Time for a little hot ice.
July hockey isn’t something that a lot of people expected to see in 2020, but that’s where we are this year. After the NHL suspended play in mid-March and some minor labor quibbles, some didn’t expect hockey to return this year, but after four months away, the chase for Lord Stanley’s Cup is back, and in a big, entertaining way.
The NHL schedule restarts Aug. 1, with 24 teams jockeying for either spots and positioning for the 2019-20 Stanley Cup playoffs. The top four teams in each conference will play round-robin style to determine seeding, while the remaining eight teams in each conference will battle for to move on to a best-of-seven series.
The Stanley Cup qualifying round kicks off with eight best-of-five series this Saturday, Aug. 1.
Here is a complete TV schedule for the first two days of NHL games during the 2020 season restart, including start times and channels for Saturday and Sunday’s national broadcasts.
MORE: Watch NHL games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
NHL games today
Saturday, Aug. 1
Hockey-starved fans in the United States and Canada will have a full day of games over the weekend, starting with ‘Canes vs. Rangers on NBC Sports Network in the Stanley Cup Playoffs play-in round.
Here’s the full slate of national games for Saturday and Sunday:
| Game | Time | Channel/live stream | Channel (Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes vs. Rangers | Noon | NBCSN/fuboTV | Sportsnet |
| Oilers vs. Blackhawks | 3 p.m. | NBC/fuboTV | Sportsnet |
| Islanders vs. Panthers | 4 p.m. | NBCSN/fuboTV | Sportsnet 1 |
| Penguins vs. Canadiens | 8 p.m. | NBC/fuboTV | CBC, Sportsnet |
| Flames vs. Jets | 10:30 p.m. | NBCSN/fuboTV | CBC, Sportsnet |
Sunday, Aug. 2
| Game | Time | Channel/live stream | Channel (Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Predators vs. Coyotes | 2 p.m. | USA/fuboTV | Sportsnet 360 |
| Bruins vs. Flyers | 3 p.m. | NBC/fuboTV | Sportsnet |
| Avalanche vs. Blues | 6:30 p.m. | NBCSN/fuboTV | Sportsnet 360 |
| Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets | 8 p.m. | NHL Network/fuboTV | Sportsnet |
| Canucks vs. Wild | 10:30 p.m. | NBCSN/fuboTV | Sportsnet |
MORE: Updated NHL playoff picture
How to watch NHL games in USA, Canada
The full slate of games over NHL’s return weekend will be available for national consumption over Saturday and Sunday. Depending on your TV provider, you’ll be able to watch games on NBC along with NBCSN, USA Network and the NHL Network.
In Canada, every game through the end of final horn of the Stanley Cup final will be broadcast on Sportsnet or one of its subsidiaries, Sportsnet 1or Sportsnet 360. CBC will also carry two games on Saturday night, Aug. 1.
In addition to TV, you’ll be able to stream games on the NBC Sports app where available (cable subscription required) and the following streaming services:
MORE: Everything to know about the NHL’s bubble cities
NHL live streams
Fans who want to take in games for the remainder of the year and are with or without the cord have a few different options. Bear in mind that blackout restrictions in local markets do apply, and only games through Aug. 5 have been confirmed to this point, with changes coming at the start of the following round.
- fuboTV offers a free 7-day trial for new customers, and the streaming service carries every U.S. network that shows NHL postseason games. The montly subscription price is $54.99.
- Hulu + Live TV is offering a free week for those who haven’t had the service before, before a $54.99 monthly bill rings in. The package includes live sports.
- If you’re in a market with an NBC Sports regional network, both Sling TV and fuboTV are also viable options which carry NBC Sports RSNs.
- The NBC Sports app is also an option, but keep in mind out of market games will not be covered. Also, a cable subscription is required.
- NHL.TV will be offering games through Aug. 5 for streaming at a $4.99 cost.
