NHL Games on TV Today – Monday, October 5, 2026 (ET)
Monday brings a compact four-game slate with plenty of early-season contrasts. San Jose can make franchise history in Dallas, the Penguins put a perfect start on the line against Winnipeg, and two winless teams – Philadelphia and Dallas – badly need a result.
NHL Network carries Flyers-Lightning in the United States, and Prime Video has the Sharks-Stars nightcap in Canada. Out-of-market games stream on ESPN+.
Monday’s NHL Schedule at a Glance
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 PM | Philadelphia Flyers at Tampa Bay Lightning | Benchmark International Arena, Tampa | NHL Network / The Spot / NBCSP |
| 7:30 PM | Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins | TD Garden, Boston | NESN / SN+ / TVA Sports |
| 7:30 PM | Winnipeg Jets at Pittsburgh Penguins | PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh | SN-PIT / SN+ |
| 8:00 PM | San Jose Sharks at Dallas Stars | American Airlines Center, Dallas | Prime Video / NBCSCA |
🏒 Game of the Day: San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars
8:00 PM ET | Prime Video (Canada) · NBC Sports California · American Airlines Center, Dallas
San Jose has never started a season 3-0-0. The Sharks are two wins into this one, both in overtime against California and Florida opposition, and Macklin Celebrini is the reason. He has five assists in two games, tying Joe Thornton (2012-13) and Vincent Damphousse (1999-2000) for the most by a Shark through two games since the franchise joined the league in 1991-92.
Dallas is the surprise on the other side. The Stars won 50 games last season and averaged 3.33 goals per game, ninth in the NHL. This year they are 0-2-0 and have scored once – shut out at home by St. Louis on opening night, then beaten 2-1 in Nashville a night later. A home game against a young, confident opponent is exactly the kind of spot where that tends to turn.
Watch the Dallas power play. Wyatt Johnston led the league in power-play goals last season, and the Stars need him to start converting.
Prediction: Dallas finally breaks out and ends San Jose’s perfect start.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
7:00 PM ET | NHL Network (US) · The Spot / NBCSP · Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
Philadelphia is 0-1-2 and has been outscored 13-4 in three games, including two overtime losses. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is a game-time decision after leaving Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Carolina. Tampa Bay is 1-1-0 and in the middle of a three-game homestand after beating Washington 3-1; Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists for his first points of the season.
Prediction: Tampa Bay keeps Philadelphia winless.
Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins
7:30 PM ET | NESN · SN+ / TVA Sports (Canada) · TD Garden, Boston
Boston opens a three-game homestand at 2-1-0, and Jeremy Swayman has been outstanding: 2-0-0 with a 1.47 goals-against average, a .947 save percentage and a shutout. Ottawa is 1-0-0 after a 3-2 win in Toronto in Thomas Chabot’s first game as captain, but plays the first of a back-to-back without defenseman Jake Sanderson, who will miss the rest of the road trip after reaggravating an injury.
Prediction: Swayman stays hot – Boston wins a low-scoring game.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
7:30 PM ET | SN-PIT · SN+ (Canada) · PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 2-0-0 with 13 goals, and the old guard is leading the way. Evgeni Malkin is only the second 40-year-old in NHL history to score in each of his team’s first two games, after Gordie Howe in 1968-69. Sidney Crosby is one primary assist from tying Jaromir Jagr (684) for fifth in league history, and two assists from matching Ray Bourque’s 1,111 with a single franchise.
Winnipeg is 1-0-1 and on the second night of a back-to-back after Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 win in Detroit, where Kyle Connor scored twice on the power play. Connor now has 75 power-play goals, fifth in franchise history.
Prediction: Crosby gets the milestone and Pittsburgh stays perfect.
What to Know About the New Season
The NHL’s first 84-game season since 1993-94 gives every team 42 home and 42 road games, with division rivals meeting four times. All 32 teams are in action on Oct. 13.
Ahead on the calendar: the Heritage Classic in Winnipeg on Oct. 25, the Global Series in Helsinki and Dusseldorf, the Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Dec. 31, All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena on Feb. 5-6, and the Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium on Feb. 20.
Four games, two milestones within reach and a chance for San Jose to make history. Check local listings for regional broadcast details.
