Nhl Scores: How This Week’s National TV Slate Changes Viewing and Result-Tracking for Fans

For fans who follow nhl scores closely, this nationally televised week matters because it concentrates high-stakes matchups and Olympic storylines into discrete TV windows — and that reshapes how and when you check results. Kevin Weekes’ Monday guide, published for the 21st week of the 2025-26 regular season, flags division rivalries, gold-medal teammate showdowns, and the Vegas–Los Angeles pair that will draw extra attention from viewers tracking late-night outcomes.

Nhl Scores: what national TV windows mean for viewers

Here’s the part that matters: national broadcasts compress many consequential games into a single day, which changes the rhythm of live score checks and lineup-watching. Kevin Weekes will continue issuing this weekly guide each Monday throughout the 2025-26 season, giving fans a predictable place to plan when to watch and when to monitor nhl scores in real time.

Matchups, start times (ET) and the immediate stakes

• Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning — 7: 30 p. m. ET: This is billed as a matchup of gold medal-winning teammates, Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs) versus Jake Guentzel (Lightning). Toronto enters at 27-21-9 after winning three straight games before the break and has two tough divisional road games right out of the gate, including a note that they also play at Florida on Thursday. Tampa Bay sits at 37-14-4, riding a five-game win streak and an eye-popping 19-of-21 run (19-1-1). The teams have met once already this season, a 2-0 Toronto win on Dec. 8.
• Vegas Golden Knights at Los Angeles Kings — 10: 30 p. m. ET: Vegas is listed at 27-16-14 and described as having faltered this season, with more losses than wins. Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin helped the United States win Olympic gold (the first U. S. gold since 1980). On Vegas, Canadian Olympic teammates Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Shea Theodore will face Kings defenseman Drew Doughty; those players won silver at the Olympics. The Kings are listed at 23-19-4; last season they were 31-6-4 at home but this season are only 8-11-7 at Crypto. com Arena.
• Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings — 10: 30 p. m. ET: Connor McDavid returns after being named Olympic MVP with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in six games and winning silver with Team Canada. The Oilers are 28-22-8 and are noted as being four points out of first in the Pacific Division behind Vegas (68 points). Weekes suggests the Oilers feel on a mission after losing in the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two years. The Kings beat the Oilers 4-3 in a shootout on Jan. 10, their only meeting so far this season; the Kings have lost to the Oilers in the first playoff round each of the past four years.
• Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers — 12: 30 p. m. ET: Sidney Crosby, who missed the gold medal game with a lower-body issue, did not play in that final and his availability was a concern entering the second half because Pittsburgh needs him to try to end a three-season playoff drought. Crosby leads Pittsburgh (29-15-12) in goals and points in his 21st season. The Rangers are 22-29-6 and have lost 15 of 18 (3-13-2); they are described as looking to play spoiler and are expected to trade more players after dealing Artemi Panarin to Los Angeles before the Olympic break.
• Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers — 3 p. m. ET: The schedule note says this matchup features two surprise teams this season who each have ne — unclear in the provided context.

Practical takeaways for fans tracking results and planning viewing

• Expect concentrated score-checking windows in the evening and late-night ET slots when multiple key games overlap.
• If you care about following Olympic teammates (U. S. gold, Canadian silver), the Vegas–Kings and Maple Leafs–Lightning matchups are the headline draws.
• Monitor player availability updates closely: Sidney Crosby’s lower-body absence in the Olympic final was flagged, and his health affects Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes.
• Team form matters: Tampa Bay’s recent 19-of-21 run contrasts with Vegas being described as inconsistent this season.

If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up: national windows concentrate the biggest viewing moments and that can mean late surges in interest for real-time nhl scores and lineup changes.

A brief operational note about site access and viewing

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It’s easy to overlook, but the combo of Olympic carryovers, national TV scheduling and a handful of injury flags means this week will create sharp, observable swings in late-night leaderboards and standings.

Writer’s aside: Kevin Weekes’ weekly guide provides a useful planning tool for viewers; while some context is incomplete in the provided material, the schedule clearly stacks marquee storylines into a single national-TV day.