You’re sitting on the couch, jersey on, wings ordered, and then it happens. You flip to the usual sports channel and see... professional cornhole or a rerun of a poker tournament from 2014. If you're asking what channel is the hockey game tonight, you aren't alone. Between the regional blackouts, the streaming exclusives, and the national broadcasts, finding the NHL puck drop can feel like trying to find a contact lens in a snowbank.
Sundays are notorious for this. Today, January 18, 2026, the schedule is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. You've got games scattered across the afternoon and evening, and honestly, the "where to watch" depends entirely on whether you're trying to see the Stars defend home ice or if you're waiting for the late-night Western Conference battles.
Finding Your Game: What Channel Is The Hockey Game Tonight?
Basically, there isn't just "one" channel tonight. It’s a split.
If you are looking for the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Dallas Stars matchup, that one is an early trigger. It’s airing on NHL Network nationally at 2:00 PM ET. For the local folks in Dallas, you'll likely be looking at Victory+, while Tampa fans are stuck with their usual regional sports network (RSN) feeds.
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Later on, the Ottawa Senators take on the Detroit Red Wings at 5:00 PM ET. This one is a bit of a "hidden" game if you don't have the right digital package. It's primarily streaming on ESPN+ (the NHL Power Play package). If you have a traditional cable box and no internet-connected apps, you might be out of luck unless you're in the Detroit or Ottawa local markets.
Then we have the St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers at 8:00 PM ET. Again, for the US audience, ESPN+ is your best bet. Up north in Canada, Sportsnet and TVA Sports usually handle these Sunday night Canadian matchups.
The Mystery of the Blackout Curtain
We’ve all been there. You pay for the fancy streaming service, you see the game listed, you click it, and then: “This content is not available in your area.” It’s infuriating.
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Local blackouts happen because regional networks—like the various Bally Sports successors or MSG—buy the exclusive rights to show their team's games in their home "zone." If you live in St. Louis, you probably can't watch the Blues on ESPN+ because the local carrier wants your viewership. To get around this, most fans end up needing a mix of a live TV streamer (like Fubo or Hulu Live) and the standalone ESPN+ subscription.
The National TV Heavy Hitters
When you ask what channel is the hockey game tonight, you’re usually hoping for one of the big three:
- TNT/TBS: Usually owns Wednesday nights and some Sunday afternoons later in the season.
- ESPN/ABC: The home of the "big" national games and the Frozen Frenzy.
- NHL Network: The catch-all for out-of-market games that aren't quite "blockbusters" but are too good to keep local.
Tonight is an NHL Network and ESPN+ kind of night. No big NBC-style "Game of the Week" on ABC today. It’s more of a "die-hard fan" Sunday where you have to hunt through your apps.
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Don't Forget the Under-18s
There’s actually some extra hockey on the menu today that people forget. The U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team is playing in the Gold Medal game of the IIHF World Championship. That’s a huge deal. Puck drop is at 6:30 PM ET, and it’s also on NHL Network. If you’re a hockey purist, that’s probably the most high-stakes game on the calendar today.
Tips for the "Where Is My Game?" Panic
- Check the App First: If you have a smart TV, open the ESPN app. Nine times out of ten, the game is listed there under "NHL Power Play."
- The "Sling" Factor: If you're a cord-cutter, Sling TV carries NHL Network, but only if you have the "Sports Extra" add-on.
- Local Listings: If you’re in a team's home city, check the local FOX or Sportsnet affiliate. They almost always trump the national feed.
The landscape of sports broadcasting is changing. Fast. We’re moving toward a world where every game is an app click away, but for now, we're still stuck in this weird middle ground between cable and the cloud.
To make sure you don't miss the first period, your most reliable move is to pull up the official NHL app about 15 minutes before puck drop. It’ll tell you exactly which provider has the rights for your specific zip code. It's better than clicking through 500 channels while the game is already 2-0.
Next Steps for Hockey Fans:
Check your subscription status for ESPN+ and ensure your regional sports network is authenticated on your device before the 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM games start. If you're looking for the Lightning/Stars game right now, head over to NHL Network or the Victory+ app immediately.