The 2021-22 NHL season is here and with it comes not only a brand-spanking-new team — hello, Seattle Kraken! — but a new way to watch the fastest game on Earth.
At the conclusion of the 2021 season came the end of the NHL's time on the NBC family of networks. But don't worry, hockey fans, there are plenty of ways to catch all the action for the upcoming 82-game slate.
Here's everything you need to know to make sure you don't miss any of the big saves, any of the big goals and any of the big moments by the NHL's stars.
What TV channels will be showing NHL games in 2021-22?
Hockey fans can still watch games on their local regional channels but select games will now be shown nationally, and exclusively, on Turner Sports and ESPN.
Back in March, the network announced the rights for the next seven years, with ESPN networks airing 25 exclusive national regular-season games on ABC or ESPN. In April, Turner Sports joined the fray and revealed that it will air at least 50 regular-season games on TBS and TNT.
NHL Network will also air 90 national games. Fans in Canada will have games air on Sportsnet, TSN, CBC and in French on RDS and TVAS.
MORE: Watch the 2021-22 NHL season on ESPN+
How to live stream the NHL
Pour one out as NHL.tv has come and gone. But don't fret about missing all of the out-of-network goodness; ESPN+ will stream more than 1,000 games per season in addition to being the exclusive home of 75 national regular-season games that will be on ESPN+ and Hulu.
According to Sean Shapiro of The Athletic, one holdover from the NHL.tv days will be blackout rules that will apply to ESPN+ so you will need access to your RSN to watch your hometown teams' games.
What channel will the 2022 Winter Classic, Heritage Classic be on?
TNT will be the home of the 2022 Winter Classic in the United States. Sportsnet and TVA Sports will air the game in Canada. The Wild host the Blues at Target Field in Minneapolis on Jan. 1.
The network will also be the home of the Stadium Series on Feb. 26 between the Lightning and Predators at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. Canada's outdoor game, the Heritage Classic, will be held at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., and feature the Sabres and Maple Leafs.
NHL 2021-22: Key dates | Season openers
What channel will the 2022 All-Star Game be on?
ABC/ESPN will air the All-Star Game and Skill challenge for the next seven years. In Canada, viewers can watch on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. The 2022 All-Star Weekend will be held in Las Vegas on Feb 4-5. The Olympic break officially starts as soon as the final horn sounds at T-Mobile Arena.
NHL 2021-22: Top 10 defensemen | Top 10 goalies | Top 10 forwards | Top 25 under 25
How to watch the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs
ESPN and Turner Sports will split the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with half of the first-round and second-round games being shown on the two networks. Each network will show a conference final and the 2022 Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC/ESPN. Turner Sports and ESPN will split up the finals, with ESPN getting four of the next seven championship series.
What NHL games will be on ESPN in 2021-22?
ESPN will televise games nationally on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the season.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Tues., Oct. 12 | Penguins at Lightning | 7:30 p.m.* |
| Tues., Oct. 12 | Kraken at Golden Knights | 10 p.m.* |
| Tues., Oct. 19 | Islanders at Blackhawks | 8 p.m. |
| Tues., Oct. 26 | Golden Knights at Avalanche | 8 p.m. |
| Thurs., Jan. 6 | Wild at Bruins | 7 p.m. |
| Thurs., Jan. 13 | Flyers at Bruins | 7 p.m. |
| Thurs., Jan. 20 | Avalanche at Kings | 9:30 p.m. |
| Thurs., Feb. 24 | Capitals at Rangers | 7 p.m. |
| Thurs., March 3 | Bruins at Golden Knights | 9 p.m. |
| Thurs., March 24 | Stars at Hurricanes | 7 p.m. |
| Tues., April 12 | Flyers at Capitals | 7 p.m. |
| Tues., April 12 | Lightning vs. Stars | 9:30 p.m. |
| Thurs., April 14 | Wild at Stars | 8 p.m. |
| Tues., April 19 | Kings at Ducks | 10 p.m. |
| Thurs., April 21 | Maple Leafs at Lightning | 8 p.m. |
| Thurs., April 21 | Blues at Sharks | 10:30 p.m. |
| Tues., April 26 | Islanders at Capitals | 7 p.m. |
| Tues., April 26 | Blues at Avalanche | 9:30 p.m. |
ODDS, SN'S PREDICTIONS: Standings, Stanley Cup | Calder | Vezina | Norris | Hart
What NHL games will be on ABC in 2021-22?
The following games will also be on ESPN+ :
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Fri., Nov. 26 | Blues at Blackhawks | 1 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 26 | Rangers at Penguins | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., March 5 | Blackhawks at Flyers | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., March 12 | Flyers at Hurricanes | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., March 19 | Rangers at Lightning | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., March 26 | Blackhawks at Golden Knights | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., April 2 | Penguins at Avalanche | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., April 9 | Capitals at Penguins | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., April 16 | Wild at Blues | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., April 23 | Rangers at Bruins | 3 p.m. |
What NHL games will be on TNT in 2021-22?
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Wed., Oct. 13 | Rangers at Capitals | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 13 | Blackhawks at Avalanche | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 20 | Bruins at Flyers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 20 | Blues at Golden Knights | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 27 | Flyers at Oilers | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 3 | Blues at Kings | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 10 | Wild at Coyotes | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 17 | Blackhawks at Kraken | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 24 | Maple Leafs at Kings | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 1 | Penguins at Oilers | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 8 | Stars at Golden Knights | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 15 | Kraken at Ducks | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 22 | Oilers at Kings | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 29 | Stars ar Avalanche | 10 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 1 | Winter Classic: Blues at Wild | TBD |
| Wed., Jan. 5 | Blues at Penguins | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 5 | Islanders at Canucks | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan 12 | Bruins at Canadiens | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 12 | Maple Leafs at Coyotes | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 19 | Maple Leafs at Rangers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 19 | Avalanche at Ducks | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 26 | Blackhawks at Red Wings | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 26 | Bruins at Avalanche | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 2 | Oilers at Capitals | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 2 | Wild at Blackhawks | 9:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 23 | Oilers at Lightning | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 23 | Kings at Coyotes | 10 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 26 | Stadium Series: Lightning at Predators | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 2 | Blues at Rangers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 2 | Predators at Kraken | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., March 6 | Stars at Wild | 4 p.m. |
| Wed., March 9 | Capitals at Oilers | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., March 9 | Canadiens at Canucks | 10:30 p.m. |
| Sun., March 13 | Heritage Classic: Maple Leafs at Sabres | 3 p.m. |
| Wed., March 16 | Bruins at Wild | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 16 | Lightning at Kraken | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., March 20 | Islanders at Flyers | 2 p.m. |
| Wed., March 23 | Penguins at Sabres | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 23 | Blackhawks at Ducks | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., March 27 | Lightning at Islanders | 2 p.m. |
| Wed., March 30 | Rangers at Red Wings | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 30 | Golden Knights at Kraken | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., April 3 | Islanders at Devils | 4 p.m. |
| Wed., April 6 | Lightning at Capitals | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., April 6 | Canucks at Golden Knights | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., April 10 | Bruins at Capitals | 1:30 p.m. |
| Sun., April 10 | Predators at Penguins | 4 p.m. |
| Wed., April 13 | Rangers at Flyers | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., April 13 | Kings at Avalanche | 9:30 p.m. |
| Sun., April 24 | Penguins at Flyers | 4 p.m. |