The 2026-27 NHL season kicks off Monday, featuring a trifecta of big-time matchups on ESPN for Opening Night. There’s a few ways to watch Opening Night for free, with the best option being DIRECTV, which offers a five-day free trial.

Start a 5-day free trial of DIRECTV and get ESPN Unlimited for free at no additional cost.

If you’re looking to watch without committing to an expensive long-term subscription, there are several ways to take advantage of free trials and promotional offers this week.

How to watch NHL Opening Night for free

The easiest way to watch NHL Opening Night for free is through a streaming service trial. If you time your sign-up correctly, you can enjoy Tuesday’s full slate of games without paying upfront.

Both DIRECTV (5-day free trial) and FuboTV (free trial) offer ESPN and and ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost in their base packages. On top of watching the three games on ESPN, you can watch the other two Opening Night NHL games for free on ESPN Unlimited when you sign up for a free trial with either streaming service.

Both services also provide access to a wide range of NHL broadcast channels, including ABC, ESPN2 and NHL Network.

We recommend: DIRECTV (5-day free trial) for having most reliable free trial, and because they also offer TNT, which will air NHL games every week throughout the regular season and playoffs. Fubo does not offer TNT.

NHL Opening Night TV/Stream Schedule

All times in ET

MatchupTimeChannel/StreamFlorida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes5 p.m.ESPNMontreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs7 p.m.ESPN UnlimitedNew York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins8 p.m.ESPNVancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers10 p.m.ESPN UnlimitedChicago Blackhawks vs. Vegas Golden Knights10:30 p.m.ESPNWhat to know for NHL Opening Night

The NHL’s 2026-27 season opens Tuesday night with five games on the schedule, but several major storylines will dominate attention across the league.

The biggest moment comes in Raleigh, where the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will raise their championship banner before hosting the Florida Panthers. Carolina captured the franchise’s second Stanley Cup last June, while Florida remains one of the NHL’s premier contenders after winning back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025. Opening night immediately delivers a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview between two teams expected to be in the championship conversation all season.

The start of a new era for the NHL is another headline. The 2026-27 campaign marks the league’s first 84-game regular season, up from 82 games. The schedule expansion, negotiated through the league’s collective bargaining agreement, creates additional divisional matchups and has pushed opening night into September instead of the traditional October start. Every team will be adjusting to a longer grind and a slightly different competitive landscape.

Opening night also could feature the NHL debut of No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens. The highly touted prospect has been one of hockey’s most anticipated young stars, and his debut would add another layer to one of the league’s most historic rivalries.

Later in the evening, the Vegas Golden Knights begin their pursuit of another Stanley Cup run when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. Vegas reached the Stanley Cup Final last season before falling to Carolina in six games, making Tuesday the first step in what the organization hopes is another championship chase.