Coming off a high-energy campaign, the Minnesota Wild enter the 2025–2026 NHL season with sharpened goals and a roster that blends veteran stability with emerging talent. As the puck drops this fall, fans across Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and South Dakota are tuning in with growing intensity. This expanding regional base continues to demand clear, uninterrupted coverage throughout the season—from opening night through the grind of winter, and deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
For those looking to follow every check, goal, and glove save, DirecTV delivers. With access to national broadcasts, regional sports networks, and optional NHL packages, DirecTV creates a centralized hub to catch all Wild action. Whether tuning in live or setting up team-specific recordings, fans can count on DirecTV to stay connected to every shift of the 2025–2026 season.
The complete Minnesota Wild schedule for the 2025–2026 NHL season spans from early fall 2025 through late spring 2026. The season launches with preseason matchups in late September, followed by 82 regular season games, concluding in April. The NHL Playoffs typically begin shortly thereafter. The team’s full schedule is available below:
Embedded Calendar:
View the Full Minnesota Wild 2025–2026 Schedule Here
Every NHL schedule includes its share of marquee matchups, but a few dates on the Wild's calendar demand close attention. Long-standing rivalries always deliver at the Xcel Energy Center and on the road. For the 2025–2026 season, these dates stand out:
Also mark down the NHL Winter Classic and other league-wide events once individual game locations are confirmed by the league office.
The Wild will open their training camp in early September 2025, with 5 to 7 preseason games slated from September 23 to October 5. The regular season tentatively begins October 9, 2025, and runs through April 14, 2026. If the team qualifies, the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will start shortly after, typically in the week following the season finale.
The NHL occasionally adjusts game dates or times due to national broadcasting priorities or arena conflicts. Flex scheduling for nationally televised games on networks like ESPN, TNT, or ABC could impact start times within a two-week window. Additionally, weather-related postponements around outdoor events or unforeseen travel disruptions may lead to rescheduled contests.
All real-time schedule changes will flow directly through league communications and the Wild’s official media channels. Fans using DirecTV interface will receive automatic updates on game times and channels via their on-screen guide and mobile app notifications.
Beginning with the 2025–2026 season, the NHL continues its landmark media rights agreement, split between the Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery networks. Signed in 2021 as a seven-year deal, this agreement runs through the 2027–2028 season and reshaped national hockey coverage in the U.S.
National games appear across ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, TNT, and Hulu. Disney, through ESPN and ABC, holds rights to 100 regular-season exclusive games, with most available on ESPN+ and a rotating slate on Hulu. TNT carries up to 72 exclusive national games each regular season. Neither provider shares game coverage; once a matchup is selected for national TV, it becomes blacked out on regional affiliates.
The Minnesota Wild, like all NHL teams, have their games split between national and local broadcasts. National broadcasts are controlled centrally by the NHL and scheduled before the season begins. These games are available across:
When a Wild game appears on one of these networks, it becomes an exclusive broadcast. Fans won't find these matchups on Bally Sports North or any local channel, even in the Minnesota market. That exclusivity impacts where and how you can watch specific games throughout the season.
Every game that’s not picked up for national TV runs on Bally Sports North, the long-time home of Minnesota Wild regional coverage. These broadcasts feature team-focused commentary, regional sponsorships, and pre/post-game analysis tailored to fans in the Wild’s footprint.
For the 2025–2026 season, expect Bally Sports North to carry roughly 60 to 70 regular-season games, depending on the number of national picks. These games remain accessible only to viewers in the team's designated regional broadcast market and require a compatible TV provider like DirecTV or a streaming subscription including Bally’s package.
Bally Sports North holds the regional broadcasting rights to most regular-season Minnesota Wild games during the 2025–2026 campaign. These broadcasts include pre-game shows, in-game commentary, and post-game analysis, all tailored specifically for Wild fans. The network consistently carries high-definition coverage with localized insights from long-time analysts who follow the team year-round.
