Honestly, trying to figure out what channel is hockey on lately feels like trying to track a deflection in a goal-mouth scramble. It’s chaotic. You sit down, wings in hand, remote ready, and suddenly your "usual" channel is showing a pickleball documentary or a rerun of a baking show.
We’ve moved far beyond the days when you just flicked to the local sports cable station and called it a night. Now, it’s a fragmented mess of streaming exclusives, national broadcasts, and regional sports networks (RSNs) that seem to change names every time you blink.
If you're staring at your TV guide right now wondering where the game went, you aren't alone. Between the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and the massive shift in how local games are aired, the map has changed.
The Big Names: National Broadcasts in the US
For the 2025-26 season, the "big" games—the ones everyone talks about at the water cooler—are split between two main families. Basically, if it’s a big rivalry or a weekend showcase, it’s going to be on one of these.
The Disney Family (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu)
Disney is a massive player here. They’ve got about 100 exclusive national games this year. If the game is on ABC, you’re in luck—that’s over-the-air and usually free with an antenna. But a huge chunk of their schedule is exclusive to ESPN+ and Hulu. This is where it gets annoying for cable traditionalists. If the schedule says "ESPN+/Hulu," you cannot watch it on a standard cable box. You need the app.
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The TNT Sports Family (TNT, TBS, truTV, Max)
TNT has carved out a niche with their "NHL on TNT" Wednesday night doubleheaders. They also have the 2026 Winter Classic, which just went down in Miami (yes, outdoor hockey in Florida, what a world). These games are also usually simulcast on Max (formerly HBO Max). If you have a cable login, you’re good on the TNT app, but the "Max" B/R Sports Add-on is becoming the primary way for cord-cutters to catch these.
What Channel Is Hockey On for Local Fans? (The RSN Chaos)
This is where the real headache starts. For years, most local games were on "Bally Sports." Well, that’s dead. As of late 2024 and heading into 2026, most of those channels rebranded to FanDuel Sports Network.
But even that isn't a guarantee. Some teams looked at the RSN bankruptcy drama and decided to just do it themselves.
- Scripps Sports: Teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, and now the Tampa Bay Lightning have moved to Scripps. This is actually a win for fans because it’s often available on free, over-the-air local channels. You just need a $20 antenna.
- Victory+: In markets like Dallas, fans are using this new free, ad-supported streaming service.
- Gotham Sports: If you’re a fan of the Rangers, Islanders, or Devils, you’re likely dealing with the new Gotham Sports app, which combined MSG and YES into one (pricey) digital home.
The Canadian Situation: Prime Video and Sportsnet
If you’re north of the border, things changed significantly this season. Sportsnet still holds the main rights, and CBC still does "Hockey Night in Canada" on Saturdays.
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However, Amazon Prime Video is now the exclusive home for "Prime Monday Night Hockey." If your team is playing on a Monday and you're in Canada, don't go looking for it on cable. It’s on Amazon. This was a massive shift that caught a lot of folks off guard in October.
The 2026 Olympic Break: A Different Kind of Channel Surfing
Right now, in early 2026, we are staring down the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The NHL is actually taking a 19-day break in February so the pros can head to Italy.
When that happens, the "what channel is hockey on" question shifts entirely. In the US, the rights belong to NBC. You’ll be looking at:
- USA Network: This will be the workhorse for preliminary rounds and mid-day games.
- Peacock: If you want to see every single second of every game (men's and women's), this is the only way. NBC is putting the entire hockey tournament behind the Peacock paywall.
- NBC (Main Channel): Expect the Gold Medal games and big Team USA matchups here, usually in primetime or late-morning live slots.
Common Misconceptions About Hockey Channels
I hear people say all the time, "I have ESPN+, so I can watch every game."
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Wrong. ESPN+ is great for "out-of-market" games. If you live in Los Angeles and want to watch the Boston Bruins, ESPN+ is your best friend. But if you live in Boston and try to watch the Bruins on ESPN+, you’ll get hit with a "blackout" notice. You are still required to watch on your local RSN (like NESN) or the local broadcast home.
Another weird one: NHL Network. It’s a dedicated channel, but it’s becoming harder to find. It’s often tucked away in "Sports Tiers" on cable packages. Ironically, NHL Network games are often blacked out on ESPN+, even for out-of-market fans, which is basically the definition of frustrating.
How to Actually Find Your Game
Instead of scrolling through 800 channels, here is the expert way to do it:
- Check the NHL App: They are actually pretty good about listing the specific "National" vs. "Local" broadcaster for every game.
- Use a Search Engine for "NHL Schedule [Your Team]": Google usually presents a "Live" box that shows exactly which channel is carrying the game in your specific zip code.
- Antenna Check: If your team is on ABC or a Scripps station (like ION or a local independent), an antenna is better than any stream because there's zero lag. You won't hear your neighbor scream "GOAL" ten seconds before you see it.
Actionable Steps for the Rest of the Season
- Download the Peacock App now if you plan on watching the Olympics in February. Don't wait until the puck drops for USA vs. Canada and realize you've forgotten your password.
- Verify your local RSN's status. If you were used to Bally Sports, make sure you have the FanDuel Sports Network app or channel located.
- Audit your subs. If you're paying for cable just for hockey, check if your team has moved to a "Direct-to-Consumer" app like Victory+ or Panthers+. You might be able to save 100 bucks a month by cutting the cord and just paying for the specific team stream.
The reality is that what channel is hockey on depends entirely on where you live and what day of the week it is. It's not as simple as it used to be, but once you map out which apps you need for Mondays (Prime), Wednesdays (TNT), and the weekends (ABC/ESPN), the chaos starts to make a little more sense.
Next Step: You can look up your specific zip code on the FanDuel Sports Network website to see if your local cable provider still carries the rebranded hockey coverage.