NHL nationally televised games for week of Oct. 5

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 second week of the regular season.

Highlights include Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins facing longtime rival Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, and No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Gavin McKenna and the Toronto Maple Leafs facing the Colorado Avalanche.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6

New York Islanders at New York Rangers (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN+)

The Islanders rebounded nicely from a 2-1 opening-night loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs with a dominant 6-0 win in their home opener against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Ilya Sorokin got the shutout and rookie Victor Eklund had his first NHL goal. The sky is the limit for Matthew Schaefer in his second season, so if the Islanders can get offensive contributions from their depth, they could compete this season. The Rangers have many new pieces this season and they’ve gotten goals from several of them, including Pavel Dorofeyev, Eeli Tolvanen and Sean Durzi. Plus they have Igor Shesterkin, who showed he knows how to score, too. As a former goalie, you know I loved seeing that!

Florida Panthers at Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN+)

The Panthers had high hopes entering this season with a mostly healthy team. Unfortunately it only took two games before captain Aleksander Barkov was inured again. He'll be out at least 10 games, and maybe more. That's obviously a big blow to them, but Brad Marchand made his season debut against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday after missing the first two games, and getting him back will help with scoring depth. They also have a new tandem in goal with Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid, with Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov signing elsewhere in the offseason, so we'll have to see how that works out. The Kings are hoping for their first win of the season in this one, after getting outscored 13-8 in their first two games. It’s a tough stretch with games against the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers to follow. Coach Peter Laviolette has to like that seven different players have scored but can't like the amount of goals and chances they've allowed so far.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, TNT)

It's always a treat when we get to watch Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin go head-to-head, as they've provided us with many great moments over the past 20 years. Pittsburgh enters the week with two straight wins and 13 total goals. Crosby doesn't have a goal but has two assists. His longtime teammate Evgeni Malkin has started off nicely with four points (two goals, two assists). Washington dominated the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in a 5-2 win on Friday but lost 3-1 at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Ovechkin is also seeking his first goal of the season, but Alex Tuch, who was traded and signed an eight-year deal with them in the offseason had two goals in their season opener and is expected to be a huge part of the offense this season.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, SN+)

These may be two teams that didn't make the playoffs last season but they could be two surprise teams this season. The Sharks had a great improvement last season, led by Macklin Celebrini, who should be in the goal-scoring and point-scoring races all season. But for me, getting players like Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse on defense gives them playoff veterans who know how to win. They have started the season with two straight wins, each in overtime, after beginning the previous seasons with long losing streaks; they lost their first six games last year, the first nine the season before and the first 11 before that. This will be the home opener for the Blues, who began the season with three straight on the road. I'm interested to see how they split goalies Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer this season. Center Mason McTavish, who was acquired at the NHL Draft, is going to be a key piece for them. We know how tough the Central Division is, so the Blues can't afford to get behind the eight ball early.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

Toronto Maple Leafs at Colorado Avalanche (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, ALT, SNP, SNW, SNO)

The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin McKenna enters the week looking for his first NHL point. The Maple Leafs are hoping he can provide a spark after they failed to make the playoffs last season. He's hardly the only new face on the team, including Bobrovsky, forwards Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Brandon Duhaime and Teddy Blueger, and defensemen Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae. That's a lot of new faces to incorporate. The Avalanche had 14 goals in their first two games, including four players with at least two. When you have that depth and don't have to count on Nathan MacKinnon or Cale Makar all the time, good things happen. They're a Cup favorite again for sure, and should be atop the standings all season as well.

OTHER NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAMES

MONDAY

Philadelphia Flyers at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; The Spot, NHLN, NBCSP)

WEDNESDAY

Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets (7:30 p.m. ET; Prime, ALT)

FRIDAY

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, MSG)

SATURDAY

Philadelphia Flyers at Boston Bruins (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSP, NESN, SNW, SNO, SNE, TVAS)

Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNE, DSN)

Nashville Predators at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SCRIPPS)

SUNDAY

Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; HHN, CARNHL, NHLN, NBCSP, SN+, TVAS)