Tuesday’s Frozen Frenzy will put the entire NHL on the ice, with all 32 clubs playing at staggered times for the fourth straight season. The late window carries a pair worth circling: Colorado visits Winnipeg before Boston opens a demanding western trip in San Jose, while the Central Division picture gets another early measuring stick when the Avalanche host Dallas the following night.
Colorado brings a 3-2-0 record into Winnipeg for an 8:30 p.m. ET start Tuesday on ESPN, SN+ and TVAS. Nathan MacKinnon has driven the early attack with 10 points, with Cale Makar next at seven, but the more encouraging number is Colorado’s spread-out production: 12 players have scored and eight own at least two goals through five games.
The Jets are 3-1-1 after a disappointing 2025-26 season, still navigating the absence of suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Stuart Skinner has taken over the crease workload and is 2-0-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Winnipeg’s offense has been helped by Kyle Connor’s six goals and Cole Perfetti’s six points in five appearances.
Boston’s stop in San Jose, scheduled for 11 p.m. ET on ESPN, NESN and SN+, begins a four-game road swing. The Bruins are 4-2-0 and have surrendered only 2.17 goals per game despite playing without Charlie McAvoy, whose six-game suspension carried over from last spring after he slashed Buffalo’s Zach Benson in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round. McAvoy is eligible to return Tuesday.
New captain David Pastrnak has opened with two goals and five assists, while rookie James Hagens has posted two goals and two assists and has quickly entered the Calder Trophy conversation. San Jose, 3-2-0, won three of its first four games after repeated slow starts in recent seasons. Macklin Celebrini returned from a two-game absence Saturday and scored, a welcome sign for a club that needs its young star available if it is to make a serious push to end its long playoff absence. Celebrini also remains a Hart Trophy candidate.
Wednesday’s Central test and a Prime matchup
Montreal visits Washington at 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday on MNMT and Prime’s Canadian Wednesday Night Hockey package. The Canadiens, 2-2-1, snapped an 0-2-1 slide by edging Detroit 1-0 in a shootout Saturday. Expectations remain high after last season’s run, with Montreal viewed by many as a potential first-time Stanley Cup winner since 1993.
Chris Kreider has made an immediate impact with a goal and three assists in five games, and Zachary Bolduc already has three goals after scoring 12 across 78 games last season. Montreal also has two meetings with Buffalo ahead this week, renewing a matchup after the Canadiens eliminated the Sabres from last season’s playoffs.
Washington is 3-1-0 despite a rugged opening stretch that included road games against defending champion Carolina and Tampa Bay, followed by Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers. Alex Ovechkin has yet to score in what is set to be his final NHL season. The Capitals’ hopes are nevertheless elevated after adding Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou in the offseason.
Dallas then arrives in Denver for an 8:30 p.m. ET game Wednesday on HBO Max, truTV and TNT, the first half of a back-to-back set between two familiar Central Division powers. The Stars stumbled out of the gate with two losses, answered with consecutive shutouts, then dropped a shootout decision to Pittsburgh. They have shown they can handle tight games, though more scoring would ease the pressure. Tyler Seguin scored Saturday after a lengthy injury recovery, an important moment for one of the club’s veteran leaders.
The Stars are 2-2-1, and Colorado is 3-2-0 entering the week. They divided last season’s four-game series, winning twice apiece.
Saturday offers the newest No. 1-pick matchup when the Islanders visit Toronto at 7 p.m. ET on SNO, SNW, SNP and MSGSN. New York’s Matthew Schaefer, selected first overall in 2025 and last season’s Calder Trophy winner, will face Toronto rookie Gavin McKenna, the top selection in this year’s draft. Schaefer has four assists and leads the Islanders at 25:27 of ice time per game. The Islanders, 2-3-0, have alternated wins and losses through each of their first five outings.
McKenna went scoreless in his first three NHL games but has a goal and three assists over his past three. Toronto is 3-2-1 and looking to rebound after missing the playoffs last season. Auston Matthews is healthy, and the Maple Leafs have remade parts of the roster with additions including Kirill Marchenko, Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic and Darren Raddysh.
Other national television windows
- Monday: Florida Panthers at Buffalo Sabres, 1 p.m. ET (SCRIPPS, MSG-B, SN, TVAS); Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. ET (MSGSN, NHLN, SN+, TVAS).
- Tuesday: New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN+).
- Thursday: Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. ET (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, SN+).
- Saturday: New Jersey Devils at Washington Capitals, 1 p.m. ET (MNMT, MSGSN, NHLN, SNP, SNO, SNE); Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET (TVAS, SNE, MSG-B, NHLN); Edmonton Oilers at Utah Mammoth, 10 p.m. ET (Utah16, SN).
