If you’re a hockey fan and have any interest in American sports, then you’ll want to know what channel the NHL is on. Most people already know that the NHL is on NBC Sports, but did you know that there are actually 13 different channels that the NHL is on? In this article, we’ll discuss the channels that the NHL plays on, how many games they broadcast per week, and when you can expect to see each game.
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NHL Network TV Channels
If you have cable, you’ll be able to access the following seven channels, which are all owned by the same company, Comcast. Since many people already have cable, let’s discuss what channel each network is on so that you know what to look out for.
- ESPN (DirecTV Ch. 1204, Fiber Optic Cable Ch. 564)
- ESPN2 (Frisco Ch. 46, Fiber Optic Cable Ch. 562)
- HSN (Channel 131, Fiber Optic Cable Ch. 563)
- SN ESPN Radio (Frisco Ch. 46, Fiber Optic Cable Ch. 562)
- NBC Sports Network (Channel 68, Fiber Optic Cable Ch. 561)
- TickerTV (Frisco Ch. 46, Fiber Optic Cable Ch. 562)
- Red Bull TV (Frisco Ch. 46, Fiber Optic Cable Ch. 562)
In addition to these channels, you can watch every game of the season live on the NHL Network, which is accessible through NBA League Pass.
NHL Network Streaming Channels
The following six channels are available through streaming platforms, such as Hulu and YouTube. Since these platforms are generally only available through monthly subscriptions or weekly fee-based subscriptions, let’s discuss what channel each network is on so that you can know when the games are available to watch.
- WatchESPN (Video on Demand Ch. 7, available throughout the country)
- HSN LIVE (Video on Demand Ch. 9, available throughout the country)
- NBC Sports Digital (Online Video Ch. 44, available throughout the country)
- Red Bull TV Max Go (Online Video Ch. 45, available nationwide)
- SN Video On Demand (Online Video Ch. 37, available throughout the country)
- TickerTV Game Plan (Online Video Ch. 40, available throughout the country)
Many of these platforms provide additional features for subscribers, such as NBA League Pass, which gives you access to every game, or DVR capabilities. So, if you’ve got a monthly or weekly subscription to one of these services, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to catch all of the games this year.
What Time Do The Games Start On These Channels?
Since most people are already aware that the NHL is on NBC Sports and can watch every game live, let’s discuss the time that each game starts on these channels.
The start time for NHL games varies by network. The vast majority of games begin at either 7:00 pm or 7:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time, but a few begin as early as 6:30 pm or as late as 8:00 pm.
The reason for the early start times is that many networks have a broadcast agreement, which means that the NHL will show games on TV at a certain time, regardless of whether those games are on that network or another. For example, both the ESPN and the NBC Sports networks will show games at 8:00 pm. This is why it’s important to check the listings when you want to know what games are on when you want to watch TV.
Weekly Game Schedule
Every week, the NHL schedules game times and networks for the following week. These games are then shown within a few days, so you’ll be able to check the listings and see when the game is on.
The NHL usually schedules one Sunday game and three Saturday games each week. In some leagues, such as the NHL Premiere series, the schedule is more condensed, with only one game on a Saturday night.
The three Saturday games usually air on different networks, with the majority on cable networks. The Sunday game airs on NBC Sports, with the other two airing on regional sports networks. This means that if you have a cable TV subscription, you’ll be able to see every game regardless of where you are in the country. Regional sports networks broadcast games on Friday and some Wednesday nights, so if you don’t have cable, you won’t be able to see those games.
Best Time To Watch The NHL
If you ask most people about the best time to watch the NHL, they’ll either say “all of them” or “none of them.” These are the wrong answers. The truth is that it depends on what you’re looking for. The following are the best times to watch each type of game.
Sunday Night Hockey
If you want to watch the best hockey, then Sunday night is the place to be. The majority of the games on this night are played at 7:00 pm, so if you want to watch the best hockey, then tune into ESPN at this time.
Most of the action on Sunday night is in the Eastern and Central time zones, meaning that people in the Western time zone will have to make do with early morning games or late night games on ESPN. Still, there are a few games that air in the late night time slot in the Western time zone, so if you want to catch a good game, then be sure to set your alarm clock so that you can watch the end of Playhouse Disney’s Marvelous Marigolds on Netflix before the puck drops.
Saturday Night Hockey
If you want to see the best hockey on the weeknights, then Saturdays are the place to be. The majority of the games on this night are played at 5:00 pm, so if you want to catch all of the action, then tune into ESPN at this time.
Most of the action on Saturday nights is in the Eastern and Central time zones, meaning that people in the Western time zone will have to make do with early morning games or late night games on ESPN. Still, there are a few games that air in the late night time slot in the Western time zone, so if you want to catch a good game, then be sure to set your alarm clock so that you can watch the end of Playhouse Disney’s Marvelous Marigolds on Netflix before the puck drops.
The beauty of college football is that fans can pretty much predict the matchups. The same can be said for the NHL. Typically, the conferences that are most successful in college football are the conferences that have the best teams in the NHL. So, if you’re a college football fan, then you might want to pay a little more attention to the football teams than the hockey ones.