You’re staring at the TV, remote in hand, and the "No Signal" or "Schedule Unavailable" screen is mocking you. It's Friday, January 16, 2026, and you just want to know what channel is the hockey game on before the first intermission ends. Honestly, following the NHL lately feels like you need a degree in satellite communications and three different streaming passwords just to find out if the puck has dropped.
Between the national deals with ESPN and TNT, the weird regional blackouts, and the new streaming-exclusive windows, it’s a lot. Today isn't even a "Frozen Frenzy" night, yet we’ve got a scattered slate of five NHL games and some high-stakes college puck. If you're looking for the Florida Panthers taking on the Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center, you're likely hunting for NHL Network. But if you’re trying to catch the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings, it’s a different story entirely.
Basically, the "where to watch" question depends entirely on two things: who is playing and, unfortunately, where your couch is located.
Finding the Right Network for Tonight's Matchups
If you're asking what channel is the hockey game on for the Friday night slate, the national broadcast landscape is actually a bit thin tonight. Most of these games are tucked away on regional sports networks (RSNs) or specific streaming platforms.
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- Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes: This Metropolitan-Atlantic clash at 7:00 PM ET is being picked up by NHL Network for national viewers. Local fans in Raleigh will be on their usual regional feed (likely FanDuel Sports Network, the successor to Bally), while Florida fans will see it on Scripps Sports.
- San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings: This one is a pure streaming play. You’ll find Macklin Celebrini and Alex DeBrincat squaring off exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu. If you’re looking for it on cable, you're gonna be disappointed.
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. St. Louis Blues: Puck drop is at 8:00 PM ET. No national TV here. You need your local RSNs—Bally Sports Sun for the Bolts and FanDuel Sports Network for the Blues.
- Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche: A 9:00 PM ET start. This is a weird one. In Denver, it’s on KTVD, which is a local broadcast channel. For everyone else, it’s the NHL Power Play on ESPN+.
- Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings: The "Freeway Face-off" starts late at 10:30 PM ET. Local viewers in SoCal can find this on Victory+ (the Ducks' new free streaming home) and Bally Sports West for the Kings.
Outside the pros, the college world is buzzing too. The Boston College vs. Providence game is a massive NCAA matchup today. That’s airing on NESN for the New England crowd and usually streams on ESPN+ for the rest of us.
The Streaming Maze: ESPN+, Hulu, and TNT
Kinda sucks that you can't just flip to "the sports channel" anymore, right? In 2026, the NHL’s media rights are split between Disney (ESPN/ABC/Hulu/ESPN+) and TNT Sports (TNT/Max).
If the game you want is an "exclusive" national game, it might only be on Hulu or ESPN+. This means even if you have a thousand cable channels, you won't find it there. You've got to fire up the app. On the flip side, TNT usually takes the Wednesday night and Sunday afternoon slots. Since it’s Friday, TNT is mostly quiet on the hockey front, focusing instead on their playoff basketball push or movies.
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For out-of-market fans, NHL Power Play on ESPN+ is basically the holy grail. It replaced the old NHL.tv. If you live in New York but root for the Blackhawks, this is how you see 90% of their games. Just remember: if they play the Rangers or Islanders, you’ll be blacked out on the app and forced to watch the local MSG broadcast.
Why Your Zip Code Changes Everything
Blackouts are the bane of every hockey fan's existence. It's an old-school rule in a high-tech world. Basically, local broadcasters pay big money to have the exclusive rights to show games in their "home territory."
If you're in Detroit, and the Red Wings are playing, the national ESPN+ stream might be "blacked out" because the local station wants you to watch their commercials. It's frustrating. You've paid for a subscription, but you're still locked out. To fix this, you either need a cable package that includes your local RSN or a "Live TV" streaming service like FuboTV or DirecTV Stream that actually carries those regional channels.
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A Note on the 2026 Olympic Break
It’s worth noting that the schedule is feeling a bit "compressed" right now. We are just weeks away from the 19-day break for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Because the NHL is sending players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, the league is trying to cram in as many games as possible before February.
This is why we’re seeing more "exclusive" windows on digital platforms. The league needs the flexibility. If you're confused about what channel is the hockey game on during this stretch, always check the NHL's official "Schedule" page or the score ticker on apps like TheScore. They usually update the specific broadcast channel about 24 hours before puck drop.
Actionable Steps to Never Miss a Goal
Stop guessing and start watching. Here is how you stay ahead of the broadcast changes:
- Download the NHL App: Go to the "Games" tab. It explicitly lists the TV and Radio stations for both the home and away markets.
- Check Victory+ and Scripps: If you follow the Ducks, Stars, or Golden Knights, these teams have moved away from traditional cable. They often have free apps or local "over-the-air" channels (the kind you get with a $20 antenna).
- Sync Your Calendar: Most team websites offer a "Sync to Calendar" feature. It adds the game times and the broadcast network directly to your iPhone or Google Calendar.
- The ESPN+ Workaround: If you’re a die-hard out-of-market fan, ensure your ESPN+ account is linked to your Disney+ or Hulu bundle. Sometimes the game shows up on the Hulu home screen before it even appears in the ESPN app.
Next time you're wondering what channel is the hockey game on, remember that Friday nights are almost always a mix of NHL Network and local RSNs. Grab your jersey, check your regional listings, and get ready for a heavy night of hits and highlights.