FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers will appear on national television at least 15 times during the 2026-27 NHL season, matching the exposure they received last year as two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions, according to the broadcast schedule released by the league.
The 15 nationally televised games out of Florida’s 84-game slate will be split across ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, TNT and truTV, Florida Hockey Now reported. Five games will air on ESPN, six on TNT, one on ABC and three will stream exclusively on ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu. None of those 15 games will carry a local broadcast from Scripps, though some national games may be returned to the local broadcaster later in the season.
The Panthers open the season at Carolina on Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. on ESPN. Their marquee road matchup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 3 will air on ABC at 12:30 p.m., and the following night Florida plays at New Jersey at 4:30 p.m. on TNT.
The rivalry with the Tampa Bay Lightning will get significant national attention. Of four meetings between the in-state rivals, at least two land on national broadcasts — a streaming-exclusive game at Tampa Bay on Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and a TNT broadcast at Tampa Bay on March 23 at 7 p.m.
Other notable national dates include a home game against Chicago on Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. on TNT, a visit to Boston on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. on TNT, a trip to Minnesota on Jan. 14 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN, and a home contest against Pittsburgh on March 4 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. The Panthers also travel to Columbus on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Detroit on Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m., both streaming exclusively on ESPN+. A Dec. 10 home game against Pittsburgh airs at 7 p.m. on ESPN, and a Jan. 27 game at the New York Rangers airs at 7:30 p.m. on TNT. Florida visits Vegas on Feb. 24 at 9:30 p.m. on TNT.
NHL free agency opened July 1, and the Panthers’ training camp begins Sept. 17 in Fort Lauderdale. Florida’s four-game preseason starts Sept. 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes, with the home opener set for Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. against the Minnesota Wild on Scripps.