The NHL begins its tenure on TNT with a double-dip of action on Wednesday night.
But, before the games get underway, TNT will have a pregame studio show beginning at 7 p.m. with a panel that will include "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky. Also on set will be Anson Carter, Rick Tocchet and Paul Bissonette.
On Wednesday afternoon, TNT announced that Charles Barkley will be a special guest during the pregame show that will be aired without commercials.
While there are sure to be some fireworks from the pregame show, the first game of the night should be the equivalent of the showstopper at the end of Macy's 4th of July show. Rangers versus Capitals. Two teams that have a strong dislike for each other. Why? In their second to last meeting, there was the whole Tom Wilson slamming Artemi Panarin down. In their last meeting, the Rangers home closer, there was a line brawl off the opening faceoff and six fights in the first five minutes.
Since then the Rangers have bulked up — i.e. Ryan Reaves, Barclay Goodrow, Sammy Blais — and hired a new bench boss in Gerard Gallant.
NHL 2021-22: How to watch games | Opening games schedule
On the flip side, the Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is questionable for the game due to a lower-body injury. He skated in an optional practice on Tuesday and skated Wednesday morning but is a game-time decision. Washington will be without Nicklas Backstrom who was placed on long-term injured reserve as he deals with a hip injury.
The second game of the night marks the debut of Marc-Andre Fleury and Seth Jones — and the return of Jonathan Toews — for the Blackhawks. Fleury and Jones were acquired in offseason deals and Toews missed all of 2021 due to illness.
While the game marks debuts for Chicago guys, and the return of its captain, the Avalanche will be without one of their best players. Nathan MacKinnon is out due to a positive COVID-19 test. He is asymptomatic.
Here's everything you need to know to watch the first games of the 2021-22 NHL season on TNT.
What channel is Rangers vs. Capitals on?
- Date: Wed., Oct. 13
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: TNT
- Stream: Watch TNT
Pregame coverage will begin at 7 p.m. with Liam McHugh serving as host with analysts Wayne Gretzky, Anson Carter, Rick Tocchet and Paul Bissonette. At 7:30 p.m. ET, two teams with no love lost — the Rangers and Capitals — hit the ice in the nation's capital. Kenny Albert will do the play-by-play alongside analysts Eddie Olczyk and Keith Jones.
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What time is Blackhawks vs. Avalanche?
- Date: Wed., Oct. 13
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- TV channel: TNT
- Stream: Watch TNT
In the night capper, the Avalanche will host the Blackhawks at 10 p.m. ET. Play-by-play will be done by Brendan Burke with analysts Darren Pang and Jamal Mayers.
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NHL on TNT schedule 2021
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Wed., Oct. 13 | Rangers at Capitals | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 13 | Blackhawks at Avalanche | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 20 | Bruins at Flyers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 20 | Blues at Golden Knights | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 27 | Flyers at Oilers | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 3 | Blues at Kings | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 10 | Wild at Coyotes | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 17 | Blackhawks at Kraken | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 24 | Maple Leafs at Kings | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 1 | Penguins at Oilers | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 8 | Stars at Golden Knights | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 15 | Kraken at Ducks | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 22 | Oilers at Kings | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 29 | Stars ar Avalanche | 10 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 1 | Winter Classic: Blues at Wild | TBD |
| Wed., Jan. 5 | Blues at Penguins | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 5 | Islanders at Canucks | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan 12 | Bruins at Canadiens | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 12 | Maple Leafs at Coyotes | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 19 | Maple Leafs at Rangers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 19 | Avalanche at Ducks | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 26 | Blackhawks at Red Wings | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 26 | Bruins at Avalanche | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 2 | Oilers at Capitals | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 2 | Wild at Blackhawks | 9:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 23 | Oilers at Lightning | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 23 | Kings at Coyotes | 10 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 26 | Stadium Series: Lightning at Predators | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 2 | Blues at Rangers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 2 | Predators at Kraken | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., March 6 | Stars at Wild | 4 p.m. |
| Wed., March 9 | Capitals at Oilers | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., March 9 | Canadiens at Canucks | 10:30 p.m. |
| Sun., March 13 | Heritage Classic: Maple Leafs at Sabres | 3 p.m. |
| Wed., March 16 | Bruins at Wild | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 16 | Lightning at Kraken | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., March 20 | Islanders at Flyers | 2 p.m. |
| Wed., March 23 | Penguins at Sabres | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 23 | Blackhawks at Ducks | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., March 27 | Lightning at Islanders | 2 p.m. |
| Wed., March 30 | Rangers at Red Wings | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., March 30 | Golden Knights at Kraken | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., April 3 | Islanders at Devils | 4 p.m. |
| Wed., April 6 | Lightning at Capitals | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., April 6 | Canucks at Golden Knights | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., April 10 | Bruins at Capitals | 1:30 p.m. |
| Sun., April 10 | Predators at Penguins | 4 p.m. |
| Wed., April 13 | Rangers at Flyers | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., April 13 | Kings at Avalanche | 9:30 p.m. |
| Sun., April 24 | Penguins at Flyers | 4 p.m. |