NHL reveals 2026-27 national TV schedule across TNT Sports, ESPN

The National Hockey League released its national television schedule for the 2026-27 season, confirming that games will be aired on TNT Sports and ESPN. The league announced 100 exclusive NHL games will be shown on ESPN, according to an ESPN Press Room release. Team-specific allocations were detailed: the Minnesota Wild will appear on national television 17 times, the Philadelphia Flyers 19 times, the Boston Bruins 20 times, the Pittsburgh Penguins 20 times, and the Chicago Blackhawks also received a released schedule. The schedule was posted on NHL.com. Coverage of the rollout appeared across a range of sports outlets. Yahoo Sports highlighted the Wild’s 17 national TV slots, while NBC Sports Philadelphia reported the Flyers’ 19 games, including three matchups against the Penguins.

The Boston Herald noted the Bruins’ 20 national broadcasts, and both TribLIVE.com and PensBurgh emphasized the Penguins’ 20 appearances. NHL.com published the overall schedule and a separate release for the Blackhawks, and ESPN provided a “Where to watch 2026-27 games” guide. Awful Announcing summarized the league’s announcement of the TNT Sports and ESPN lineup. The schedule reflects the NHL’s ongoing partnership with major broadcasters to maximize league exposure. By allocating a specific number of national games to high‑profile clubs, the league ensures that markets with strong fan bases receive regular primetime coverage. The 100 exclusive games on ESPN suggest a significant share of the season will be accessible through that network, complementing TNT Sports’ role in the national broadcast package.

These allocations follow the league’s multi‑year agreements that have previously paired ESPN and TNT Sports with NHL content. Looking ahead, the 2026-27 season will begin with the announced national broadcast slate, and fans can track the exact dates and times through the ESPN schedule guide and NHL.com listings. Subsequent updates are expected to detail individual game matchups, especially the three Penguins‑Flyers contests noted by NBC Sports Philadelphia. Observers will watch for any revisions to the national schedule as the season approaches, and for further commentary from the listed outlets on viewership expectations.