Access to Bally Sports North through DirecTV depends on geographical location. The network is distributed regionally across:
Each of these designated market areas (DMAs) has been defined based on NHL regional broadcast boundaries, which determine whether a game airs on Bally Sports North or falls under another coverage rule.
Before finalizing your DirecTV plan, pinpoint your eligibility for Bally Sports North through the provider’s regional sports lookup tool. Here’s how to confirm access:
This lookup eliminates guesswork and ensures you won't miss regional broadcasts of Minnesota Wild games during the 2025–2026 season.
To access Minnesota Wild regional broadcasts on Bally Sports North, DirecTV subscribers need to select at least the Choice package. Any tier above that—Ultimate or Premier—also includes access. The Select package does not carry the regional sports network, so it won’t deliver Wild games airing locally on Bally Sports North.
Wild games not aired on Bally Sports North may appear on these national broadcasters, especially later in the season or during the playoffs.
All DirecTV packages that include Bally Sports North come with a Regional Sports Fee. As of early 2024, this fee ranges from $13.99 to $15.99/month depending on the subscriber’s billing location. This charge ensures access to multiple RSNs, not just Bally SN. For fans who follow other local teams besides the Wild—Timberwolves, Twins—this bundled value can outweigh standalone streaming costs.
Once the package level is set, channels activate within minutes, and you'll have full access to Wild broadcasts—and more—without needing additional equipment or steps.
DirecTV Stream delivers live NHL coverage without the need for satellite hardware or long-term contracts. Subscribers gain access to the same channels as traditional DirecTV cable packages, including options for regional sports networks and national broadcasters like ESPN, ABC, and TNT. This makes it a strong option for fans wanting to follow the Minnesota Wild throughout the 2025–2026 season without a dish on the roof.
Viewing Wild games on DirecTV Stream doesn’t require specialized equipment. Most modern devices support the platform, including:
This variety lets you switch seamlessly between devices depending on where and how you want to watch—whether it’s on your living room screen or on the go from your phone.
DirecTV Stream broadcasts NHL games in full HD, provided you’ve got a steady internet connection (at least 8 Mbps for optimal performance). Unlike cable, buffering and latency can occasionally affect quality, particularly on shared Wi-Fi networks. Blackout restrictions enforced by the NHL still apply, meaning certain matchups may not be available live if you're in a protected local market without access to the regional feed. However, games often become available for replay shortly after they end.
DirecTV Stream offers access to Bally Sports North in its Choice package and above, which covers in-market Minnesota Wild broadcasts throughout Minnesota and parts of Iowa and Wisconsin. Given regional broadcasting agreements, fans living in these states will be able to watch nearly all season games—including pre- and post-game shows—without needing traditional cable. For streamers in this tri-state area, DirecTV Stream stands out as the most comprehensive digital option for watching Wild hockey live.
Tracking down the correct channel before puck drop makes all the difference when it comes to catching every faceoff, power play, and overtime finish. Minnesota Wild games air across a selection of national and regional sports networks, all available on DirecTV with the proper package.
The DirecTV channel guide and mobile app simplify game tracking with tailored features:
Whether you're watching from St. Paul or streaming from another state, keeping these channels and tools at your fingertips ensures every Wild game is just a few clicks away.
If you live outside the designated viewing area for Bally Sports North — the regional sports network carrying Minnesota Wild games locally — you're considered out-of-market. This includes viewers across the western U.S., the East Coast, the South, and parts of Canada. Residents in cities like Denver, Miami, Boston, or even nearby states such as Iowa or North Dakota fall under this classification.
Living out-of-market means Bally Sports North won’t be available on your DirecTV package unless you use a national solution. That's where NHL Center Ice and ESPN+ come into play.
NHL Center Ice offers out-of-market access to up to 40 live NHL games per week, including most Minnesota Wild broadcasts not available in your local region. Through DirecTV, Center Ice delivers HD quality and multi-game viewing features like dual feeds — giving you access to either team’s commentary and feed when available.
