The Calgary Flames head into the 2025–2026 NHL campaign with renewed momentum and eyes locked on a deep playoff run. After last season’s push through the Western Conference, fans have more reason than ever to stay locked in for every goal, save, and face-off. Whether it’s tracking breakout performances or following divisional rivalries, catching the action live remains essential—particularly as the Flames aim to etch their name back onto the Stanley Cup.
DirecTV continues to stand at the forefront of sports broadcasting, offering fans expansive NHL coverage that includes national telecasts, regional feeds, and out-of-market games. With a variety of HD sports channels, NHL Center Ice access, and smart DVR options, the platform provides powerful tools to follow your team without interruption.
This guide walks you through everything needed to ensure you don’t miss a single Calgary Flames game this season—from channel numbers to package details. If your goal is uninterrupted viewing of every slap shot, power play, and third-period comeback, you’re in the right place.
Rivalry reignites early as the Calgary Flames square off against the Edmonton Oilers in a back-to-back Alberta Battle, set for October 12 and November 4. These matchups routinely deliver high intensity and playoff-like tension—expect full houses at both the Scotiabank Saddledome and Rogers Place.
Another highlight includes the cross-conference clash with the Florida Panthers on January 23. This rematch of recent heated battles offers a chance to gauge Calgary's depth against one of the fastest East Coast squads.
Circle the December 14 date—Calgary meets the Vancouver Canucks for a game that could shape the Pacific Division standings heading into the new year.
The Flames will play 41 home and 41 away games, as evenly split by NHL regulation. However, the scheduling balance tilts slightly in flavor. From late October into mid-November, seven of nine games happen on home ice, providing an early chance to dominate with the home crowd behind them.
March presents the most brutal stretch—a three-city East Coast swing featuring the Rangers, Bruins, and Penguins—testing fatigue, momentum, and travel resilience.
NHL.com offers the authoritative and most up-to-date schedule for all 32 franchises, including day-by-day lineup, time zones, and broadcast networks. Visit the official Calgary Flames schedule page to filter by month, location, and opponent. DirecTV's on-screen guide and the MyTeams app also sync with your account preferences to flag upcoming games automatically.
DirecTV includes a comprehensive lineup of national sports networks that carry NHL broadcasts. For the 2025-2026 season, Calgary Flames games will appear on:
All these channels are available on DirecTV packages starting from the CHOICE package tier and above.
Channel numbers can vary slightly based on your location, but U.S.-based DirecTV customers can find the primary NHL broadcasters on these channels:
In Calgary, since DirecTV is a satellite-based U.S. provider, Flames fans typically rely on U.S. feeds for national coverage or use out-of-market packages in combination with VPN solutions or U.S. mailing addresses to maintain access.
To streamline access to Calgary Flames games, customize your DirecTV favorites list. Here’s how to do it effectively:
Want easier tracking of game times? Set alerts for NHL categories within the system scheduler, and you’ll receive reminders before match coverage begins.
The National Hockey League holds multi-year media rights agreements with specific U.S. and Canadian broadcasters. As of the 2025–2026 season, ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT carry the national broadcasting rights in the United States. These contracts include up to 103 exclusive games per season across platforms such as ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and TNT. In Canada, Rogers Sports & Media controls the national rights through a 12-year, $5.2 billion CAD deal signed in 2013, which runs through the 2025–2026 season. Under this agreement, Sportsnet and CBC cover national games weekly, with Sportsnet airing additional regional broadcasts.
DirecTV includes ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT in several of its packages, ensuring broad coverage of the U.S. national NHL schedule. Subscribers will receive nationally televised Calgary Flames games aired on these networks, particularly Wednesday Night Hockey and weekend showcase games. For fans in the U.S., ABC coverage of postseason games and the Stanley Cup Final also remains available within DirecTV’s offering via local broadcast affiliates.
During the regular season, most of the Calgary Flames’ matchups appear on regional Sportsnet channels, specifically Sportsnet West or Sportsnet Flames. While these are Canadian broadcasts, DirecTV users in the United States won't have direct access to Canadian regional telecasts unless the game is simulcast on a U.S. national broadcaster, covered under NHL Center Ice, or streamed through a partnered platform.
The broadcasting model changes during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In the U.S., regional sports networks lose rights once teams enter postseason play. Instead, ESPN and TNT begin broadcasting the entire playoff series. This transition ensures that every playoff game is available nationally in English across ESPN's family of networks and Warner Bros. Discovery's platforms. For Flames fans, this means no regional blackouts during the playoffs—every goal, hit, and overtime thriller will run through national channels available on DirecTV.
