Philadelphia Flyers: March 24 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: April 9 on ABC
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Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals: April 12 on ESPN
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Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues: April 19 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: April 21 on ESPN
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New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins: April 23 on ABC
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Philadelphia Flyers vs. Chicago Blackhawks: April 25 on ESPN+ and Hulu
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New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals: April 26 on ESPN