How to Watch NHL Games Live

Want to watch NHL games live without wasting time searching for the right channel?

Finding the right streaming option makes it easier to follow your favorite team.

Watch the action on your TV, phone, or computer, wherever coverage is available.

Games are spread across different broadcasters, so your options depend on where you live.

Discover the main ways to watch and find the right service for your next game.

Understanding NHL Broadcasts and Streaming

NHL games are not available through a single television network or streaming service. Broadcast rights are divided among national networks, streaming platforms, and regional broadcasters, which means the service carrying one game may be different from the service carrying the next.

The situation also differs considerably between the United States and Canada.

For the 2026–27 season, the NHL's national broadcast partners include The Walt Disney Company through ESPN and ABC, TNT Sports through TNT and HBO Max, and Sportsnet in Canada.

The league's regular season includes 84 games for each team, so fans who want to follow an entire season may need access to more than one broadcaster. Regional restrictions can also affect availability, particularly when watching a local team.

The sections below explain the principal viewing options in each country.

How to Watch NHL Games in the United States

National coverage is divided primarily between ESPN's services and TNT Sports. To follow a particular team throughout the season, you may also need its local broadcaster or an out-of-market package.

ESPN, the ESPN App, and NHL Power Play

ESPN offers both nationally televised hockey and extensive streaming coverage. The key is choosing a subscription that includes the games you want, because downloading the ESPN App alone does not unlock live broadcasts.

ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content, including eligible NHL Power Play out-of-market games and streaming-exclusive hockey. ESPN Unlimited adds access to ESPN's television networks, providing a broader option for viewers who also want live ESPN and ABC NHL coverage through the app.

An eligible television subscription can also unlock covered broadcasts through provider authentication. The content available depends on the channels and streaming benefits included with your provider.

NHL Power Play is especially useful when your favorite team plays outside your local television market. It provides a large selection of regular-season games, but local and national blackout restrictions apply. An out-of-market subscription should not be treated as a replacement for your hometown team's regional broadcaster.

Before subscribing, identify whether your priority is out-of-market regular-season hockey, ESPN and ABC national games, or both. That distinction is more useful than choosing a plan simply because it mentions NHL coverage.

Visit the official ESPN NHL streaming website

ABC

ABC carries selected national NHL broadcasts, including games featured in its Saturday hockey lineup. It offers a straightforward option for viewers who want occasional major matchups without building an extensive streaming package.

As an over-the-air network, ABC may be available through a television antenna wherever a local affiliate's signal can be received. An antenna purchase may be necessary, but reception itself does not require a monthly streaming subscription.

Streaming alternatives include ESPN Unlimited and participating live-TV packages that carry the viewer's local ABC station. Check local-channel availability before choosing a television streaming service.

ABC covers only part of the schedule, so it works best as one component of your viewing setup.

Visit the official ABC website

TNT and HBO Max

TNT carries a substantial national NHL schedule, and TNT Sports holds exclusive U.S. coverage of the 2027 Stanley Cup Final.

Viewers can watch TNT through a participating cable, satellite, or live-TV streaming package. For streaming through HBO Max, live sports are available with the Standard and Premium plans; the Basic with Ads plan does not provide the same sports access.

This makes the subscription tier an important part of the decision. An existing HBO Max account does not automatically mean that NHL games are included.

Open the Sports section to find available live and upcoming games. HBO Max complements ESPN's national coverage, but it is not an all-teams, all-games NHL package and does not replace regional coverage.

Visit the official TNT Sports website

Disney+ and Hulu

Disney+ and Hulu provide additional ways to access eligible ESPN hockey content through supported subscriptions and linked accounts. Their role is closely connected to ESPN's streaming offering rather than a separate, complete NHL package.

For example, subscribers with an eligible linked ESPN subscription or Disney bundle can access included ESPN content through Disney+. Supported bundles also allow access to ESPN+ content within Hulu.

A basic entertainment subscription should not be assumed to include the full NHL offering. Check which ESPN entitlement is attached to your account and whether it covers the specific broadcast.

If you already subscribe to a bundle, review its benefits before purchasing another service. You may already have access to some of the hockey you want to watch.

Visit the official Disney+ website

Regional Broadcasters and Local Team Streaming

For fans following a hometown team, regional coverage is often essential. National broadcasters carry selected matchups, while many other regular-season games appear through the team's local television or streaming partner.

Start with the broadcast information on your team's official website. Identify the local rights holder, then check whether access is available through your television provider or a direct streaming subscription.

Local arrangements vary considerably between teams. A service available to fans in one territory may not carry another team's games, even when both teams play in the same state.

If an out-of-market stream is blocked because you live inside the team's broadcast territory, the local rights holder is usually the relevant place to check. Buying another out-of-market package may not solve that restriction.

How to Watch NHL Games in Canada

Canadian coverage combines national broadcasts, streaming exclusives, and regional rights. English- and French-language schedules also differ, making commentary language an important part of choosing a service.

Sportsnet and Sportsnet+

Sportsnet is a central destination for English-language NHL coverage in Canada. Its television channels and Sportsnet+ streaming service carry national games, selected regional broadcasts, and extensive postseason coverage.

Sportsnet+ offers different subscription levels. Standard and Premium do not provide identical NHL access: Premium adds broader out-of-market coverage, while local restrictions still matter when following a team within its home territory.

