The 2026-27 NHL season is hitting the ice! Will the Carolina Hurricanes defend their 2026 Stanley Cup Champions title, or will another NHL squad claim the sport’s top honor for themselves?
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NHL Games on Today
All times ET
Friday, October 16
Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche — 9:00 PM — SportsNet Pittsburgh, NHL® CENTER ICE®, NHL Network
The Colorado Avalanche (4-2-1) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-3-1) at Ball Arena on Friday night, and the early NHL season already looks like it runs through Nathan MacKinnon. He’s piled up 12 points on five goals and seven assists while firing 29 shots on net. Pittsburgh answers from the blue line, where Erik Karlsson has seven assists and seven points to pace the club. Nick Robertson leads the Penguins with four goals, and they’ll need every one of his chances to keep up on the road.
Boston Bruins at Anaheim Ducks — 10:00 PM — Amazon Prime Video, ESPN Unlimited, NHL® CENTER ICE®, NHL Network
The Boston Bruins carry a 5-2-0 start into Honda Center for a late Friday NHL clash with the Anaheim Ducks, who sit at 4-2-0. David Pastrnak is driving the Boston offense with 8 points, 6 of them assists. Fraser Minten has been the pleasant surprise up front with a team-best 4 goals on 19 shots. Anaheim answers with Leo Carlsson, whose 9 points include 6 power play assists, while Beckett Sennecke has scored 4 goals of his own. The Ducks are getting it done without Troy Terry, who’s on Injured Reserve after hip surgery, and Boston’s penalty kill will need to keep Carlsson quiet if the Bruins want to steal two points out West.
Saturday, October 17
New Jersey Devils at Washington Capitals — 1:00 PM — NHL Network, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, MSG Sports Network, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals meet at Capital One Arena on Saturday afternoon with identical 4-3-0 records, so this matinee is a chance for one club to pull ahead early. Jack Hughes leads New Jersey with 9 points and 7 assists, and 4 of those helpers have come on the power play. Nico Hischier has been the finisher, scoring 4 goals with 3 of them on the man advantage. Washington answers with Alex Tuch, whose 5 goals on 19 shots lead the Capitals. Dylan Strome’s 5 assists make him the playmaker New Jersey has to track all afternoon.
Carolina Hurricanes at Winnipeg Jets — 3:30 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Carolina Hurricanes bring a 6-1-1 start into Canada Life Centre for a Saturday matinee against the 4-1-2 Winnipeg Jets, and this NHL afternoon has real early-season bite. Sebastian Aho is running Carolina’s offense with 6 goals and 7 assists for 13 points, three of those goals coming on the power play. Winnipeg answers with Kyle Connor, whose 8 goals lead the Jets. Mark Scheifele adds a team-high 6 assists, but the Jets are shorthanded with Josh Morrissey out and Connor Hellebuyck suspended. That’s a lot to absorb against a Hurricanes club that’s lost just once in regulation.
Vancouver Canucks at Tampa Bay Lightning — 4:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Tampa Bay Lightning (5-2-0) host the Vancouver Canucks (2-6-1) in a Saturday afternoon NHL matinee at Benchmark International Arena, and the two starts couldn’t look more different. Brandon Hagel has been the engine for Tampa Bay with six goals and 10 points, while Nikita Kucherov has chipped in seven assists. Vancouver needs answers fast. Elias Pettersson has nine points on two goals and seven assists, and Paul Cotter’s four goals pace the club. The Canucks are also playing without goaltender Thatcher Demko, who’s on Injured Reserve after hip surgery.
Seattle Kraken at Florida Panthers — 6:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, Prime Video, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Seattle Kraken bring a 5-2-1 record into Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday, and the 4-2-2 Florida Panthers are still playing without Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, both on Injured Reserve. Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t let that slow the Panthers down, piling up 11 points and 8 assists. Brady Tkachuk paces Florida with 6 goals, 2 of them on the power play. Seattle counters with balance: Jared McCann has 8 points, Chandler Stephenson has 7 assists and Frederick Gaudreau’s 4 goals top the club in this NHL interconference test.
