Washington Capitals Hockey Broadcast Rights & Regional Blackout Guide (2026–27 Capitals Season)
Following the Washington Capitals regular season across the United States requires understanding how NHL broadcast territory rights are split between regional sports networks and national streaming partners. For Washington Capitals fans, games are divided across Monumental Sports, ESPN+, ESPN/ABC, TNT, and NHL Network.
Regional Washington Capitals Games (Monumental Sports)
Monumental Sports holds the official in-market regional broadcast rights for the Washington Capitals (73 regular-season games) across Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia & Eastern West Virginia. If your US ZIP code falls inside the Washington Capitals local broadcast territory, regional games are blacked out on ESPN+ and must be watched via Monumental Sports.
If you live outside the Washington Capitals local broadcast territory in the US, regional Capitals games stream live on ESPN+ (unless the Washington Capitals are playing an opponent whose local broadcast territory includes your ZIP code).
National Capitals Games (ESPN, ABC, TNT & NHL Network)
When the Washington Capitals are selected for an exclusive national US broadcast on ESPN, TNT, or NHL Network (13 games), the broadcast is blacked out on ESPN+ nationwide unless simulcast on ABC/ESPN+.
Viewers both in-market and out-of-market need access to the designated national television channel or streaming tier (such as Max for TNT simulcasts) to watch these national exclusives.