How To Watch NHL Games on TV: Your 2025–2026 Season Playbook
Prepare for the next puck drop with CableTV.com’s guide to watching NHL games on TV. We spent the last season testing popular services to help you scout the best TV plan.
Figuring out how to watch your favorite NHL team can feel like a penalty kill. With games spread across a half-dozen channels and streaming services, just knowing where to tune in is half the battle. You’ve got your local regional sports network (RSN) and a handful of national channels like ESPN and TNT. You’ll also need an out-of-market service like ESPN+ or NHL Center Ice if you support a team far from home.
That’s a lot to keep tabs on. But don’t worry. This guide is your ultimate TV playbook for the 2025–2026 NHL season. I’ll break down every channel you need and give you my expert recommendations for the best TV packages so you don’t miss a single body check.
What channels show NHL games?
During the 2025–2026 NHL regular season, you’ll need the following four channels to watch most nationally televised games.
Additionally, ESPN+ and Hulu share nearly 50 exclusive national matchups. You may also see ESPN2, TBS, and truTV occasionally act as overflow channels for ESPN and TNT Sports coverage.
NHL on regional sports networks
To truly become the Wayne Gretzky of watching the NHL, you’ll need your local NHL team’s RSN and an out-of-market TV package. This combination, paired with every national channel, will give you access to all 1,312 regular-season games.
For out-of-market coverage, you have two great options. ESPN+ is the streaming choice, while NHL Center Ice is the cable/satellite TV alternative. Both offer over a thousand out-of-market games per season.
Still confused? I don’t blame you. The NHL broadcast situation is complex. To make it simple, just find your favorite team in the drop-down menu below for our dedicated, in-depth viewing guide.
NHL schedule: 2025–2026 key dates and channels
The NHL season is a long and thrilling marathon, running from the first puck drop in October all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in June. To help you plan your viewing, I’ve laid out all the key dates for the 2025–2026 season below.
One unique thing to keep in mind this year is that the league will take a short hiatus in February for the 2026 Winter Olympics. That’s why this season’s Stadium Series happens during the first weekend of February, as opposed to later in the month.
| Event | Start dates | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| NHL Preseason | Sept. 20, 2025 | Various |
| NHL Opening Night | Oct. 7, 2025 | ESPN |
| NHL Winter Classic | Jan. 2, 2026 | TNT, truTV, HBO Max |
| NHL Stadium Series | Feb. 1, 2026 | ESPN |
| NHL Playoffs | April 2026 | ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, TNT, TBS |
| Stanley Cup Finals | June 2026 | ABC |
| 2026 NHL Draft | June 2026 | ESPN, ESPN+, NHL Network |
Data effective as of post date.
Editor’s Choice: Stream with DIRECTV
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*for 24 months plus taxes and fees w/ 24-mo. agmt.; AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. is extra and applies.
Pros
- Large channel counts w/ ESPN Unlimited access
- Wide selection of regional sports networks
Cons
- Expensive plans
- Hidden fees
Stream with DIRECTV is my favorite service for watching NHL games because it has the best channel coverage of any live TV streaming service. Not only does it carry every national NHL channel, but it also offers a fantastic range of RSNs in its CHOICE plan and above.
RSNs are crucial if you want to watch your in-market NHL team play. And no other live TV streaming service offers the number of RSNs available through DIRECTV. It even carries the FanDuel RSNs (formerly Bally Sports). The only other places you can stream those are on Fubo, Amazon Prime Video, or FanDuelSportsNetwork.com.
I single out a live TV streaming service as my top NHL viewing option because there are no lengthy contracts or bulky equipment requirements. But you’ll need a strong and reliable internet connection to avoid frequent buffering issues. If that kind of internet coverage is unavailable in your area, I recommend DIRECTV’s traditional satellite TV service instead.
Pro tip: Looking for faster internet? Head to our Best Internet for Streaming page to browse the top services my colleagues recommend for streaming live TV.
The biggest drawback of DIRECTV is its price. To get NHL Network in your channel lineup, you must subscribe to the ULTIMATE plan, which costs well over $100 a month. That’s a steep price for a streaming service. But there’s a big upside: All DIRECTV Signature Packages come with ESPN Unlimited, which gives you ESPN+’s complete out-of-market NHL coverage.
Still, if you don’t need RSN coverage, my best-in-value recommendation is Sling TV, which costs less than half the price of DIRECTV. Keep scrolling to learn more about that.
