The Walt Disney Company Announces 103 Exclusive NHL Games Across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC Beginning October 12

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The Walt Disney Company Announces 103 Exclusive NHL Games Across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC Beginning October 12

  • 75 Exclusive Regular-Season Games on ESPN+ and Hulu
  • ESPN and ABC to Showcase a Combined 28 Exclusive Regular-Season Games
  • 1000+ Out-of-Market Games Available on ESPN+ Throughout the Season 

For the first time since 2004, the National Hockey League (NHL) returns to The Walt Disney Company.  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 12. 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 12, 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 exclusive 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 exclusive 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+.

Exclusive ABC schedule below:

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.

– 30 –

About ESPN
ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavours on every continent around the world, and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 14.9 million subscribers.

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

About Hulu
Hulu is the leading premium streaming service offering live and on-demand TV and movies, with and without commercials, both in and outside the home. As part of Disney’s Media and Entertainment Distribution segment, Hulu is the only service that gives viewers instant access to current shows from every major U.S. broadcast network; libraries of hit TV series and films; and acclaimed Hulu Originals like Emmy® and Golden Globe Award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale and The Act; Golden Globe Award-winning, Emmy® Award nominated and Peabody-winning series Ramy; and Emmy® Award nominated series Pen15 alongside hit series Little Fires Everywhere from Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, Normal PeopleThe Great, Hillary and Solar Opposites; Oscar® and Emmy® nominated documentary film Minding the Gap, Golden Globe-Award winning and Oscar® nominated THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY, and critically acclaimed Hulu Original films PALM SPRINGS, RUN and HAPPIEST SEASON. The service also streams live news, entertainment and sports from 20th Television, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, CBS Corporation, The CW, Turner Networks, A+E Networks and Discovery Networks – available all in one place.

 

About ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment airs compelling programming across all day parts, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” the longest-running medical drama in primetime television; riveting dramas “The Good Doctor,” “A Million Little Things,” “Station 19” and fall’s groundbreaking No. 1 new series, “Big Sky”; trailblazing comedy favorites “black-ish,” “The Conners,” “The Goldbergs” and “Home Economics”; the popular Summer Fun & Games programming block, including “Celebrity Family Feud,” “Holey Moley,” “Match Game,” “Press Your Luck” and “To Tell the Truth”; star-making sensation “American Idol”; reality phenomenon “Shark Tank”; “The Bachelor” franchise; long-running hits “Dancing with the Stars” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos”; “General Hospital,” which has aired for more than 55 years on the network; and late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”; as well as two critically acclaimed, Emmy® Award-winning “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” specials. The network also boasts some of television’s most prestigious awards shows, including “The Oscars®,” “The CMA Awards” and the “American Music Awards.” ABC programming can also be viewed on demand and on Hulu.

 

CONTACTS:

ESPN
Katina Arnold | [email protected] | 860-912-6643
Danny Chi | [email protected] | 213-405-4400
Grace Coryell | [email protected] | 213-405-4402

ESPN+
Paul Melvin | [email protected] | 860-877-8369
Kevin Ota | [email protected] | 860-839-7834
Olivia Wilson | [email protected] | 904-303-3538

Grace Coryell

Based out of the LAPC in Los Angeles, Calif., Grace Coryell is manager of communications focusing on X Games and West Coast PR. A native Angelino, Coryell attended the University of Southern California and began working at ESPN in 2008.
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