Spring is here, meaning it’s almost time for the NHL Playoffs to kick off. The 2024-2025 NHL regular season started on October 8 and wraps up on April 17, and we’ve compiled everything you need to know about how to watch NHL games, including cable and live streaming options for the postseason.
Each team played 82 games this season, and that’s all before the postseason, so the teams that make it to the Stanley Cup Finals could play around 100 games. Nationally broadcast games are spread across several networks, including multiple Disney and Warner Bros.-owned options, so it can get a bit tricky to figure out how to watch everything, especially since there are now streaming-exclusive games. Fortunately, we’ve combed through all the viewing options to highlight the best and most affordable ways to watch.
Keep reading to learn how to tune in to every nationally broadcast NHL game of the 2024-2025 season. Plus, we’ll show you how to watch from anywhere if you happen to be traveling away from home, so you never have to worry about missing out on any of the action.
How to watch NHL games: quick links
How to watch NHL games in the US
Nationally broadcast NHL games will air on ABC, ESPN, TNT/TBS, and ESPN+ this season. Most (but not all) ESPN and ABC games will be available to live stream through ESPN+. There will also be some exclusive streaming service-only games on ESPN+, which you can also watch through Hulu.
ESPN+ costs $11.99/month or $119.99/year. It’s one of the cheaper hockey-friendly streaming services out there and will grant you access to several games this season, including those streaming-exclusive ones we mentioned above. This is also a great way to stream select college sporting events, NFL games, and UFC fights.
ESPN Plus is designed for sports, giving subscribers access to live MLB, NHL, NFL, soccer, golf, and UFC fights. You can pay $12 monthly or go for an annual deal, which saves you about $20 a year. There’s also a bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus, which offers an even better discount.
Sling TV is another relatively affordable month-to-month streaming service that will give you access to all the ESPN and TBS/TNT games this season. You’ll need to subscribe to Sling Orange to access all of these options; it also comes with 32 other live channels. Subscriptions start at $46/month, but Sling is always running an introductory offer that will give you at least half off your first month of service.
Sling TV offers some of the best cable channels for $61 or less. There are three different tiers to choose from, plus several sports and entertainment-specific add-ons, but the Orange + Blue combo is the best way to get the most major sports channels. Plus, you can usually get about half off your first month.
ESPN+ will cover you for several Disney-owned games, but if you’re looking to just access Warner Bros. games like those on TBS and TNT, you’ll need to turn to Max. Max is HBO’s streaming counterpart, but it branched into live sports with the B/R Sports Add-on, which live streams games from TNT, TBS, and truTV. The add-on is included with the ad-free tiers, which start at $16.99/month.
Max’s Standard plan includes ad-free on-demand streaming for HBO series, Warner Bros. blockbusters, original Max shows, and much more. Plus, all ad-free subscribers get the B/R Sports Add-on, so they can live stream NBA, NHL, MLB, and more for no extra cost.
If you have no existing cable, antenna, or streaming services, and your main focus is NHL games, Hulu + Live TV is a one-stop shop. The month-to-month live TV package offers 95+ live channels, including ABC, TNT, and ESPN. All subscriptions are bundled with ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu on-demand, so you can catch the exclusive ESPN+ games. Plans start at $82.99/month and the service offers a three-day free trial for new customers.
Hulu + Live TV includes over 90 channels, along with Hulu’s on-demand library and access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Adding live TV drives up the price significantly, but it’s a rolling one-month contract that you’re free to cancel at any time. As live TV services go, this is one of the best.
Another one of our top month-to-month live TV picks is DirecTV. There are two key plans to explore when it comes to getting ABC, ESPN, TNT, and TBS. The MySports plan carries ESPN, TNT, TBS, the NHL Network, and 25+ other live sports channels. ABC coverage is available in select regions for this plan, which also includes access to ESPN Plus, making it an extra strong option for hockey fans. If ABC isn’t available in your region, you can get the network with DirecTV’s Entertainment plan, which also carries ESPN, TNT, TBS, and 90+ other live channels. MySports plans start at $69.99/month, and Entertainment plans start at $84.99/month. All subscriptions come with a five-day free trial.
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
Select regional games will also be broadcast through the NHL Network. You can live stream the NHLN through all of the above options by either getting Sling’s Sports Extra add-on ($11/month) or opting for the aforementioned DirecTV MySports plan.
How to watch NHL games from anywhere
If you’ll be traveling away from home during any notable games, you can still access your subscriptions with the help of a VPN. VPNs, short for virtual private networks, are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable you, among other things, to change your device’s virtual location. This way, you can keep up with all of your usual websites, apps, and subscriptions from almost anywhere in the world, just like you would if you were back home.
If you don’t already have a VPN, we recommend giving ExpressVPN a try. It’s user-friendly, even if you’re a beginner, and has a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. You can check out our ExpressVPN review for more information.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
Lillian Brown
Associate Editor of Streaming
Lillian Brown is the Associate Editor of Streaming on Business Insider’s Reviews team. A lifelong entertainment and media buff, she specializes in helping you find how to watch your favorite shows, movies, and sporting events.ExperienceLillian has been writing about entertainment, sports, TV, and film for over six years, starting her career in the Living/Arts department of The Boston Globe. She went on to write entertainment features, roundups, and conduct celebrity interviews for publications like Vulture, TV Guide, Esquire, Time, and The Daily Beast before joining Business Insider as a streaming specialist. In her current role, she writes about everything from finding the right VPN for watching overseas soccer games to choosing between the endless number of streaming services out there. When she’s not writing, she is editing stories from freelancers or fellow Reviews team members. Lillian is also an expert deal hunter. She loves the thrill of sharing an amazing discount with readers, whether it be on her favorite streaming services or on products she knows our team loves and recommends. She plays an active role in writing about sales and deals for the Reviews team.Why you can trust LillianWhether she’s testing streaming platform interfaces or actively comparing channel offerings between services, Lillian always has her finger on the pulse of what’s new in entertainment. She has tested nearly every streaming service and is an expert when it comes to VPNs. She is the first person to know when a streaming service has changed its price, and whether or not it’s still worth paying for. As a sports fan, she also knows exactly where the next big playoff game is streaming, what time it starts, and where they’re playing. ExpertiseStreaming services How to watch your favorite films, TV, sports VPN services for legal streamingDealsOutside of workMost of the time, you can find Lillian watching a horror movie, WNBA game (go Liberty!), or long-distance running. She is located in Boston.
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