Most Customizable: Sling TV
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Pros
- Lower price than competitors
- Customizable packages
Cons
- Poor local channel coverage
- Unlimited DVR storage upcharge
Sling TV is less expensive than DIRECTV for watching national NHL games. Its Sling Orange plan is $45.99/mo. and gets you ESPN and TNT, while its Sports Extra add-on ($11.00/mo.) has NHL Network. Add a separate subscription to ESPN+ to the mix for $11.99/mo., and you’ll have nearly complete access to every NHL game, apart from any in-market RSN matchups.
The main NHL channel missing from Sling Orange is ABC. Most local channels are hard to come by on Sling TV, but the streaming service provides in-app access to ESPN3—an overflow channel that hosts all NHL on ABC simulcasts. ABC is available with Sling Blue in select markets.
With Sling TV, you’re in the Zamboni driver’s seat to decide what channels you want. But it’s the cheapest way to watch national games across ESPN and TNT Sports channels in one plan because Sling Orange with the Sports Extra add-on is just $57.99/mo. before tax. It’s also an inexpensive way to watch NBA and college basketball action, should you share a passion for hockey and b-ball.
The biggest limitation of the Sling Orange plan is that it allows one stream at a time. I also don’t like that Sling TV forces you to pay an extra $5.00/mo. for unlimited DVR storage. But if you get ESPN+ on the side, you won’t need to worry about recording NHL games for later because it comes with full-match replays.
Best Cable or Satellite TV Provider: DIRECTV
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
†for 24 months plus taxes and fees w/ 24-mo. agmt.; AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. is extra and applies.
Pros
- Large channel counts
- Wide selection of regional sports networks
Cons
- Expensive plans
- 2-yr. contract
- Bulky satellite dish
I already explained why DIRECTV’s streaming service is great for watching the NHL, and its satellite alternative isn’t much different with its content offerings. That’s why I label it the best traditional service for viewing NHL games because it’s ideal for anyone unable to commit to a streaming package.
DIRECTV offers a wide selection of RSNs and carries every national NHL channel. You can even add NHL Center Ice to your DIRECTV package for complete integrated out-of-market NHL access—something Stream with DIRECTV doesn’t offer.
I recommend DIRECTV’s ULTIMATE All-Included plan because that’s where you’ll find NHL Network. It’s $119.99 a month and comes with some neat premium channel deals. You’ll also get over 280 channels, which ought to hold you over between hockey games.
The reason I chose Stream with DIRECTV over its satellite brother as my top choice for watching NHL games is because of the commitment that comes with DIRECTV’s satellite packages. You must sign a two-year contract and deal with the satellite dish and its corresponding cables, which I know is impossible for some who live in apartments or condos. There are also hidden costs to DIRECTV that you should be aware of before signing up.
Best for Out-Of-Market Games: ESPN+
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Blackout restrictions apply.
Pros
- Every out-of-market NHL game
- Home and away team commentary feeds
- Access to every NHL game replay
Cons
- Local blackouts for non-exclusive games
- Delayed replay access for blacked-out games
- No watchlist feature
ESPN+ is an essential streaming service for NHL coverage in the U.S. It’s primarily the home for out-of-market NHL matchups (branded as NHL Power Play on ESPN+), offering the same coverage as NHL Center Ice. The big advantage of subscribing to ESPN+ is that it has slightly more live games and tons of additional sports content. Plus, you can watch every NHL game on demand after it airs, but you must wait 24 hours to watch blacked-out game replays.
This season, ESPN+ will show 47 exclusive NHL game telecasts on top of its out-of-market coverage. Any Hulu subscription will carry those same 47 games, a bonus to anyone already subscribed.
You won’t get any of the traditional ESPN channels with ESPN+, which is why it works best when paired with a live TV provider or bundled through ESPN Unlimited. Typically, I would recommend signing up for Hulu + Live TV because it includes ESPN+ at no extra cost. But Hulu + Live TV doesn’t carry NHL Network, and you can get complete national NHL coverage through Sling TV for around $20 cheaper.
Beyond live and on-demand NHL games, ESPN+ has many live college sports—meaning you can catch men’s and women’s college hockey during fall, winter, and spring. Even some Ice Hockey World Championship matchups stream exclusively on ESPN+.