Adding NHL Center Ice to your DirecTV package involves a straightforward process. Ordering starts just before the regular season begins and can be done through remote, online account management, or by calling customer service. Pricing varies each season, but based on past seasons, the full-season pass typically ranges between $69.99 and $99.99.
The previous standalone NHL.TV service was merged into ESPN+ under the new broadcasting agreement that began in 2021. ESPN+ now handles all out-of-market streaming for national games not covered by local broadcasters or NHL Center Ice. This means national exclusives, including select Minnesota Wild games, air on ESPN+, ABC, or Hulu, depending on how the NHL allocates its broadcast schedule.
Subscribing to ESPN+ offers access to over 1,000 out-of-market NHL games — including Wild matchups — and provides replays, condensed games, and on-demand content. It requires a separate subscription from DirecTV, but it covers games that Center Ice may occasionally miss due to national exclusivity.
Wild fans living outside Minnesota can combine DirecTV’s NHL Center Ice with an ESPN+ subscription to ensure coverage of every game, no matter where they are in the country.
Blackout restrictions are not arbitrary; they stem from agreements between the NHL and its broadcast partners. These contracts preserve the value of regional broadcasting rights by prioritizing local networks—like Bally Sports North in Minnesota—over out-of-market channels or national platforms. When a Minnesota Wild game is available on a local broadcaster in your area, the NHL blocks it on other services to encourage viewers to tune in through designated regional partners.
The blackout map doesn't always make sense on the ground. If you're in cities like Fargo, ND; La Crosse, WI; or Sioux Falls, SD—places near but outside Minnesota—you're likely in the Bally Sports North broadcast region. However, you might not actually get that channel through your local provider or DirecTV, leading to a frustrating scenario: you're blacked out from the games but have no way to watch them locally.
While blackouts can block access temporarily, certain workarounds exist for viewers who want consistent access to Wild games. Depending on your setup—cable, satellite, or digital streaming—you may be able to avoid most of the hassle.
Short of physically moving out of a blackout zone, combining national broadcasts with properly configured streaming options offers the most reliable viewing access. For Wild fans in border areas, a thoughtful setup can make blackouts irrelevant.
Wherever you are—at home, on a train, or in a parking lot before puck drop—the DirecTV app delivers live Minnesota Wild games straight to your mobile device. Subscribers who include the proper regional sports networks in their package can stream all in-market games in real time using the app. No extra logins or fees. Just launch the app and play.
The DirecTV app isn’t just a stream player. It transforms your phone or tablet into a full-featured viewing hub. Here’s what fans can access during live games:
With these tools, every Wild fan can customize how they follow the action—start when you want, rewind what you missed, and stay in the game wherever you go.
The DirecTV app runs smoothly on a variety of devices and operating systems. Whether you're team iOS or Android, or prefer to cast to your big screen with Chromecast, device compatibility won’t be an issue:
This mobile access works flawlessly for Wild fans commuting through downtown Minneapolis, traveling for work in Duluth, or following the team from another state. As long as you're signed in and connected to the internet, your access to the wild action remains uninterrupted. Road warriors, college students, and snowbirds—nobody misses the puck drop.
Watching the Minnesota Wild has never required fewer steps or more flexible options. DirecTV’s tailored packages—ranging from regional coverage with Bally Sports North to nationwide access via NHL Center Ice—lock fans in across every faceoff, power play, and buzzer-beater.
Whether seated at a sports bar in Minneapolis, setting up a home theater near Cedar Rapids, following game alerts in La Crosse, or streaming from an apartment in Sioux Falls—DirecTV delivers a viewing experience that keeps pace with the grind of an 82-game season (plus postseason).
From training camp breakthroughs to late-season heroics, the 2025–2026 campaign promises more chances for bold goals, big saves, and breakout stars. Stay connected from September puck drop through spring playoff showdowns.
Subscribe to the best DirecTV package today—and be ready when the Wild ignite another thrilling run. Why settle for summary clips when you can catch every shift, shot, and celly in real time?
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