The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins on ESPN and the ESPN app on Tuesday, September 29, with an opening night tripleheader. The broadcast schedule features nearly nine consecutive hours of hockey coverage across the network’s platforms.
Coverage starts at 4:00 p.m. with the studio show The Point on ESPN and ESPN+, hosted by Steve Levy alongside analysts Mark Messier and P.K. Subban. Game action begins at 5:00 p.m. as the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes raise their banner before facing the Florida Panthers, followed by a matchup between the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins at 8:00 p.m., and the Chicago Blackhawks against the Vegas Golden Knights at 10:30 p.m.
Opening week continues on Thursday, October 1, with a streaming doubleheader on ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu. The Philadelphia Flyers play the New Jersey Devils at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the Utah Mammoth at 9:30 p.m.
Broadcast commentary teams for opening week include Bob Wischusen, Sean McDonough, Mike Monaco, John Buccigross, and John Kelly, with rules analysis provided by Dave Jackson. Viewers can access game coverage through ESPN cable broadcasts, the ESPN app, and subscriptions to ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu.
Studio segments for The Point originate from ESPN’s Studio W facility, which incorporates LED displays and real-time virtual settings for play breakdowns. The opening week schedule serves as the start of 100 exclusive regular-season game broadcasts planned across ESPN platforms.
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