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How to Watch NHL Hockey With Sling

Stream nationally-televised NHL Hockey games on ESPN and TNT with Sling Orange all season long!

Lord Stanley got to vacation in Florida for yet another offseason with the Florida Panthers, who will be raising another Stanley Cup banner on Tuesday, Oct. 7 when their NHL season begins against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Last season, the NHL saw some big moments, with the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off and Alex Ovechkin overcoming Wayne Gretzky to become the league’s all time scoring record holder. While big moments are on the horizon, change is inevitable in this sport and the 2025-26 season will be the last year of the NHL under the current 82-game schedule, before the calendar will expand to 84 games next year.

The NHL, NHLPA, IOC, and IIHF have agreed to allow NHL players to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for Feb. 6 to Feb. 22. That means there will be a mid-season Olympic break for NHL players for the first time since 2014, but it also means there will be no 2026 All-Star Game due to Olympic preparation.

In terms of records, both Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin have 1,700 career NHL points in their sights. Ovechkin is also only three goals away from being the first player to score 900 career goals. Crosby has also been on the minds of hockey fans for other reasons, as rumors have been circling all offseason that he could be traded by Pittsburgh.

The 2025-26 regular season gets underway with a tripleheader on ESPN on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Here’s a preview of the upcoming season, the weekly schedule, and everything you need to know to watch the NHL with Sling TV.

How to Watch the NHL with Sling

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Nationally-televised NHL games during the regular season are split between three networks: TNT (Sling Orange or Blue), ESPN (Sling Orange), and NHL Network (Sports Extra). TNT has the rights to 72 regular season games, most of which air during a Wednesday night doubleheader; TNT will also air a tripleheader during the Christmas break on Dec. 23 and the Winter Classic on Jan. 2. ESPN games will mostly air on Tuesdays. Some of the weekend ESPN broadcasts are elevated to ABC, which you can watch with Sling Blue in select markets.

Subscribing to Sling Orange to get ESPN and TNT and adding the Sports Extra package to get NHL Network is the best way to get the most NHL hockey on Sling TV. However, if you’re only looking to watch select games and matchups, you can subscribe to Sling’s new Day Pass ($4.99), Week Pass ($14.99) or Weekend Pass ($9.99). To stream out-of-market games, you’ll need to subscribe to Hulu or the ESPN app.

When are the Outdoor Games and the Winter Olympics?

The NHL Global Series will take place in Stockholm, Sweden. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers will play on November 14 and 16.

The NHL Winter Classic will be held in Miami on Jan 2, where the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers will face-off.

The NHL Stadium Series will take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa (home of the Buccaneers) on Feb. 1, where the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins.

The NHL will pause the regular season from February 6-25 for the 2026 Milano Cortana Winter Olympics, which will feature some of the biggest NHL Players making their Olympic debut; the last time NHL players competed in the Olympics was 2014, when Team Canada defeated Sweden in the final.

Rebound or Regress?

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Teams will be on a mission to dethrone the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers. Although the Panthers will be raising another Stanley Cup banner this year, they will be without their fearless leader Aleksander Barkov at this season's opening due to a lower body injury sustained in practice that will keep him sidelined seven to nine months. The Panthers will also be without their captain, as Matthew Tkachuk is out likely until December with a torn adductor muscle. While they seem to have a winning system in Florida, time will tell if their depth can overcome these early losses and make another run for the Cup.

The Edmonton Oilers were defeated by the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final and needed more scoring depth to round out their roster. With the three-time Hart winner Connor McDavid signing for another two years, the Oilers have put emphasis on their scoring abilities. GM Stan Bowman worked to add Andrew Mangiapane and traded for Isaac Howard. These additions, along with Matt Savoie, give the Oilers a promising stable of top-nine forwards. Edmonton will need to maintain consistency on the defensive side – as well goaltending with Stuart Skinner – to find success, especially in the postseason.

The Colorado Avalanche continue to battle accusations of being a one-hit wonder. They have been a Playoff team every year since their 2022 Stanley Cup but can't seem to stay healthy when it matters. That could change this year, as Gabriel Landeskog is set to open the season for the first time since his knee injury benched him after their Cup-winning run in the summer of 2022. Colorado needs to stay physical this season. They will need their second line to find success with Landeskog’s return and they could get hot if their stars can continue to be successful and if they are able to maintain goaltending consistency with the tandem of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood, who is dealing with a lower-body injury to open the season.

With players like Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat, the Detroit Red Wings have no shortage of talent. Beyond their top lines, Detroit has a veteran scorer in Patrick Kane and new addition Mason Appleton. Their biggest weakness has been their defense, which has ultimately been their downfall even with their offensive starpower. This season hinges on their veterans, including the addition of John Gibson in goal, and if second year head coach Todd McLellan can light a fire under their defense.

Last season, the Presidents trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets were eliminated in the second round of the Playoffs despite posting the best regular-season record. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck continues to be one of the league's best, and will need to continue to be efficient for the team to have similar success this year. They will be tested at the start of the season as they will be without Adam Lowry (hip injury) and Cole Perfetti (ankle). However they will have the veterans Gustav Nyquist and Jonathan Toews to lean on until they are back to full strength. What they do in the regular season will be telling towards how far they can contend in the Western Conference.

Players Who Slid to a New Team

Major trades and signings include:

Golden Knights acquired Mitch Marner from Toronto.
The Penguins traded Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Stars for Matt Dumba and a 2028 2nd round pick.
San Jose Sharks acquired Goalie Carey Price from Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Gannon Laroque and a 5th-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
K’Andre Miller and Nikolaj Ehlers signed with Carolina.
Free Agent Nikolaj Ehlers landed in Carolina on a 6-year deal.
Montreal Canadians acquired defensemen Noah Dobson from the Rangers.

- Mari Dietz

NHL FAQs

Can I watch my local NHL team on Sling?

Most national broadcasts will be available in local markets, but in an effort to keep our price as low as possible, Sling does not carry expensive Regional Sports Networks (RSNs).

When does the Stanley Cup Final start?

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final will begin in early June on ABC.

What NHL channels are on Sling TV?

ESPN and TNT are included with Sling Orange, and NHL Network is included in the Sports Extra package.

Can I get NHL Center Ice on Sling TV?

No, NHL Center Ice is not included with Sling TV.

Can I watch ESPN+ on Sling TV?

No, ESPN+ is not included with Sling TV.

What is the cheapest way to get NHL Network?

Subscribing to Sling Orange or Sling Blue beginning at $45.99 a month and adding the Sports Extra package is the least expensive way to get NHL Network.