For the first time since 2004, the National Hockey League (NHL) returns to The Walt Disney Company, airing on ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC.
ESPN’s industry-leading collection of television and direct-to-consumer streaming platforms will showcase the world’s best hockey beginning with a season-opening doubleheader on October 12th.
The 2021-2022 season will showcase 103 exclusive regular season games across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC. In addition, more than 1,000 out-of-market games will be available on ESPN+.
Beginning October 12th, ESPN, ESPN+ and Hulu become the destination for Tuesday night hockey throughout the regular season. ESPN+ and Hulu will also showcase an exclusive game every Friday night until January, then every Thursday night for the remainder of the regular season. ABC will regularly carry Saturday games beginning in February.
NHL FACEOFF
The 2021 NHL FaceOff will feature a doubleheader matchup on ESPN with the early game showcasing the Pittsburgh Penguins against the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Seattle Kraken’s franchise debut against the Vegas Golden Knights at 10 p.m. ET. Both matchups will be simulcast on ESPN+.
ESPN+ AND HULU
Opening week on ESPN+ will feature the Minnesota Wild taking on the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, October 15. Momentum continues into the second week of the season beginning Tuesday, October 19, when the Colorado Avalanche and former first overall pick Nathan MacKinnon travel to the nation’s capital to take on Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. On Friday, October 22, the Boston Bruins will travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres in a divisional matchup. A historic Saturday night in Seattle caps off the second week of the regular season on ESPN+ and Hulu when the Seattle Kraken take the ice in Climate Pledge Arena for the first time in franchise history against their border rivals, the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, October 23.
Each Tuesday in 2021, October 19 through December 28, ESPN+ will host at least one exclusive matchup with highlights including the Tampa Bay Lightning versus the St. Louis Blues on November 30, the New York Rangers versus the Colorado Avalanche on December 14, the Washington Capitals versus the Philadelphia Flyers on December 21 and the 2021 Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 28.
Additional Friday game highlights include the Colorado Avalanche versus the Seattle Kraken on November 19, the New York Rangers versus the Boston Bruins on November 26 and a Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin matchup on December 10 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
ESPN+ continues its premier slate in 2022 with Tuesday and Thursday night matchups through the remainder of the 2021-22 regular season. Highlights include: Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, January 4, Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, January 6, Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins on Thursday, January 20, Minnesota Wild at Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, March 8, and the new-look Florida Panthers with Joe Thornton take on the San Jose Sharks on March 15 as Thornton returns to San Jose after spending 15 seasons as a Shark. In a Thursday night doubleheader on March 24, the St. Louis Blues host the Philadelphia Flyers, followed by the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the Los Angeles Kings at the STAPLES Center.
In April, ESPN+ will feature the following match ups: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers on Thursday, April 7, the Boston Bruins at St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, April 19, the Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, April 25, as the only NHL game that day, and a Connor McDavid-Sidney Crosby showdown between the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, April 26. The final game of the ESPN+ schedule will feature the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the New York Islanders on Thursday, April 28, in a rematch of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals.
Additionally, ESPN+ will stream more than 1,000 out-of-market games, all as part of an ESPN+ subscription.
ESPN+ and Hulu game schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Network | Teams |
| Oct 15 | 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Minnesota vs. Anaheim |
| Oct 19 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Colorado vs. Washington |
| Oct 22 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Boston vs. Buffalo |
| 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Los Angeles vs. Dallas | |
| Oct 23 | 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Vancouver vs. Seattle |
| Oct 26 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | San Jose vs. Nashville |
| Oct 29 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Florida vs. Detroit |
| Nov 2 | 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | New Jersey vs. Anaheim |
| 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Buffalo vs. San Jose | |
| Nov 5 | 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Arizona vs. Anaheim |
| 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | New Jersey vs. Los Angeles | |
| Nov 9 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Florida vs. New Jersey |
| 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Seattle vs. Vegas | |
| Nov 12 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Edmonton vs. Buffalo |
| 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Arizona vs. Chicago | |
| Nov 16 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | NY Islanders vs. Florida |
| 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Detroit vs. Dallas | |
| Nov 19 | 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Colorado vs. Seattle |
| Nov 23 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Edmonton vs. Dallas |
| Nov 26 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | NY Rangers vs. Boston |
| 6 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | New Jersey vs. Nashville | |
| Nov 30 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | San Jose vs. New Jersey |
| 8 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis | |
| Dec 3 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Vegas vs. Arizona |
| Dec 7 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Nashville vs. Detroit |
| 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Anaheim vs. Buffalo | |
| Dec 10 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Pittsburgh vs. Washington |
| 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Nashville vs. New Jersey | |
| Dec 14 | 8 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Carolina vs. Minnesota |
| 9 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | NY Rangers vs. Colorado | |
| Dec 17 | 8 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Dallas vs. St. Louis |
| 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Arizona vs. Anaheim | |
| Dec 21 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Washington vs. Philadelphia |
| 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Arizona vs. Seattle | |
| Dec 28 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Montreal vs. Tampa Bay |
| 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Arizona vs. San Jose | |
| Jan 4 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Colorado vs. Chicago |
| 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | NY Islanders vs. Seattle | |
| Jan 6 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia |
| Jan 11 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Detroit vs. San Jose |
| Jan 13 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Columbus vs. Carolina |
| Jan 17 | 4 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Montreal vs. Arizona |
| Jan 18 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Columbus vs. NY Islanders |
| Jan 20 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Washington vs. Boston |
| Jan 25 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Dallas vs. New Jersey |
| 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Nashville vs. Seattle | |
