ESPN’s coverage of the 2026-27 National Hockey League (NHL) season begins Tuesday, Sept. 29, with an Opening Night tripleheader on ESPN2 in the Caribbean, featuring nearly nine consecutive hours of NHL programming. Throughout the season select games will air on ESPN and ESPN2 with all the action available via ESPN on Disney+.

Coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET with The Point, ESPN’s signature NHL studio show, previewing the new season and the night’smatchups.

The puck drops at 5 p.m. as the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Carolina will raise its 2025-26 championship banner prior to the game in a matchup featuring the winners of the last three Stanley Cups.

At 8 p.m., the New York Rangers visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in an Original Six matchup, followed at 10:30 p.m. by the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the defending Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.

The 2026-27 campaign marks the NHL’s first 84-game regular season in more than three decades, with each team playing all seven of its division opponents four times.

ESPN’s Caribbean coverage continues Sunday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. as the Utah Mammoth visit the New York Rangers.

On Tuesday, Oct. 6, The Point returns at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN, leading into another NHL doubleheader. The New York Islanders face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Florida Panthers visiting the Los Angeles Kings at 10 p.m.

ESPN Presents the 2026-27 NHL Season’s Opening Games (ET)

Tue 9/29/2026
4:00 p.m. The Point, ESPN2
5:00 p.m. Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes, ESPN2, ESPN on Disney+
8:00 p.m. New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins, ESPN2, ESPN on Disney+
10:30 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vegas Golden Knights, ESPN2, ESPN on Disney+

Sun 10/4/2026
6:00 p.m. Utah Mammoth vs. New York Rangers, ESPN2, ESPN on Disney+

Tue 10/6/2026
6:30 p.m. The Point, ESPN, ESPN on Disney+
7:30 p.m. New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers, ESPN, ESPN on Disney+
10:00 p.m. Florida Panthers vs. Los Angeles Kings, ESPN, ESPN on Disney+