NHL nationally televised games for week of Oct. 19

Each Monday throughout the 2026-27 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 fourth week of the regular season.

Highlights include Brady Tkachuk making his return to Ottawa when the Florida Panthers visit the Ottawa Senators on "Wednesday Night Hockey" on Prime in Canada, and the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets at Princess Austo Stadium in Winnipeg.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20

Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN+)

The Bruins (7-2-0) are coming in hot having won five straight, including three in a row on their four-game road trip that ends in Dallas. Captain David Pastrnak has a point in each of those five games. Jeremy Swayman, a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, has been outstanding in 2026-27 with a 1.85 goals-against average and .934 save percentage. They face a tough test against the Stars (4-3-1), who have won four of six including three via shutout. Dallas is leading the NHL in goals-against per game (1.50), so they haven't relied on offense. So far it's been an offense by committee with four players sharing the team lead in goals (three). I'm also interested in seeing how David Perron fits in. The 38-year-old forward signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Stars on Friday after they learned that forward Matt Duchene would be out several months following surgery.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN+)

The Lightning (6-2-0) head to the road for a three-game trip that begins in Las Vegas and takes them to Colorado and Utah. They're 5-0-0 at home, but have only won one of three on the road (1-2-0). They've gotten contributions from star forwards Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel, but I'm liking what I've seen out of the defensemen. Victor Hedman scored a highlight-reel overtime goal for a 4-3 victory against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. If that helps his confidence, that will be big news for the Lightning, who also signed John Carlson on July 1 to add leadership to the back end. The Golden Knights (8-2-0) are off to a fast start led by forwards Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Mitch Marner but how well they do this season will likely be determined by their goalies. Through 10 games, Carter Hart has started six and Adin Hill has started four, so they may look to get Hart more rest this season than last season.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21

Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. ET; Prime, SCRIPPS)

You can bet both teams had this one circled on their calendars when the schedule came out because it will be the return of Brady Tkachuk to Ottawa for NHL on Prime "Wednesday Night Hockey" this week. The former Senators captain was traded to Florida after helping Ottawa reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in two straight seasons. Most on the outside thought the Senators would suffer this season, but they're off to a 6-3-0 start. Tkachuk got off to a slow start with his new team but has nine points in his past three games, including back-to-back hat tricks. The Panthers (5-2-2) will take all the points they can because they're without Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand, Jonah Gadjovich and Radko Gudas right now. They know how the injuries hurt them last season, when they eventually missed the playoffs, so I would expect them to also be dialed in from the jump.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers (7 p.m. ET; SNO, SNW, SNP)

The Maple Leafs (3-4-2) enter the week with three straight losses (0-2-1), but the positives are what they've gotten from Auston Matthews and Kirill Marchenko. Matthews leads them with six goals and 13 points after an injury-plagued 2025-26 season and is playing like the Matthews of old. Marchenko, who was acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sept. 28, had a hat trick last Thursday and has points in seven of his nine games this season. The Oilers (6-1-1) have gotten off to a better start than they could've hoped for and they've gotten better defensively since allowing 12 goals in their first two games. Connor McDavid leads the League with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in eight games, but how about Vasily Podkolzin leading Edmonton with seven goals? They've also had an issue with depth scoring, so Podkolzin's start is a welcome addition.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

Montreal Canadiens at Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, HBO MAX)

The Canadiens and Jets will play at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic. Montreal (4-3-1) has won four one-goal games this season, including three after regulation, so they can win the close games. Last season in the playoffs, they leaned on Jakub Dobes, who started all 19 games. This season, they've had Dobes and Jacob Fowler alternate starts. Fowler has actually performed better (3-1-0, 2.16 GAA, .900 save percentage) than Dobes (1-2-1, 4.63 GAA, .842 save percentage), so I wonder if they'll hand him the reins soon. Winnipeg has had drama surrounding suspended goalie Connor Hellebuyck, but you have to like their 4-2-2 start with three of those four losses coming by a goal. Kyle Connor has scored at least 30 goals in eight of nine full seasons but with eight goals in eight games, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets 50 for the first time.

OTHER NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAMES

WEDNESDAY

Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT)

THURSDAY

Los Angeles Kings at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, SN+)

Utah Mammoth at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, SN+)

FRIDAY

Montreal Canadiens at Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; CHSN, NHLN, TSN2, RDS)

SATURDAY

Anaheim Ducks at Philadelphia Flyers (1 p.m. ET; FOXLA+, Prime Video, NHLN, NBCSP, SN)

Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils (3:30 p.m. ET; ABTV, MSGSN, SN)

New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNE, MSG, NHLN)

Detroit Red Wings at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, DSN)

SUNDAY

Florida Panthers at Chicago Blackhawks (3 p.m. ET; CHSN, SCRIPPS, SN, TVAS)

Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN, MINNHL, Wild+)