New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs — 7:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, MSG Sports Network, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The New York Islanders (3-3-1) visit Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night to face the Toronto Maple Leafs (3-3-2), two clubs stuck in the same early-season muddle and hunting for a run. Auston Matthews has been the whole show in Toronto with 6 goals and 13 points already. Bo Horvat answers for New York with 4 goals, 3 of them on the power play, and Matthew Schaefer has chipped in 6 assists from the blue line. Both benches are thin. The Islanders are without Mathew Barzal (Injured Reserve, knee), while the Maple Leafs have Max Domi and Chris Tanev on Injured Reserve and John Tavares listed as day-to-day.
Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens — 7:00 PM — NHL Network, MSG Sports Network, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Buffalo Sabres carry a 4-3-1 record into Bell Centre on Saturday night to face a Montreal Canadiens team sitting at 3-3-1. Tage Thompson has been Buffalo’s engine with 4 goals and 8 points on 37 shots. Nick Suzuki answers for Montreal with 4 goals and 9 points, while Lane Hutson’s 6 assists keep the Canadiens’ attack moving from the blue line. Owen Power matches that assist total for the Sabres, so this one could swing on which young defenseman runs the breakout better. Montreal plays without Ivan Demidov, who’s on Injured Reserve, and that puts even more on Suzuki’s shoulders.
San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings — 7:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NBC Sports California, Detroit SportsNet, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The San Jose Sharks roll into Little Caesars Arena at 4-3-0, while the Detroit Red Wings sit at 2-3-2 and need this NHL game on home ice to get back on track. Macklin Celebrini is the engine in San Jose with 8 points, 6 of them assists, and Will Smith has a team-best 3 goals. Detroit answers with Alex DeBrincat, who has 4 goals and 8 points to go with a plus-minus of 6. That’s a big load to carry, and it gets heavier with Marco Kasper and J.T. Compher both on Injured Reserve.
Ottawa Senators at Philadelphia Flyers — 7:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Ottawa Senators roll into Xfinity Mobile Arena at 6-2-0, while the Philadelphia Flyers are still chasing their first win of the NHL season at 0-6-3. Tim Stutzle is driving Ottawa’s hot start with 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 points. Matvei Michkov leads the Flyers with 3 goals, and he could use some help with Travis Konecny on Injured Reserve. Saturday night at home is as good a spot as any for Philadelphia to finally break through. Ottawa won’t make it easy.
New York Rangers at Columbus Blue Jackets — 7:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, MSG Sports Network, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The New York Rangers roll into Nationwide Arena at 6-3-0, while the Columbus Blue Jackets sit at 2-3-0 and need this NHL Saturday night game to steady things. Alexis Lafreniere leads New York with seven goals and 11 points, and Adam Fox has already piled up nine assists from the blue line. The Rangers are doing it without Igor Shesterkin, who’s on injured reserve after right knee surgery. Columbus counters with Cole Sillinger, who has three goals and five points, plus Charlie Coyle and his five assists. It’s a real test for a Blue Jackets team that badly wants to climb back toward even on home ice.
Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks — 7:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, Chicago Sports Network, Amazon Prime Video, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Dallas Stars (3-3-1) visit the United Center on Saturday night to face the Chicago Blackhawks (3-5-0), and both clubs would love a clean two points before this young NHL season gets away from them. Mikko Rantanen has a team-high seven points for Dallas, including five assists. Miro Heiskanen adds three goals from the blue line, a welcome boost for a group playing without Matt Duchene, who’s on Injured Reserve. Chicago counters with Frank Nazar’s three goals and Anton Frondell’s team-best six points, and the Blackhawks need that young pair to keep producing on home ice.
St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators — 8:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The St. Louis Blues (3-3-1) visit Bridgestone Arena on Saturday night to face the Nashville Predators (2-2-3), and neither club has found any real separation in the young NHL season. Mason McTavish paces St. Louis with 5 goals and 8 points on 27 shots. Connor McMichael chips in a team-high 4 assists. Nashville answers with Steven Stamkos, who has 4 goals and 8 points, including 2 power-play goals. Roman Josi has 6 assists with 5 of them on the man advantage, so the Blues can’t afford to spend much time in the penalty box.
