The 2025-26 NHL season has reached its final sprint. With the regular season concluding in just three weeks and the ‘gold medal glow’ from the Winter Olympics still drawing massive crowds, the race for the final playoff seeds is at a fever pitch.
ESPN networks have logged a 39% increase in viewership year-over-year, proving hockey has moved from regional relevance to a national powerhouse.
For sports bars and restaurants, the NHL schedule offers a constant stream of high-intensity matchups that keep fans in their seats and glued to screens, with an unmatched volume of games across a season that runs from fall to the tail end of spring.
When you use DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS® to tap into this steady flow for your customers, suddenly hockey night is no longer just an event at your bar or restaurant. It’s a culture.
Here’s how to make the most of the 2025–26 NHL stretch run, and how DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS can help you turn every game into a home-ice experience for your customers, a snapshot of what slapshots can do for your sports bar or restaurant.
Why Hockey Is A Power Play For Your Bottom Line
Professional hockey is heating up TV screens in a huge way, drawing new audiences that show up, stay longer and spend more on game days.
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Explosive Viewership Growth: The NHL on ESPN networks is averaging 795,000 viewers, nearly 40% year-over-year growth through the first four months of the 2025–26 season, including a 40% jump among female fans.
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High-Volume Schedule: Use these final weeks to maximize your NHL CENTER ICE® subscription before the postseason begins. Remember, while CENTER ICE covers the regular season stretch, the hunt for the Stanley Cup moves to national coverage on TNT and ESPN starting April 18—all available through DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS.
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National Appeal: This season’s Stadium Series between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning drew 2.1 million viewers, marking a 30% increase over the previous year and setting a record as the most-watched NHL regular-season game ever.
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Always-On Action: With 24/7 coverage from NHL Network, including live games, highlights and analysis, hockey night becomes a reason to return again and again.
What Changes Came to NHL This Season?
The 2025–26 season introduced a suite of technical and officiating updates designed to prioritize game flow. For your business, faster games mean a more consistent atmosphere and fewer lulls in customer engagement.
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The Olympic Break: The NHL paused the regular season from February 6 to February 24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. This 19-day hiatus created a temporary “starvation effect” for hockey fans. Since play resumed in late February, the battle for the Stanley Cup has intensified, with every point in the standings now determining who gets home-ice advantage come April 18.
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Team USA Golden Momentum: Both the U.S. men’s and women’s teams netted epic gold medal victories at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, creating a surge of national pride and renewed interest in NHL talent. With many Olympians skating right back to their NHL clubs, that gold-medal buzz is already translating into higher-stakes matchups and must-watch games down the stretch.
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The “Common Sense” Provision: Officials now have the authority to handle ambiguous situations that fall beyond the rulebook in ways they see fit. This catch-all principle is designed to keep games moving and reduce “blown calls,” a move sure to help keep your patrons engaged and the energy positive.
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Awarded Empty-Net Goals: A goal is now awarded—and credited to the attacking player—when a clear scoring opportunity on an empty net is prevented by a defensive infraction. The change keeps late-game moments intense and eliminates unnecessary whistles when the stakes are highest, keeping your patrons in the moment.
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4 Nations Face-Off Momentum: The inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off was a smash hit that helped put a global spotlight on the league’s top stars. With many NHL players returning to the Olympic stage in 2026, that international momentum has already carried into regular-season matchups across both conferences.
When Is the NHL Season?
The clock is ticking on the regular season. With April 16 just around the corner, fans are locked into the final games to see who survives the cut. For your business, this means three weeks of high-stakes, ‘must-win’ hockey before the playoffs begin on April 18.
The NHL Draft follows shortly after the Stanley Cup Final, immediately building buzz about the season to come.
That long and layered calendar gives sports bars and restaurants more chances to attract new customers, lock in regulars and drive repeat visits throughout the season.
See the entire NHL schedule here.
6 Ways To Score With NHL Fans At Your Sports Bar or Restaurant
Hockey games move fast and so do hockey nights. With multiple games, constant action and fans locked into every period, success requires preparation and strategy to bring in business and keep it running smoothly.
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Host Game-Day Watch Parties: Make it clear that your sports bar or restaurant is a reliable place to catch the game. Promote game-day watch parties, highlight key matchups and use simple giveaways or raffles to keep fans engaged from puck drop to the final horn.
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Offer Hockey-Themed Food & Drink Specials: Lean into the season with creatively named menu items like Hat Trick Slider Trios, Top-Shelf Slapshots or Overtime Specials. Well-timed happy hour pricing during games gives fans another reason to stick around for all three periods.
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Make Sure Your Team Knows the Playbook: Hockey has a distinct rhythm. Prep your staff for the pace of play and breaks between periods, so drinks get refreshed, tables turn efficiently and customers keep their eyes on the action.
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Give Fans a Front Row Seat: Set up your space so no one misses a rush or a breakaway. Smart placement of high-quality screens and a strong lineup of games through DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS help create a viewing experience that keeps fans at your business longer.
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Promote Your Business as a Hockey Destination: Use email, social and in-venue signage to remind your customers and their fellow fans that you show NHL games all season long. Staying in feeds encourages followers to do the work for you by resharing your content, especially heading into back-to-back matchups or a heated rivalry.
See All Upcoming NHL Matchups
Not sure when the puck drops? The DIRECTV sports schedule lays out upcoming matchups through the playoff push and into the Stanley Cup Final, making it easier to plan staffing, promotions and screen setups in advance.
On DIRECTV, NHL® CENTER ICE® games are broadcast on Ch. 770-793 and the NHL Network is on Ch. 215.
View the full schedule here.
Give Your Customers the Ice-Cold Action with DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS brings the entire NHL season together in one reliable viewing experience designed for live sports entertainment.
Deliver the ultimate ice-side experience with NHL CENTER ICE (Ch. 769–785), NHL Network (Ch. 215), and national coverage on TNT (Ch. 245) and ESPN (Ch. 206).
With access to NHL CENTER ICE, your business can show dozens of out-of-market games each week and over a thousand live NHL games throughout the full season, paired with exclusive events and 24/7 coverage from NHL Network.
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS delivers 99% worry-free signal reliability, so your customers never miss a moment. Standard professional installation is included at no additional cost, with dedicated customer support to set you up for success on busy game nights.
DIRECTV’s Sports Bar Finder is a built-in bonus that helps hockey fans find local businesses that offer DIRECTV, making it easier for hockey fans to become your newest regulars.
Ready to get started? Explore DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS packages today.
