NHL nationally televised games for week of March 16

Each Monday throughout the 2025-26 NHL season, ESPN and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes will provide fans with a guide of games that will be nationally televised. Today, a look at games for the 24th week of the regular season.

Highlights include a doubleheader on "Prime Monday Night Hockey" and Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche hosting Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars in a huge matchup in the Western Conference.

MONDAY, MARCH 16

Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, ESPN, Prime, TVAS)

The second game of ESPN and Prime's doubleheader features the Penguins visiting the Avalanche at Ball Arena. The Penguins (33-18-15) have lost five of seven (2-3-2) and need to turn it around while their captain Sidney Crosby is out, especially with the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders right on their tail. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (460 games) needs one goal to become the first active defenseman with four 20-goal seasons in the NHL and is five points from becoming the third-fastest defenseman in NHL history to the milestone behind Bobby Orr (396 games) and Paul Coffey (422). Colorado (44-12-9) has won eight of 11 since a subpar January, when they won six of 14 (6-6-2).

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18

Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, TNT, TVAS2)

Two Stanley Cup contenders face off for the third time this season. The Stars (42-14-10) defeated the Avalanche 5-4 in a shootout in Denver on Oct. 11, and the Avalanche returned the favor by winning 5-4 in a shootout in Dallas on March 6. The Stars enter the week on a 15-game point streak (14-0-1) and could potentially pass the Avalanche with a win. They have also eliminated them from each of the past two Stanley Cup Playoffs. If either of these teams win the Cup this season, it's likely they'll have to go through one another.

THURSDAY, MARCH 19

Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+)

The Mammoth (34-27-6) may not be talked about as much since they are fourth in the Central Division, well behind the Avalanche, Stars and Minnesota Wild, but what they are doing this season should not be overlooked. They hold the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference and have a small cushion despite losing four in a row (0-2-2). Utah also signed Nick Schmaltz to an eight-year contract last week and has forwards Dylan Guenther, JJ Peterka, andLogan Cooley, and defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and MacKenzie Weegar signed long term. The future is bright in Salt Lake City. The Golden Knights (31-22-14) have been wildly inconsistent this season, so making the playoffs is no sure thing with the top six teams in the Pacific Division separated by eight points. Forward Mark Stone recently returned from injury, so hopefully having the captain back will provide Vegas a spark.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings (8 p.m. ET; ABC)

This Original Six matchup will have huge implications in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference playoff races. The Bruins and Red Wings hold the two wild-card spots and have the same number of points. Neither team made the playoffs last season. The Red Wings (36-23-8) are without a number of players, including captain Dylan Larkin and forwards Andrew Copp, Michael Rasmussen and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and is hoping to avoid another late-season swoon. They enter the week having lost five of six (1-3-2) following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Stars on Saturday. The Bruins (36-23-6) have alternated losses and wins in their past 10 games.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS2, The Spot)

Two of the top scorers in the NHL and winners of the past five Art Ross trophies go head-to-head when Nikita Kucherov and the Lightning (40-21-4) visit Connor McDavid and the Oilers (33-26-9) at Rogers Place. McDavid, who enters the week leading the League with 114 points (37 goals, 77 points) in 68 games this season, is a five-time winner, including from 2020-23. Kucherov is third with 106 points (34 goals, 72 assists) in 61 games and is a three-time winner, including each of the past two seasons. They are each also nearing the 400-goal milestone, with McDavid two away and Kucherov nine away.

OTHER NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAMES

MONDAY

Calgary Flames at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, Prime)

Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, TVAS)

TUESDAY

Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, FDSNWIX, FDSNNOX, TNT)

Tampa Bay Lightning at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; The Spot, HBO MAX, TNT)

WEDNESDAY

New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, TNT)

Ottawa Senators at Washington Capitals (7:30 p.m. ET; MNMT, SN, TVAS)

THURSDAY

Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+)

FRIDAY

Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNO, NHLN, FDSNSO)

SATURDAY

Winnipeg Jets at Pittsburgh Penguins (1 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, NHLN, TSN3)

New York Islanders at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, CITY, SNE, MSGSN)

Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, TVAS2)

SUNDAY

Colorado Avalanche at Washington Capitals (12:30 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, ALT, SN1, TVAS)

Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars (7 p.m. ET; Victory+, SCRIPPS, NHLN, SN, TVAS)