The NHL's 2025–2026 season brings a packed schedule of 82 regular-season games, an expanded slate of outdoor matchups, and a revamped playoff format that keeps fans locked in week after week. The league continues to push for broader accessibility, making it easier for audiences to stream and broadcast games nationwide.
San Jose Sharks fans, famously loyal and deeply invested in their team’s journey, are eyeing this new season with a renewed sense of optimism. After back-to-back rebuild years, excitement is mounting for potential breakout performances and rising prospects ready for the spotlight.
With DirecTV enhancing its offerings for sports fans—integrating live broadcasts, HD streams, and app-based viewing options—the 2025–2026 NHL season is more accessible than ever. Whether watching at home or on the go, Sharks supporters now have multiple customizable paths to tune in without missing a single face-off.
The NHL’s 2025-2026 regular season kicks off on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, and wraps up on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Over the course of six action-packed months, the San Jose Sharks will play 82 games — 41 at the SAP Center and 41 on the road.
October opens with tightly scheduled matches against division rivals, setting the competitive tone early. The mid-season stretch, including the All-Star Break in early February, provides key checkpoints for judging playoff trajectories.
Games against Eastern Conference heavyweights like the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers also add excitement, especially during back-to-back East Coast road trips scheduled in November and March.
The Sharks arrive this season with a carefully structured mix of rising stars and tested veterans. Will Smith, the 2023 first-round draft pick, returns after a breakout sophomore season where he recorded 67 points. Tomas Hertl, now in his 13th NHL season, continues to anchor the top line and power play. On defense, Mario Ferraro brings consistency and leadership, while newly acquired goalie Jesper Vikman will share the net with Kaapo Kähkönen.
The developmental leap of Quentin Musty and the two-way growth of Filip Bystedt add depth to the forward lines, offering tactical versatility throughout the long regular season.
Knowing the Sharks' schedule allows you to optimize your viewing setup on DirecTV. Divisional games carry playoff implications and often feature adjusted national broadcast slots. Long road trips, particularly in November and February, bundle games from different time zones — affecting start times and channel coverage.
Back-to-back games, especially on weekends, create opportunities to watch multiple matchups in a short span. Planning ahead helps capture those key moments, like rivalry nights and milestone games, without scrambling for last-minute broadcast details.
For the 2025–2026 season, the NHL continues its media rights partnership with ESPN, ABC, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT and TBS. These networks signed a landmark seven-year deal starting in the 2021–2022 season, valued at approximately $625 million annually. This agreement secures national coverage across multiple platforms—including traditional cable, broadcast television, and streaming.
Not every game featuring the San Jose Sharks will appear on a national network. Only select matchups make the ESPN, ABC, or TNT slate. The rest fall under local and regional broadcasters—primarily NBC Sports California for Sharks games. When a game airs nationally, it overrides local broadcasts; viewers in that market will watch the national feed instead.
Games not picked up for national broadcast will be exclusive to the regional rights holder, meaning DirecTV viewers in the Bay Area must have access to NBC Sports California to follow the full Sharks season locally.
ABC has locked in exclusive national broadcast rights to the Stanley Cup Final in even-numbered years, including 2026. All games of the Final will air on primetime on ABC and stream simultaneously on ESPN+. TNT retains the rights for odd-numbered years. This alternating model ensures full over-the-air access every year while pushing digital streaming alongside broadcast coverage.
DirecTV operates as a satellite television provider with national reach, delivering live broadcasts, regional networks, and dedicated sports packages directly to subscribers. Known for its extensive sports coverage, the service integrates traditional satellite channels with streaming access via its apps, allowing users to stay connected whether they’re in their living room or on the go.
For hockey fans following the San Jose Sharks, DirecTV offers complete access to key broadcasters carrying NHL games during the 2025-2026 season, including national networks like ESPN, ABC, TNT, and the Sharks’ regional home, NBC Sports California.
Satellite television offers nationwide coverage, independent of regional broadband infrastructure. For those in rural or network-limited areas, DirecTV presents a practical solution that doesn’t sacrifice sports availability. The satellite feed carries games as they’re broadcast, ensuring live coverage without latency issues tied to congested internet traffic.
And for fans in blackout regions? DirecTV's multi-market packages, combined with Center Ice and authenticated app access, significantly reduce the chances of missing out on any live Sharks action—home or away.
