Full Breakdown
Pittsburgh Penguins' 2025-26 National Broadcast Schedule Announced
8/28/2025, 1:04:04 PM
Overview of National Broadcasts
The Pittsburgh Penguins will feature prominently in the 2025-26 NHL season, with a total of 16 games scheduled for national broadcast. The announcement was made by the NHL and its broadcast partners, ESPN and Turner Sports. The Penguins' season opener is set for October 7, 2025, against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, airing at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN.
The Penguins' national broadcast schedule includes five games on ESPN, four on ABC, six on TNT, and one exclusive to ESPN+/Hulu. Notably, the Penguins will face their rivals, the Washington Capitals, three times on national television, with one of those matchups being a streaming-only game on November 6, 2025.
Detailed Broadcast Schedule
The complete list of the Penguins' nationally televised games is as follows:
- October 7: at New York Rangers, 8:00 PM, ESPN
- October 28: at Philadelphia Flyers, 6:00 PM, ESPN
- November 6: vs. Washington Capitals, 7:30 PM, ESPN+/Hulu
- December 16: vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7:30 PM, TNT
- December 23: at Toronto Maple Leafs, 4:00 PM, TNT
- January 3: at Detroit Red Wings, 12:00 PM, ABC
- January 15: vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 7:00 PM, ESPN
- February 3: at New York Islanders, 3:30 PM, TNT
- February 28: at New York Rangers, 12:30 PM, ABC
- March 1: vs. Vegas Golden Knights, 1:00 PM, TNT
- March 8: vs. Boston Bruins, 4:30 PM, TNT
- March 16: at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 PM, ESPN
- April 11: vs. Washington Capitals, 3:00 PM, ABC
- April 12: at Washington Capitals, 3:00 PM, TNT
- April 14: at St. Louis Blues, 9:30 PM, ESPN
Local Broadcast and Commentary Team
Locally, the Penguins will continue their partnership with SportsNet Pittsburgh, which enters its third season as the exclusive home for Penguins hockey. The broadcast team will feature Josh Getzoff as the play-by-play announcer, with former Penguins players Colby Armstrong and Phil Bourque serving as analysts. Hailey Hunter and Dan Potash will handle rinkside reporting duties. Fans can also listen to the games on the radio via 105.9 'The X' and the Penguins Radio Network, with Joe Brand providing play-by-play commentary.
Broader Context of NHL Broadcasts
The NHL has expanded its national broadcast coverage for the 2025-26 season, with a total of 132 regular-season games scheduled across ESPN, TNT, and ABC. This marks an increase of 23 games compared to the previous season. The Penguins, along with other teams like the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins, will benefit from this enhanced visibility, reflecting the league's efforts to boost viewership following a decline in average ratings.
Criticism & Opposition
While the increase in national broadcasts is generally seen as a positive development for the NHL, some critics argue that the focus on marquee matchups may overshadow smaller market teams. There are concerns that this could lead to an uneven distribution of exposure across the league, potentially impacting fan engagement in less-publicized markets.
What's Next
As the season approaches, fans are encouraged to check local listings and streaming platforms for updates on game times and broadcast details. The Penguins' first game of the season will set the tone for their campaign, and the national broadcasts will provide fans with ample opportunities to follow their progress throughout the year.