If you’re a more casual hockey fan who only cares about your local team’s games, then ESPN+ isn’t all that necessary. Your team will be live on ESPN+ only if they appear in any of the service’s exclusive games. Therefore, you’re more suited to sign up for a TV service that offers your RSN—like Stream with DIRECTV.
How to watch NHL games for free
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You can watch NHL matches for free on over-the-air (OTA) TV as long as you live within range of an ABC network affiliate. During the latter half of the 2025–2026 NHL regular season, several matchups will air on ABC. The channel also alternates carrying every Stanley Cup Final game with TNT. So you’ll be able to watch the championship series on ABC in even years like 2026 and 2028.
Of course, you’ll need a digital antenna and a TV with an Antenna In port to access OTA stations like ABC. The antenna will also need a maximum range strong enough to pick up your area’s nearest ABC station.
Pro tip: You’ll want to double-check what OTA channels are available in your area before buying an antenna. To do this, simply enter your zip code on the FCC’s Reception Map Tool.
One of my favorite antennas is the Mohu Leaf 50. It has a 60-mile range and an added amplifier for improved signal reception. You can also check out more top-rated antennas on our Best OTA Antennas page.
How to watch NHL games FAQ
Can you stream NHL games?
Yes, you can stream over 1,000 NHL games each season on ESPN+—including every out-of-market matchup. Live TV streaming services also carry NHL channels, though not all regional sports networks are available through each provider.
Can you watch NHL on Amazon Prime?
No, you can’t watch NHL games on Amazon Prime Video except through its HBO Max and FanDuel Sports Network add-on channels. But as far as sports go, Prime Video does have Thursday Night Football and select MLB, NBA, NWSL, and WNBA matchups.
How can I watch all NHL games?
To watch every NHL game, you’ll need a combination of ESPN+, a TV service with national NHL channels, and your regional sports network for local NHL coverage.
How can I watch NHL games without cable?
You can watch select NHL games on ABC by using a digital antenna. Otherwise, as outlined in our NHL Without Cable guide, you can also catch NHL matchups on live TV streaming services. There’s also ESPN+, which carries exclusive matches and over 1,000 out-of-market games.
Where can I watch NHL preseason games?
You can watch NHL preseason games on NHL Network and regional sports networks. The 2025–2026 NHL preseason schedule includes 100+ matchups, with select out-of-market preseason games streaming on ESPN+. Visit our How To Watch the NHL Preseason guide for more viewing details.
Did NHL.TV go away?
NHL.TV is no longer available for users in the U.S. because ESPN+ is now the streaming home for out-of-market NHL games. Similarly, Sportsnet+ Premium (formerly Sportsnet NOW) replaced NHL LIVE for out-of-market access in Canada. These changes mean you can no longer use the NHL app to stream out-of-market games in the same way that MLB.TV or NBA League Pass work.
How can I listen to NHL games on the radio?
Most NHL teams have AM or FM radio affiliates for local fans to listen to live games. But you can also stream match audio from every NHL game this season on TuneIn Premium.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, is plugged into the NHL season and the always-changing TV media landscape. As a Chicago Blackhawks fan living in the Minnesota Wild’s TV market, his personal viewing habits give him a unique, firsthand perspective on the challenges of following both in-market and out-of-market teams.
For this guide, Taylor combined that fan experience with an in-depth analysis of every major TV provider. He’s tracked every new streaming service and broadcast deal to ensure his recommendations are based on years of hands-on testing, all with the goal of helping you build the perfect, frustration-free TV setup for hockey season.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*for 24 months plus taxes and fees w/ 24-mo. agmt.; AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. is extra and applies.
†for 24 months plus taxes and fees w/ 24-mo. agmt.; AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. is extra and applies.
**Data connection req’d. Recordings expire after 9 months. In a series recording, max 30 episodes stored with unlimited hours of cloud DVR and max 10 episodes stored with 20 hours of cloud DVR (oldest deleted first which may be in less than 9 months). Restrictions apply.
‡Amazon.com price as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
DIRECTV and Stream with DIRECTV: New approved residential customers, price incl. TV pkg & equip. fees for first TV. Add’l fees may apply to non-qualified customers. Early agmt termination fee applies ($20/mo.) & add’l fee(s) may apply if equip. not returned. Credit card req’d. Restr’s apply. $19.95 activation & equipment lease req’d for satellite customers. Equipment lease req’d for DIRECTV via Internet customers in some sales channels.
