The NHL is more popular than ever thanks to shows like Heated Rivalry and young stars like Macklin Celebrini and Gavin McKenna

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Hockey is back and hotter than ever, thanks in part to the success of shows like Heated Rivalry and Off Campus. Now, the pros are back on the ice for the official 2026-27 NHL season.

This year’s NHL games air nationally across ABC, ESPN, and TNT and you can watch hockey on TV with any cable package that includes the three channels.

ESPN will air the most number of NHL games, followed by TNT with its long-running NHL on TNT program. ABC’s Hockey Saturday kicks off in January with 18 must-see matchups. The network will also air the 2027 NHL All Star Game live from UBS Arena in New York.

This year’s NHL season is also streaming online, with most games (including out-of-market matchups) available on the ESPN+ streaming app. The TNT broadcasts are streaming live on HBO Max.

There are also ways to livestream NHL games online free, without needing cable or a pricey subscription.

All of the above streaming services let you livestream NHL games online from home through your computer, smartphone, tablet, or smart TV. All three live streamers also offer free DVR so you can record the games you’re missing to watch back as a replay later.

This year’s NHL regular season runs from Sept. 29, 2026, to April 10, 2027, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs following immediately through June.

The Carolina Hurricanes are the defending Stanley Cup champions, after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 finals. Carolina is once again a betting favorite for the Cup this year, along with 2025 champs Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Colorado Avalanche.

Hockey has seen a boon in popularity following the release of Heated Rivalry and Off Campus, along with the rise of young NHL stars like Macklin Celebrini, Conor Bedard, and U.S. Olympic champ Jack Hughes. All eyes will also be on the Yukon-born, 18-year-old Gavin McKenna, who was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

SeatGeek, meantime, announced this year that the average number of hockey tickets sold on its site increased by 24% during the week of Heated Rivalry’s buzzy season one finale in December, and that average ticket prices went up by as much as 36% following the show’s airing.