NHL nationally televised games for week of Oct. 20

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 third week of the regular season.

Highlights include the Buffalo Sabres visiting the Montreal Canadiens on "Prime Monday Night Hockey," and Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers playing his old team in Boston.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20

Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. ET; RDS, Prime, MSG-B)

The Sabres (2-3-0) have won two straight following a three-game losing streak, and with their next four games on national television, they are playing well at the right time. Josh Doan scored twice in a 3-0 win against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Saturday and has five points in his past two games. Montreal (4-2-0) is led by forwards Cole Caufield, who has five goals in six games this season, and Nick Suzuki, who has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in six games.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21

Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN360, TVAS)

It's sure to be an emotional game when Brad Marchand returns to play at TD Garden for the first time since he was traded to the Panthers (3-4-0) on March 7. He spent 16 seasons in Boston and ranks in the top six in games (1,090, fourth), goals (422, fourth), points (976, fifth) and assists (554, sixth) in Bruins history. Marchand had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Panthers win the Cup last season after helping the Bruins do so in 2011. Florida has lost four straight while Boston (3-4-0), which has also lost four straight, returns home following a three-game road trip.

Colorado Avalanche at Utah Mammoth (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, TVAS)

The Avalanche are off to a hot start this season at 5-0-1. In five of those games, they've only allowed one goal. The Mammoth (4-2-0) have won the first three games of their four-game homestand, their latest a 3-2 victory against the Boston Bruins on Sunday. It's nice to see them spreading the scoring around. They already have 10 different players with a goal.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22

Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, FDSNDETX, TNT)

The Red Wings (5-1-0) have won five straight following a 4-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, and captain Dylan Larkin has begun the season with a six-game point streak (five goals, six assists). It may be early in the season, but Detroit knows every point matters, especially after missing the playoffs two seasons ago on a tiebreaker. Buffalo continues its run of playing six straight divisional opponents (2-0-0 so far in that span).

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23

Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning (6:45 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+)

Chicago (3-2-2) is playing much better than many thought they would. All four of their losses have been by one goal and they have nice wins against Utah (3-1 on Oct. 13) and at the St. Louis Blues (8-3 on Oct. 15). Frank Nazar (three goals, four assists) and Connor Bedard (two goals, five assists) each has seven points, and Spencer Knight has been proving he is the guy after signing a three-year, $17.5 million contract prior to the season. His numbers thus far have been excellent (2-2-1, 1.96 goals-against average, .937 save percentage). The Lightning (1-3-2) have gotten off to a slow start. Nikita Kucherov, who enters the week three points from 1,000, has missed the past two games because of an illness, so that is something to keep an eye on.

Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars (9 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SN)

Los Angeles (1-3-2) has lost four in a row (0-2-2) and is 0-2-1 at home this season after tying for the NHL lead in wins at home last season (31-6-4). You never want to get behind early in the standings, especially in the Western Conference, and this game also will be the second in a five-game road trip. The Kings have been poor defensively this season (3.83 goals against per game) after allowing the second-fewest goals per game in the NHL last season (2.48). Mikko Rantanen has a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) to begin the season for the Stars (3-2-0), who have lost two straight following a 3-0-0 start. To me, they will be one of the favorites to win the Cup all season. They are one of, if not the most, well-balanced teams offensively, defensively and in goal.

OTHER NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAMES

MONDAY

Minnesota Wild at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, NHLN, MSG)

WEDNESDAY

Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames (8:30 p.m. ET; RDS, SN)

FRIDAY

Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SN1, TVAS)

SATURDAY

New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers (12:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NBCSP, SN)

Colorado Avalanche at Boston Bruins (3 p.m. ET: NHLN, NESN, ALT, SN1, SN)

Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs (5 p.m. ET; SN1, MSG-B)

Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, NHLN)

Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; KHN, KONG, SN1, CBC)

SUNDAY

Colorado Avalanche at New Jersey Devils (1 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NHLN, ALT, SN)