For 2026–27, Monday Night Hockey is exclusive to Sportsnet+. Direct Sportsnet+ subscribers receive that content within their subscription, while access through a television-provider login can require an additional package, depending on the provider.

Sportsnet carries most Stanley Cup Playoff series, including the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final. Certain early-round series belong exclusively to Prime Video, so Sportsnet alone does not cover the entire postseason.

Before choosing a plan, use Sportsnet's NHL Game Finder to check the matchups you care about. This helps distinguish national coverage, regional availability, and games exclusive to other services.

Visit the official Sportsnet+ website

Prime Video

Prime Video carries Canada's national Wednesday Night Hockey broadcasts for the 2026–27 season, with coverage available in English and French.

These games are included at no additional charge for eligible Canadian Prime members. If you already have Prime, check the sports lineup before purchasing another subscription for a Wednesday matchup.

Prime Video also has exclusive Canadian rights to selected Stanley Cup Playoff series: two in the first round and one in the second round. Its relevance therefore extends beyond weekly regular-season games.

Access to these included broadcasts is different from purchasing an optional sports-channel subscription through Prime Video. A separate channel listing may involve an additional charge, even when you already pay for Prime.

Prime's NHL coverage is valuable for its exclusive games, but it does not provide every team's complete season.

Visit the official Prime Video website

TVA Sports

TVA Sports is an important option for French-language national NHL coverage in Canada, including selected Montreal Canadiens games and substantial Stanley Cup Playoff coverage.

Viewers can access its channels through participating television providers, with streaming options available through TVA Sports Direct. Choose the service that matches how you intend to watch and whether you already receive the channels in a television package.

For Canadiens fans, the distinction between national and regional broadcasts matters. TVA Sports covers part of the schedule, while RDS and Prime Video also carry games. Subscribing to TVA Sports alone should not be assumed to unlock every Montreal matchup.

Check the broadcaster listed beside the game, particularly when choosing between French-language services.

Visit the official TVA Sports website

TSN and RDS: Regional Coverage

TSN and RDS are important additions for viewers who want to follow specific Canadian teams beyond national broadcasts.

TSN holds regional rights involving the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Winnipeg Jets. The applicable TSN channel and viewing territory depend on the team.

RDS provides French-language regional coverage, including Canadiens and Senators games. Eligible subscribers can also access covered broadcasts through the networks' digital platforms.

Regional rights mean that receiving a channel does not necessarily make every NHL broadcast on that channel available everywhere in Canada. Your location must fall within the permitted territory for the matchup.

When subscribing online, confirm that the selected package includes the relevant live television feed and regional hockey coverage. For a local fan, this may be the missing piece alongside Sportsnet, TVA Sports, or Prime Video.

Can You Watch NHL Games for Free?

Free options exist for selected broadcasts, but there is no single legal service offering every NHL game free throughout the season in both countries.

In the United States, receiving a local ABC station with an antenna can provide access to its scheduled NHL games without a monthly subscription. Reception depends on your location and equipment.

In Canada, included Prime Video broadcasts can be useful if you already have a Prime membership, although the membership itself is paid. The same distinction applies when an existing television package already includes a hockey channel.

Promotional trials may occasionally reduce the initial cost of a streaming service. Check eligibility, renewal terms, and game availability before relying on an offer for a particular matchup.

National Games, Regional Games, and Blackouts

A national broadcast is distributed through a country's national rights holders. A regional broadcast belongs to a team's designated local television territory. An out-of-market package serves viewers watching eligible teams from outside those territories.

A blackout occurs when a service cannot show a game at your location because another broadcaster holds the applicable rights. It does not necessarily mean the game is unavailable everywhere.

For example, an out-of-market subscriber may watch a distant team's regional games but need a local service for a team based in their own territory. National exclusives can require a separate broadcaster as well.

When a game is unavailable, check its official broadcast listing and your location eligibility before paying for an additional subscription.

Watching on Your Phone, TV, or Computer

Most major platforms support smartphones, tablets, computers, and compatible connected TVs or streaming devices. Device support and simultaneous-stream limits depend on the service and subscription.

To get ready for a live game:

• Install or update the official app on your preferred device.
• Sign in with the subscription or television-provider account that includes the broadcast.
• Locate the game and confirm access before puck drop.
• Use a reliable internet connection and check mobile-data usage when watching away from Wi-Fi.

Testing access ahead of time gives you room to resolve sign-in or subscription issues before the action starts.

How to Find Where a Specific NHL Game Is Playing

The most reliable starting point is the NHL's official schedule. Find the matchup, confirm the start time and time zone, and review its listed broadcasters.

Then check the relevant service's own schedule. For regional games, your team's official broadcast page can clarify which channel or streaming package serves your location.

This approach is especially helpful during the playoffs, when coverage changes by round and certain series have exclusive broadcasters.

Choosing the Right Way to Watch NHL Games

Build your viewing setup around the games you actually want to follow. Occasional national matchups may require only an existing subscription, while following one team throughout the season often involves both national and regional coverage.

Before adding a service, check your current subscriptions, your team's broadcast territory, and your preferred commentary language. Matching those details to the official schedule will help you choose useful coverage without paying twice for access you already have.