Edmonton Oilers fans looking for the game tonight will have to skip the TV guide and head straight to streaming.
The Oilers’ matchup with the Detroit Red Wings will not air on Sportsnet West or Sportsnet Oilers. Instead, Sportsnet is rolling out a new Monday-night setup this season, shifting select NHL games away from traditional television and onto Sportsnet+ only.
Tonight’s game is the first of nine Oilers “Monday Night Hockey” contests that will live exclusively on the streaming service this season. For most Sportsnet TV subscribers, that means the usual free access through a provider login does not apply here. To watch this one, they’ll need to pay an extra $12.99 a month for Sportsnet+.
There is one exception: Rogers Xfinity TV customers with Sportsnet will be able to access Monday Night Hockey on Sportsnet+ at no extra cost.
For fans without Sportsnet TV, the options are a Sportsnet+ subscription priced at $34.99 per month or $269.99 per year.
The other Oilers games set for Sportsnet+ exclusivity this season are Nov. 9 against the New York Rangers, Dec. 14 against the Montreal Canadiens, Dec. 28 against the Washington Capitals, Jan. 11 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Feb. 22 against the Ottawa Senators, Mar. 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks, Mar. 15 against the Colorado Avalanche, and Apr. 11 against the Calgary Flames.
Sportsnet told Offside that it is working with other Canadian distribution partners to create more ways for TV subscribers to access Sportsnet+ content.
Streaming will be part of the Oilers’ season beyond Monday nights, too. Five Edmonton games will be shown on Prime Video as part of “Wednesday Night Hockey,” beginning with this week’s Battle of Alberta against the Calgary Flames.
Puck drop for tonight’s game is set for 7:30 p.m. MDT.
In Other News...
Oilers Suddenly Face A Goaltending Question They Cant Ignore
A quiet stretch around the Oilers crease turned into a more serious personnel issue after Edmonton placed Devon Levi on injured reserve and brought up Matt Tomkins on emergency depth. Levis injury has not been disclosed, and the move means the Oilers will have to manage at least the next week without him while sorting out the ripple effect behind the scenes.
For a team that already has enough to monitor on the injury front around the league, this is the kind of goaltending twist that demands attention immediately. Edmonton now has to lean on its current options while Levi recovers, and the timing adds another layer of uncertainty as other clubs continue to get healthier or reshuffle their own lineups. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Sent Trent Frederic A Message He Cant Ignore
Trent Frederic found himself on the outside looking in against the Carolina Hurricanes, a reminder that the Oilers are not interested in simply carrying passengers through the bottom six. Coach Mike Babcock said he wants more from that group in terms of hard work and consistent physical engagement, with a premium on puck battles and pressure below the topsix level.
Frederic has already been told the message is bigger than one night, and he said he understands what is being asked of him as he tries to win his way back into the lineup. The balancing act for Edmonton is familiar at this point: the team needs energy and edge from its depth forwards, but it also needs those shifts to turn into something more than isolated moments of toughness. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Just Missed On A Goalie Move Fans Will Feel
The goalie market has already turned into one of the more fascinating subplots around the league, and the Carolina Hurricanes were right in the middle of it. They made multiple attempts to pry Connor Hellebuyck out of Winnipeg, working through complicated trade proposals in hopes of landing a difference-maker in net, but the Jets asking price never came down enough to get a deal done. The New Jersey Devils were the club that ultimately finished the job, leaving Carolina to watch a move they clearly wanted slip away.
For Edmonton fans, it is the kind of near-miss that only sharpens the discussion about how aggressively contenders have to chase impact talent. The Oilers know the ripple effect these goalie decisions can have, especially when rivals are willing to keep pushing until a deal breaks their way. In this case, Carolina kept pressing, but the path to Hellebuyck ended with another team taking advantage of the opening. [Read more 🡒]