DirecTV offers multiple subscription tiers, but not all provide access to the full range of NHL content. For fans planning to follow the San Jose Sharks throughout the 2025–2026 season, including regional broadcasts, national games, and playoff coverage, choosing the appropriate plan matters.
The CHOICE package represents the best value for San Jose Sharks fans. It includes access to NBC Sports California along with national channels necessary for watching most NHL broadcasts. The ENTERTAINMENT package, though cheaper, leaves out regional games and NHL Network, limiting the viewing experience. The ULTIMATE package offers expanded coverage but comes at a higher cost, best for households following multiple sports leagues or looking for national and international sports content.
DirecTV often rolls out promotional pricing during the start of major sports seasons. For fall 2025, expect limited-time offers such as:
These promotions fluctuate throughout the season, so check DirecTV.com or authorized resellers for the most current pricing before signing up. Want full Sharks coverage without missing local broadcasts or critical playoff matches? Start by examining whether CHOICE or ULTIMATE aligns better with how you watch sports.
NHL Center Ice is a premium sports subscription add-on offered by DirecTV that broadcasts up to 40 out-of-market NHL games each week. It’s designed for fans who want access to games that aren’t shown on their local regional sports networks (RSNs). This means Sharks fans living outside Northern California can still follow every drop of the puck, regardless of where they are in the country.
For fans living in cities like Austin, Chicago, or Tampa—anywhere outside the San Jose area—NHL Center Ice offers a direct line to full-length Sharks broadcasts. Home and away game feeds become readily available, allowing for a personalized viewing preference. Whether it’s Randy Hahn’s call on a home feed or checking in on an opposing market’s broadcast perspective, this package ensures full coverage beyond California.
Subscribing is straightforward. From your DirecTV remote:
Alternatively, subscriptions can be activated through directv.com or by calling DirecTV customer service. The package auto-updates to reflect seasonal changes, ensuring your access begins with the first faceoff of the 2025–2026 campaign.
For the 2025–2026 NHL season, the NHL Center Ice package on DirecTV is priced at $169.991,000 out-of-market games, all in HD quality. Multi-pay installment options are available—typically 4 payments of $42.50—if selected during ordering.
Access starts when the season kicks off in early October 2025. Once activated, games will automatically populate in your guide without the need for additional setup. There’s no blackout for out-of-market Sharks games, giving fans a front-row seat even from across the country.
NBC Sports California holds the regional broadcasting rights for the San Jose Sharks during the 2025-2026 NHL season. This network delivers live coverage of most non-nationally televised Sharks games, including pregame and postgame shows, exclusive player interviews, and in-depth analysis from seasoned commentators who follow the team closely.
DirecTV includes NBC Sports California in its channel lineup for customers who subscribe to the Choice package or higher. For those within the Sharks’ regional broadcast zone, the network can be found on channel 696. This placement remains consistent across standard and high-definition broadcasts.
To access the channel, subscribers must reside within the regional footprint, which includes most of Northern California and parts of Western Nevada. The lineup integrates the Sharks’ live games seamlessly with DirecTV’s sports interface, allowing for tracking matchups, setting reminders, and accessing game stats directly on-screen.
Location determines access. If your billing address is within NBC Sports California’s designated region, you’ll receive the Sharks games automatically when tuning to channel 696. For viewers outside this zone, the game may appear as “blackout restricted,” depending on national and regional broadcasting agreements.
Not sure if you’re within the distribution area? Enter your ZIP code using DirecTV’s online Regional Sports Network lookup tool; it will determine your access to NBC Sports California based on your location.
Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) deliver live coverage of local teams to specific geographic areas. For NHL fans, these networks offer the highest game availability, with pregame shows, postgame analysis, and live interviews. When national broadcasters skip games, RSNs step in to provide full-season coverage.
Sharks fans rely primarily on NBC Sports California, the designated RSN for the San Jose market. This channel carries the bulk of regular-season matchups, including home and away games not picked up by national broadcasters. Through the RSN’s partnership with the team, viewers get access to team-specific programming no national network replicates.
The RSN broadcast footprint doesn’t cover all of California. DirecTV’s RSN availability for the Sharks includes:
Outside of these zones, games carried on NBC Sports California become subject to blackout, and NHL Center Ice or ESPN+ may be required for full-season coverage.
DirecTV provides full integration and reliability when it comes to RSNs. Subscribers in the Sharks' designated market automatically receive NBC Sports California if their plan includes regional sports. Access is seamless—no app switching, no separate fees, no streaming caps.