Boston Bruins at Los Angeles Kings — 9:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NESN, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Boston Bruins roll into crypto.com Arena at 5-2-0, and the Los Angeles Kings are still hunting their first win of the NHL season at 0-3-2. David Pastrnak has been the engine for Boston with 8 points, 6 of them assists. Fraser Minten adds a scoring punch of his own with a team-best 4 goals on 19 shots. Los Angeles leans on Artemi Panarin’s 3 goals and 4 points while Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello sit on Injured Reserve, so a hot Bruins team couldn’t have picked a better time to visit.
Edmonton Oilers at Utah Mammoth — 10:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NHL® CENTER ICE®
Two strong NHL starts collide at Delta Center on Saturday night as the 5-1-1 Edmonton Oilers visit the 6-2-0 Utah Mammoth. Connor McDavid is doing Connor McDavid things with 14 assists and 18 points, and Vasily Podkolzin has been a revelation with 7 goals, 3 of them on the power play. Edmonton is thin down the middle, though, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Injured Reserve. Utah counters with Nick Schmaltz, who has 6 goals and 11 points, while Clayton Keller has set up 8 goals with 5 of those assists coming on the man advantage. Expect special teams to decide this one late.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Vegas Golden Knights — 10:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Vegas Golden Knights are off to a flying 7-2-0 start, and the Pittsburgh Penguins arrive at T-Mobile Arena at 3-3-1 looking for a statement road win in this late-night NHL matchup. Jack Eichel has been brilliant for Vegas with 16 points, including 11 assists and six on the power play. Mark Stone gives the Golden Knights a finisher too, with a team-best six goals. Pittsburgh counters with Erik Karlsson running the offense from the blue line with seven assists, while Nick Robertson has four goals up front. The Penguins can’t afford to trade chances with a Vegas attack this sharp, so their defensive structure will decide whether they keep it close.
Sunday, October 18
Columbus Blue Jackets at Minnesota Wild — 6:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Minnesota Wild carry a 5-2-1 record into Sunday night at Grand Casino Arena, and the Columbus Blue Jackets arrive at 2-3-0 looking for a road win to steady their early NHL season. Quinn Hughes has run the Minnesota attack from the blue line with 10 assists, 4 of them on the power play. His playmaking matters even more with Brock Faber and Filip Gustavsson on Injured Reserve and Kirill Kaprizov listed as day-to-day. Columbus answers with Cole Sillinger, who has 3 goals and 5 points, while Charlie Coyle has set up 5 goals of his own.
Carolina Hurricanes at Calgary Flames — 8:00 PM — ESPN Unlimited, NHL® CENTER ICE®
The Carolina Hurricanes roll into Scotiabank Saddledome at 6-1-1, and the Calgary Flames badly need a reset at 1-6-0. Sebastian Aho has been everything for Carolina so far with six goals, seven assists and 13 points, and three of those goals have come on the power play. He’s doing it with Seth Jarvis and Jordan Staal on Injured Reserve and Taylor Hall out. Calgary’s answer starts with Matt Coronato, who has two goals (both on the man advantage) and four points. Joel Farabee chips in four assists, but the Flames are also without Jonathan Huberdeau and Samuel Honzek, which makes this NHL Sunday night a stiff test.
How to Watch NHL on TV
There are plenty of places to make sure you don’t miss a moment of your favorite NHL team’s season. Here’s where to watch NHL hockey games on TV today and all season long:
- REGIONAL SPORTS LINEUP (only available in some areas)
- TNT – 245
- ESPN – 206
- ABC –Check local listings
- NHL Network
- NHL® CENTER ICE®*
*currently available for satellite customers
Don’t forget to explore NHL on DIRECTV to catch live games and follow your favorite team all season long.
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Frequently asked questions
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