Avalanche to Appear on National TV 16 Times Next Season
The Colorado Avalanche will be featured in 16 nationally televised games in the 2026-27 NHL season, according to broadcast schedules released by ESPN and TNT Sports. Seven of those games will air on TNT and TruTV, including the Winter Classic against the Utah Mammoth on New Year's Eve. The remaining contests will be split across ESPN, ABC, and streaming platforms.
The Avalanche’s 16 national appearances include a mix of traditional cable, broadcast, and streaming outlets, with seven games on TNT/TruTV and four on ESPN/ABC. The remaining five are exclusive to ESPN+ and Disney+ platforms, reflecting the NHL’s continued push toward digital distribution. Colorado’s slate also features three games against the Minnesota Wild, including the season’s final national broadcast on ABC.
The Dec. 31 Winter Classic against Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium will be Colorado’s first appearance in that event and its fourth outdoor game overall. The expanded 84-game schedule gives the team more total contests, but the national spotlight remains concentrated on marquee matchups, including two back-to-back games against Dallas in October and a late-season home tilt with Edmonton.
The increased national TV presence could raise the Avalanche’s profile among casual hockey fans, potentially boosting merchandise sales and regional interest in Colorado. For viewers, the mix of streaming and cable options may affect how easily they can follow games, though the league’s multi-platform approach likely aims to reach younger audiences. The Winter Classic’s New Year’s Eve slot could also draw broader attention to the sport during a holiday viewing window.