Your Guide to the New York Rangers Television Schedule
Trying to keep up with the Blueshirts this season is a bit of a headache. Honestly, it’s not just you. Between the regional blackouts, the sudden jumps to streaming services like Hulu, and the national games on TNT, finding the New York Rangers television schedule feels like a part-time job.
If you live in the New York tri-state area, you've probably realized that "just turning on the TV" doesn't work like it used to. Most of the 2025-2026 season lives on MSG Network, but there’s a catch. Or three.
Where the Games Are (Literally)
The Rangers are an "Original Six" team. That basically means the league loves putting them on national TV because they draw huge ratings. For the 2025-2026 campaign, the Rangers have 16 nationally televised games. If you’re a local fan, these are the nights your MSG+ or Gotham Sports app will go dark because ESPN or TNT has the exclusive rights.
It’s annoying. You pay for the local channel, then realize the biggest game of the week—like the Winter Classic on January 2 against the Florida Panthers—is only on TNT.
Why the New York Rangers Television Schedule is So Messy
Most games—around 60-plus of them—are on MSG Network.
But then you have the "National Exclusives." These are the ones that confuse people. For example, when the Rangers play the Bruins on April 4, don't go looking for Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti on MSG. That one is an ABC game. Same goes for the matchup against the Penguins on February 28. If it's on ABC or ESPN, it’s usually not on your local cable sports channel.
The Big National Dates to Circle
You’ve got to mark these down or you’ll be scrolling through channels at 7:05 PM wondering why the game isn't on.
- January 28: At the Islanders. This is a TNT game. Rivalry nights almost always get snatched up by the national broadcasters.
- February 26: vs. Philadelphia Flyers. This is an ESPN exclusive.
- March 7: At New Jersey Devils. ABC will be handling this one in the afternoon.
- April 5: vs. Washington Capitals. Catch this on ESPN.
Streaming is the New Cable
If you’ve cut the cord, you’re likely using the Gotham Sports App. This is the new home for MSG and YES Network content. It costs about $30 a month if you just want the Rangers (and Knicks), or you can bundle it.
The weirdest part of the current schedule involves ESPN+ and Hulu. A handful of games are "streaming exclusives." This means even if you have a massive cable package with 500 channels, you still won't see the game unless you have an active Disney-owned streaming subscription. It feels like a cash grab, and truthfully, it kind of is.
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What About Out-of-Market Fans?
If you live in, say, Montana, your life is actually easier. You basically just need NHL Power Play on ESPN+. You’ll get almost every game except the ones on TNT or the ones where the Rangers are playing your local team.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
The schedule can change. The NHL loves to "flex" games into better time slots if the Rangers are on a hot streak. A Tuesday night 7:00 PM start on MSG could theoretically be moved if a national partner decides they want a piece of the action.
Basically, you need three things to never miss a puck drop:
- A subscription that includes MSG (like Fubo, DirecTV Stream, or the Gotham Sports App).
- Access to TNT (Sling Orange, Max, or cable).
- An ESPN+/Hulu account for those random exclusive nights.
Keep an eye on the afternoon games in February and March. The Rangers have several 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM starts on ABC that usually catch people off guard.
To stay on top of things, your best bet is to sync the official Rangers calendar to your phone. It updates automatically when the league messes with the start times or broadcast partners. You should also check the "Gotham Sports" app settings to ensure your location services are on, otherwise, the blackout logic might lock you out of a game you actually have the rights to watch.
Stop relying on the "Guide" button on your remote. It’s often wrong until an hour before the game. Check the official NHL app or the Rangers' social media accounts about two hours before faceoff to see exactly which logo is in the corner of the broadcast. That saves you the ten-minute scramble of trying to remember your Hulu password while the Rangers are already killing off an early penalty.
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Actionable Next Steps:
Download the Gotham Sports App if you are in the NYC market and don't have cable; it's the only way to get the local MSG feed without a traditional provider. For those outside of New York, verify your ESPN+ subscription is active before the next out-of-market game to avoid missing the first period. Finally, if you're planning to watch the Winter Classic, ensure you have access to TNT or the Max app, as that game will not be on any local New York channels.