Compare that to streaming-only platforms: most virtual MVPDs (Multichannel Video Programming Distributors) like Sling TV or YouTube TV have dropped RSNs entirely due to carriage disputes. Even with services that advertise local sports, coverage is often limited or inconsistent. DirecTV includes RSNs in standard packages such as Choice, Ultimate, and Premier, guaranteeing Sharks fans in-market coverage without additional subscriptions.
Want uninterrupted play-by-play and in-depth local analysis? Staying with DirecTV locks in the most complete RSN experience available for San Jose Sharks games during the 2025–2026 season.
DirecTV offers two distinct platforms for viewing live NHL coverage: the traditional satellite service and the internet-based DirecTV Stream. While both grant access to national broadcasts and regional sports networks, their delivery methods and flexibility aren't identical.
The satellite service requires a physical dish and installation. DirecTV Stream runs purely online, eliminating hardware and providing immediate activation. Subscribers can stream live content over Wi-Fi or data networks, making it suitable for mobile users or households that avoid long-term equipment commitments.
Both platforms include regional broadcasts and national games through their respective channel lineups, but DirecTV Stream extends more adaptability through its streaming-first approach.
DirecTV Stream supports a wide array of devices, which means watching the San Jose Sharks is possible almost anywhere.
This range of compatibility allows fans to follow every Sharks breakaway and power play without being tethered to a single screen or physical location.
DirecTV Stream includes robust cloud DVR capabilities—every plan comes with unlimited cloud DVR storage. Viewers can record every San Jose Sharks game, then play it back at their convenience.
Recordings are automatically stored for nine months. Multiple games can be recorded concurrently, and fast-forwarding through ads is available on most recorded content. These features enable time-shifted viewing without any loss of detail or action.
Access to the bulk of Sharks games on DirecTV Stream comes through its Choice package and higher plans. Here's how coverage breaks down:
Choosing the right DirecTV Stream plan ensures full-season visibility, from Pacific Division tilts to nationally broadcast showdowns.
Blackout restrictions aren't arbitrary. They're tightly governed by NHL broadcast rights, and they directly impact how and where games can be viewed. The league uses geographic location to determine which games may be restricted on certain platforms. If you’re located in the same region as the San Jose Sharks, games airing on a regional sports network like NBC Sports California might be blacked out on broader services like NHL Center Ice or NHL.tv.
These blackouts apply to protect local broadcasters who own exclusive rights within a specified area. Even if you subscribe to a full package through DirecTV or NHL Center Ice, a Sharks game may still be unavailable if you fall within their designated market area (DMA).
DirecTV subscribers face blackout constraints based on ZIP code. If the San Jose Sharks are playing and the game airs on a local channel tied to your region, it won’t appear on NHL Center Ice. Instead, it will be available through your local regional sports network—typically NBC Sports California in the Bay Area.
Out-of-market viewers, however, can access those same games seamlessly with Center Ice, as no blackouts apply. In-market fans must rely on RSN coverage or look for nationally televised broadcasts that bypass blackout rules entirely.
Some fans experiment with changing ZIP codes or using different streaming addresses, but DirecTV ties content delivery to billing address and satellite location. Physical relocation or authorized use of secondary residences may alter viewing eligibility, but must align with service terms.
Ask yourself—do you often travel? Are you a Sharks fan living outside California? Your answers shape which combination of services and channels will keep every puck drop in reach.
The 2025-2026 NHL season is set to deliver another high-intensity ride — and with DirecTV, you’ll be fully equipped to watch every minute of San Jose Sharks action. Whether you're glued to every game or just want to catch the key matchups, a few strategic moves will guarantee seamless coverage from day one.
Schedules shift, affiliates rotate, and blackout rules still apply in 2025-2026. Before opening night, cross-reference your zip code with DirecTV’s local listings to confirm where and how you’ll receive Sharks games. Blackout zones vary, especially for Northern California, Nevada, and parts of Oregon — make sure your setup aligns with NHL broadcast maps.
Season openers leave no room for delay. If you're serious about catching every faceoff from game one through the postseason, activate your DirecTV plan before the Sharks take the ice. With streaming options and NHL Center Ice ready to plug into your subscription, setup takes less than 24 hours in most locations.
Stay on top of every faceoff, power play, and game-winning goal this season. Subscribe to a DirecTV package that fits your hockey needs now — and never miss a San Jose Sharks game in 2025–2026!
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