In Canada, Sportsnet produces and distributes all playoff games, with CBC simulcasting select matchups. Due to cross-border agreements, a substantial number of these broadcasts are simulcast or re-broadcast in the U.S. through ESPN’s licensing structure. When a Flames game is exclusively carried by a U.S. broadcaster, Canadian feeds are not duplicated, preserving exclusivity and advertising value.
The mix of national agreements and regional rights transforms how Calgary Flames fans consume games. Subscribers with DirecTV have consistent access to all games covered by U.S. national broadcasters, while out-of-market or regional matchups may require additional packages or streaming services.
Regional Sports Networks, or RSNs, are television channels that focus on local sports coverage within a specific geographic area. For NHL franchises like the Calgary Flames, RSNs serve as the primary broadcast partner for regular-season games not picked up by national networks. These networks negotiate directly with teams, securing the rights to air a substantial portion of home and away games in the local market.
In the case of the Flames, this role in Canada belongs to Sportsnet West. Owned by Rogers Media, Sportsnet West holds exclusive regional broadcast rights for the team. Flames fans in Alberta and surrounding provinces rely on this channel for comprehensive game coverage, pre- and post-game analysis, and behind-the-scenes content.
The key mechanism here is regional licensing: within the designated broadcast territory, RSNs can air live games. Outside of that zone, access becomes either restricted or redirected through national partners or subscription services like NHL Center Ice and NHL.TV.
DirecTV, as a U.S.-based provider, cannot carry Sportsnet West directly due to international broadcast limitations. This means that American viewers—regardless of how close they live to the Alberta border—won’t see Flames games televised on Sportsnet West via DirecTV.
Instead, DirecTV offers an array of U.S.-based RSNs depending on the subscriber’s ZIP code. RSNs like MSG, Bally Sports, or NBC Sports affiliates service local teams in the U.S. They do not carry Calgary Flames games unless those games are part of a national broadcast or the opposing U.S. team’s RSN picks up the feed.
Consequently, RSNs become incredibly important for viewers following their local U.S. NHL team, but they serve a limited role when trying to follow a Canadian team like Calgary from the U.S.
Because Sportsnet West is geo-restricted to Canada, U.S.-based DirecTV users must turn to alternative RSNs through the NHL Center Ice package. This subscription-based service, available via DirecTV, aggregates out-of-market RSN feeds—including Canadian regional feeds when available—and makes them accessible to viewers across the country.
When the Flames play against a U.S. team, the RSN covering that U.S. team (e.g., Bally Sports Ohio for a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets) may broadcast the game inside its region. Through NHL Center Ice, DirecTV mirrors that feed across the U.S. for out-of-market viewers. This workaround enables fans to follow the full season even if they can’t stream Sportsnet West directly.
In certain cases, games may be simulcast using the Canadian feed, offering U.S. viewers a near-authentic experience of Calgary's local broadcast. However, this depends on licensing agreements negotiated before the season starts.
Looking to track every Flames faceoff, power play, and overtime thriller from a U.S. ZIP code? NHL Center Ice becomes the most reliable option, with RSNs serving as the conduit for out-of-market broadcasts. Without them, complete game access isn't possible through standard DirecTV channel offerings.
NHL Center Ice offers access to up to 40 out-of-market games each week during the regular season. For the 2025–2026 season, DirecTV subscribers can purchase a full-season NHL Center Ice pass directly through their account interface or by calling customer service.
Pricing typically aligns with league standards—with the 2023–2024 package priced at $69.99 for the season or four monthly payments of $17.50. For 2025–2026, expect a similar structure, subject to adjustment based on league agreements. Center Ice is available to subscribers with the CHOICE™ package or higher.
NHL Center Ice on DirecTV includes several premium viewing features:
Flames fans stationed in the U.S. or eastern provinces face geographic restrictions when tuning into regional broadcasts—but NHL Center Ice circumvents that.
A subscriber in Florida, for instance, gains access to Calgary’s out-of-market games that wouldn't otherwise air locally. Whether watching from New York, Texas, or a remote town in British Columbia, Center Ice ensures consistent Flames coverage throughout the season.
While the package primarily covers the regular season, NHL Center Ice transitions seamlessly into postseason viewing. The early playoff rounds, where out-of-market matchups matter most to traveling fans or those following non-local rivalries, are often included up to the Conference Semifinals. National broadcasts take over from there, but Center Ice guarantees that no first-round or wild-card drama gets missed.
DirecTV Stream operates independently from the traditional satellite service. While DirecTV uses a satellite dish and receiver, DirecTV Stream is a fully internet-based platform. Subscribers don’t need any hardware installations, just a stable internet connection and a compatible device. This distinction allows users to stream live NHL games without the limitation of traditional broadcast setups, making it especially attractive for cord-cutters or those in areas without satellite service.
