Updated September 10, 2026
NHL Frozen Frenzy returns on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with all 32 teams playing across 16 games. Start times are staggered throughout the night, while ESPN2 will provide whip-around coverage similar in concept to NFL RedZone.
It will be the fourth edition of Frozen Frenzy.
Editor's notes
“I’m a big fan of NFL RedZone, so I find the Frozen Frenzy concept particularly interesting. Hockey is almost made for this type of coverage, with goals, power plays and big moments happening across the league all night. Putting all 32 teams on the ice and staggering the start times gives the NHL a genuine event feel early in the season.”
Here is the current October 13 schedule. All times are Eastern.
Start times are subject to change.
ESPN will televise three featured games:
Devils at Red Wings – 6 p.m. ET
Avalanche at Stars – 8:30 p.m. ET
Bruins at Sharks – 11 p.m. ET
The other 13 games will be available through NHL Power Play on the ESPN App for eligible out-of-market viewers.
ESPN2 will also carry the Frozen Frenzy whip-around show, moving between games as goals, power plays, saves and other major moments happen around the league.
Frozen Frenzy was developed by ESPN as a way to make a full NHL slate feel like one continuous event.
The inspiration came partly from NFL RedZone. ESPN programming executive Eric Loh pitched the idea to the NHL, with the league and teams then helping build a schedule where all 32 clubs could play on the same night with staggered start times.
That is the main difference between Frozen Frenzy and a normal busy NHL night: the schedule and broadcast are deliberately designed to let viewers follow action from across the league rather than stay with one game.
Yep. The first 16-game day in NHL history came on April 8, 2023, when all 32 teams played.
The first official Frozen Frenzy followed on October 24, 2023. It became the first NHL slate with 16 games scheduled at 16 different start times and introduced ESPN's dedicated whip-around coverage.
That's right. All 32 teams are scheduled to play again on Saturday, April 10, 2027, the final day of the regular season.
Twelve of the 16 games will be divisional matchups, which could make the final day particularly important for playoff positioning and seeding.
ESPN has already scheduled an ABC tripleheader for April 10, but has not announced the same Frozen Frenzy branding or whip-around format used for October 13.
NHL Frozen Frenzy takes place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
All 32 NHL teams will play, creating a full 16-game schedule.
There will be 16 games on October 13, with each matchup scheduled for a different start time.
The first game begins at 6 p.m. ET, when the New Jersey Devils visit the Detroit Red Wings. The final scheduled puck drop is at 11 p.m. ET between the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks.
ESPN will televise three featured games. The remaining 13 games will be available through NHL Power Play on the ESPN App for eligible out-of-market viewers. ESPN2 will also provide Frozen Frenzy whip-around coverage with live look-ins from games around the league.
Yes. The first 16-game day in NHL history occurred on April 8, 2023, when all 32 teams played. The first official Frozen Frenzy followed on October 24, 2023 and became the first NHL day featuring 16 games with 16 different scheduled start times.
The concept originated at ESPN. ESPN programming executive Eric Loh pitched the idea to the NHL, with the broadcaster, league and individual teams then working together to create the 16-game schedule and staggered start times.
Yes. NFL RedZone was part of the inspiration for the format. Frozen Frenzy's ESPN2 broadcast moves between NHL games to highlight goals, power plays, saves and other important moments rather than showing only one game.
After Frozen Frenzy on October 13, all 32 teams will play again on April 10, 2027, the final day of the 2026-27 NHL regular season.