| Jan 27 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Los Angeles vs. NY Islanders |
| Feb 1 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Florida vs. NY Rangers |
| 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Buffalo vs. Vegas | |
| Feb 24 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Columbus vs. Florida |
| Mar 1 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | New Jersey vs. Columbus |
| Mar 4 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Minnesota vs. Buffalo |
| Mar 7 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Toronto vs. Columbus |
| Mar 8 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Arizona vs. Detroit |
| Mar 10 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Minnesota vs. Detroit |
| 8 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Anaheim vs. Nashville | |
| Mar 15 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Florida vs. San Jose |
| Mar 17 | 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | San Jose vs. Los Angeles |
| 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Florida vs. Vegas | |
| Mar 22 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Nashville vs. Los Angeles |
| Mar 24 | 8 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Philadelphia vs. St. Louis |
| 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Chicago vs. Los Angeles | |
| Mar 25 | 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Seattle vs. Anaheim |
| Mar 29 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Carolina vs. Tampa Bay |
| Mar 31 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Columbus vs. NY Islanders |
| Apr 5 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Carolina vs. Buffalo |
| 8 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Minnesota vs. Nashville | |
| Apr 7 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Pittsburgh vs. NY Rangers |
| 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Buffalo vs. Carolina | |
| Apr 14 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Detroit vs. Carolina |
| Apr 19 | 8 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Boston vs. St. Louis |
| Apr 21 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Detroit vs. Florida |
| Apr 25 | 8 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Philadelphia vs. Chicago |
| Apr 26 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Edmonton vs. Pittsburgh |
| Apr 28 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu | Tampa Bay vs. NY Islanders |
ESPN
ESPN will carry 18 exclusive regular-season games beginning with the NHL FaceOff on Opening Night. ESPN will air an exclusive game each Tuesday throughout October. On October 19, ESPN focuses on former first overall pick and three-time Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Kane in the Chicago Blackhawks’ home opener at the United Center against the New York Islanders at 8 p.m. ET. The following Tuesday, October 26, the Vegas Golden Knights travel to take on the 2021 President’s Trophy winners, the Colorado Avalanche. ESPN will carry three Thursday night matchups in January, beginning on Thursday, January 6, with the Minnesota Wild traveling to Boston to take on the Bruins. The following two Thursdays on ESPN feature the Philadelphia Flyers at the Boston Bruins, followed by the Colorado Avalanche taking on the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, January 20.
In February, ESPN will also carry the 2022 NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Friday, February 4 in primetime from Las Vegas. Following the Winter Olympic Break, as the regular season pushes towards the playoffs, ESPN ramps up its coverage with three doubleheaders in the month of April. On Tuesday, April 12, the Philadelphia Flyers take on the Washington Capitals followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Dallas Stars. The following week on Thursday, April 21, the NHL’s 2021 leading goal scorer Auston Mathews and the Toronto Maple Leafs travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning, followed by the St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks. Rounding out ESPN doubleheaders on Tuesday, April 26, the New York Islanders take on the Washington Capitals followed by St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche.
ESPN game schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Network | Teams |
| Oct 12 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN+ | Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 10 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN+ | Seattle Kraken vs. Vegas Golden Knights | |
| Oct 19 | 8 p.m. | ESPN | New York Islanders vs. Chicago Blackhawks |
| Oct 26 | 8 p.m. | ESPN | Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche |
| Jan 6 | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Minnesota Wild vs. Boston Bruins |
| Jan 13 | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins |
| Jan 20 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN | Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings |
| Feb 24 | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers |
| Mar 3 | 9 p.m. | ESPN | Boston Bruins vs. Vegas Golden Knights |
| Mar 24 | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Dallas Stars vs. Carolina Hurricanes |
| Apr 12 | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals |
| 9:30 p.m. | ESPN | Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Dallas Stars | |
| Apr 14 | 8 p.m. | ESPN | Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars |
| Apr 19 | 10 p.m. | ESPN | Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks |
| Apr 21 | 8 p.m. | ESPN | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 10:30 p.m. | ESPN | St. Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks | |
| Apr 26 | 7 p.m. | ESPN | New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals |
| 9:30 p.m. | ESPN | St. Louis Blues vs. Colorado Avalanche |
ABC
ABC will carry 10 regular season games, including the 2021 Thanksgiving Showdown between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, November 26. Additional highlights include the 2022 All-Star Game on Saturday, February 5 from Las Vegas. Beginning February 26 – following the Winter Olympic break – ABC will host a weekly Saturday NHL game throughout the remainder of the regular season. The first of nine Saturday matchups will feature the New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins. Additional highlights include a powerhouse matchup of Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals versus Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, April 9.
All ABC games will be simulcast on ESPN+.
ABC Broadcast Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Network | Teams |
| Nov 26 | 1 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks |
| Feb 5 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | 2022 NHL All-Star Game |
| Feb 26 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Mar 5 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers |
| Mar 12 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes |
| Mar 19 | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Mar 26 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vegas Golden Knights |
| Apr 2 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche |
| Apr 9 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Apr 16 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues |
| Apr 23 | 3 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+ | New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins |
Stanley Cup Playoffs
The NHL’s Stanley Cup Final and Stanley Cup Playoffs action will return to the ABC and ESPN networks – including exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final in four of the seven years of the deal – beginning with the 2021-22 season. Additionally, in each season of the agreement, ESPN and ABC will have live, exclusive coverage of one Conference Final series and half of all First Round and Second Round games from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In March, The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and the National Hockey League announced a historic and innovative seven-year television, streaming and media rights deal, beginning with the 2021-2022 season and continuing through the 2027-28 season.