Yes, Flames games will be available on DirecTV Stream based on regional and national NHL broadcasting agreements. For fans in the Calgary market and authorized regions across the U.S., regional sports networks (RSNs) such as Sportsnet or Bally Sports West (if Flames games are carried there for U.S. viewers) are accessible through specific DirecTV Stream packages. For nationally televised games, TNT, ESPN, and ABC are all found on DirecTV Stream’s channel list.
Access to NHL content, including Calgary Flames games, depends on the tier selected. The Choice package is the minimum requirement to watch regional sports networks. This tier includes:
Higher packages such as Ultimate or Premier include even more sports content, but the Choice package meets the NHL fan’s essential needs.
DirecTV Stream works across a wide range of devices. Whether using a living room screen or a mobile device on the go, compatibility won’t be a hurdle. Supported platforms include:
Video is streamed in high-definition (up to 1080p), delivering sharp contrast during fast puck movement. Users with sufficient internet speed—25 Mbps per stream or higher—can expect minimal buffering and clear visuals throughout each period.
Blackout restrictions stem from the NHL’s broadcasting agreements, which prioritize local rights holders and national networks. When a Calgary Flames game is televised by a regional sports network (RSN) or a national partner like ESPN or TNT, the game may be blacked out in certain areas to protect those broadcasters' exclusivity.
Here’s how geography comes into play: if you're within the Flames' designated broadcast region—typically Alberta and parts of western Canada—you’ll be expected to watch via the regional partner. Conversely, if you're watching from out of market, such as in Florida or New York, and the game is locally exclusive to another RSN or is carried by a national network, the Flames feed on NHL Center Ice might be blocked out.
Two situations create the most confusion:
DirecTV offers several solutions that let committed fans keep up with every game legally. Here’s how:
Technical workarounds like using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can shift your apparent location and bypass geographic restrictions on apps that enforce blackout rules. This includes streaming platforms tied to DirecTV. However, success rates vary, and legality depends on the platform’s terms of use.
VPN services that mask IP addresses have grown more sophisticated, but so have the detection methods used by broadcasters. Expect mixed reliability, especially during high-profile matchups or playoff games when blackout enforcement intensifies.
Understanding how DirecTV structures access around blackout rules gives you the upper hand. Investigate whether your package includes RSNs, subscribe to NHL Center Ice if you’re outside the Flames’ home region, and assess whether it’s worth setting up a VPN strategy aligned with the services you use.
Have you encountered blackout issues before? Knowing where and how they occur can help you make informed decisions before the puck drops on opening night.
Recording a Calgary Flames game on DirecTV starts with the built-in guide. Navigate to the date of the matchup, highlight the game, press “Record” on your remote, and confirm. For fans tracking multiple games each week, use the “Record Series” function to automatically capture every Flames broadcast on a specific channel—ideal for RSNs and national hockey nights.
Take advantage of DirecTV’s Smart Search to locate all upcoming Flames games across channels. Type “Calgary Flames” into the search bar and select “Upcoming Events”. From there, you can queue recordings with one click. DirecTV DVRs prioritize live sports by default, ensuring that overtime coverage is included and no goal is left behind.
Missed a game? DirecTV DVR allows you to rewatch full matches or fast-forward through intermissions and stoppages. Use the 30-second skip feature to jump between shifts or create bookmarks at pivotal goals. If you’ve recorded multiple games, switch between them using DirecTV’s List View for a segmented, time-stamped breakdown of recorded content.
With a strategic DVR setup, you’ll get through every period, power play, and postgame breakdown without missing a second—or filling up your drive too fast.
Direct access to the Calgary Flames’ entire 2025-2026 NHL season is available through the DirecTV app on iOS and Android devices. Whether using a smartphone or tablet, fans can log in with their DirecTV credentials and stream live games from anywhere in the U.S. Coverage includes nationally broadcast matchups on ESPN, ABC, and TNT, as well as regional broadcasts through Sportsnet and RSNs available in your package.
For in-market viewers whose packages include the local RSN carrying Flames broadcasts, live streaming matches home viewing quality. Out-of-market viewers with NHL Center Ice add-on can also stream games via the app, extending access beyond the TV screen.
Perfect for Flames fans who travel, the DirecTV app maintains consistent game access across the U.S., including areas far outside Alberta. Sitting in a hotel room in Orlando? Commuting through Chicago? As long as the device has internet or cellular data, the game follows you.
The mobility factor turns waiting rooms, airports, and long-distance bus rides into hockey arenas. Commuters can catch puck drops on their phones. Business travelers no longer miss critical playoff moments. Instead of checking scores retroactively, stream the action as it unfolds live.
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