DIRECTV to Offer Free Preview Of NHL Center Ice

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Buy Me a Coffee!

DIRECTV on January 1, 2026 will hold a week-long free preview of its NHL Center Ice package.

The plan, which offers up to 40 out-of-market games a week, normally costs $69.99 for the entire season.

The free preview, which will also include the NHL Network (channel 215), will last from January 1-7, 2026. The games can be found from channels 770-785.

The Center Ice games that will be available on January 1, 2026 will include:

– The Washington Capitals at the Ottawa Senators at 1 p.m. ET
– The Utah Mammoth at the New York Islanders at 3 p.m. ET
– The Detroit Red Wings at the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. ET
– The Montreal Canadians at the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET
– The Tampa Bay Lightning at the Los Angeles Kings at 7 p.m. ET
– The Winnipeg Jets at the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. ET
– The Dallas Stars at the Chicago Blackhawks at 8:30 p.m. ET
– The Nashville Predators at the Seattle Kraken at 10 p.m. ET

Local blackout restrictions will apply, meaning you cannot watch teams in your local market on NHL Center Ice.

The NHL Center Ice plan is exclusive to cable and satellite services. The ESPN Unlimited app has the streaming exclusive for NHL out-of-market games which are available as part of the sports network’s $29.99 a month plan.

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