Washington Capitals 2026-27 National Broadcast Schedule Announced

The Capitals will be a force to be reckoned with this season in many facets of the game. They have sharpshooters in Tom Wilson, Alex Tuch, and Alex Ovechkin, to name a few. Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas, Vincent Desharnais, and a handful of others bring an impressive level of size and physicality to the game.

The team is rounded out by brick-wall goaltender Logan Thompson and his steady backup Charlie Lindgren. The odds are stacked in the team’s favor in a tough Metropolitan Division, and having the eyes of the nation on their performance could light a fire under them and propel them toward more wins and, ultimately, the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

National Broadcast Schedule

Per the NHL, the Capitals will have “eight games on TNT, four games on ESPN and two games on ABC. In addition, three of Washington’s games will air on ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+.” There will be a wide range of commentators covering the team this season across these networks, including Wayne Gretzky, Chris Chelios, Paul Bissonnette, and other notable names.

Hockey fans and casual viewers outside of their usual fanbase will get a chance to see the team in action and get a glimpse of what the hype is about. These national games are must-wins for Ovechkin and crew, as they will shape the narrative around the team this season. The national broadcast schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, Oct. 7 vs. Penguins (TNT)
• Wednesday, Oct. 28 vs. Flyers (TNT)
• Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Tampa Bay Lightning (ESPN+)
• Thursday, Dec. 10 at Seattle Kraken (ESPN)
• Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Dallas Stars (TNT)
• Monday, Jan. 18 at Penguins (TNT)
• Thursday, Feb. 25 at Bruins (ESPN)
• Sunday, March 7 at Minnesota Wild (ESPN)
• Wednesday March 10 at Chicago Blackhawks (TNT)
• Saturday March 13 at Penguins (ABC)
• Thursday, March 18 at Buffalo Sabres (ESPN+)
• Sunday, March 21 at Rangers (TNT)
• Tuesday, March 23 vs. Detroit Red Wings (ESPN+)
• Wednesday, March 24 at Red Wings (TNT)
• Thursday, April 1 at Flyers (TNT)
• Sunday, April 4 vs. Penguins (ESPN)
• Saturday, April 10 at Flyers (ABC)

Notable Games

It is notable that every game the team plays against the Penguins will be nationally televised. With rumors of this season being the last for Ovechkin and rival captain Sidney Crosby, the league may be trying to get more eyes on the two living legends as their era of hockey excellence comes to an end. The teams have a long and storied rivalry, and with both set up for success this season, they could be high-energy, tough matchups that make for entertaining viewing.

The Capitals’ first and last home games, as well as their final game of the regular season, will be on national television, too. It appears that the league has set up its broadcasts this season to allow as many fans as possible to watch Ovechkin in important moments. If it really is his final season in the league, we will likely see a celebratory ceremony at the end of the game against the Flyers on April 10.

Most of the national games are on the road, which adds an extra layer of challenge and pressure. Washington has a history of flubbing away games, but we can hope they will overcome that challenge this season. 10 national games are against division opponents. While divisional games are always must-win, having the addition of a national audience seals the deal.

The team is raring to go with less than a month left until the regular season kicks off. While the road may be tough this season, they are set up for success and should be among the league’s top-performing teams. The Capitals begin on Oct. 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes.