How to Watch NHL Games 2022–2023

You can watch your favorite hockey teams during the 2022–2023 NHL season across the same channels as last season. That means you’ll need ABC, ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu, NHL Network, and TNT in your channel lineup to watch national coverage.

Of course, you’ll also want your regional sports network (RSN) to watch local NHL games. And you should consider an out-of-market service like ESPN+ or NHL Center Ice if you support a team far from home.

That’s a lot of channels and services to keep tabs on. But don’t worry. Our guide will give you the complete rundown—highlighting the best TV providers, so you don’t miss a single body check.

Jump to:

• NHL channels
• NHL schedule
• Best ways to watch the NHL
• Watch the NHL for free

The channels you’ll need to watch NHL games

You’ll need ABC, ESPN, NHL Network, and TNT to watch live nationally televised NHL games. ESPN+ and Hulu will also have national matchups, so you’ll need one of the two services to watch over 50 exclusive fixtures.

If you want to be the Wayne Gretzky of watching NHL and have live access to all 1,312 regular season games, you’ll need your local NHL team’s regional sports network and an out-of-market package.

Two out-of-market options exist for NHL fans: ESPN+ and NHL Center Ice. Both allow you to watch over 1,000 out-of-market games, which don’t air on local or national TV.

NHL Center Ice ($69.99 a season) is an add-on you can purchase through most cable and satellite TV providers. However, for $30.00 more a year, ESPN+ ($99.99 a year) has those 50+ exclusive games and many other live sports. You can also pay $9.99 a month for ESPN+, which equals $69.93 before tax for the seven-month duration of the NHL regular season.

Primary NHL channels:

• ABC
• ESPN
• ESPN+/Hulu
• NHL Network
• TNT
• Regional sports networks (NBC Sports, NESN, MSG, Bally Sports, Altitude Sports, ROOT SPORTS, and AT&T SportsNet)

Some national NHL games also air on ESPN2 and TBS. The two networks act as overflow channels for ESPN and TNT, and you can find them in the same TV plans without purchasing a higher-priced package.

NHL schedule: key events and channels

For a better understanding of the league’s network lineup, you’ll want to keep tabs on the official NHL schedule. But here’s a breakdown of this year’s major NHL events.

Data effective as of post date.

Best TV providers for NHL games

• Editor’s choice: DIRECTV STREAM ($64.99–$154.99/mo.*)
• Best value: Sling TV ($40.00–$55.00/mo.)
• Best cable or satellite provider: DIRECTV ($64.99–$154.99/mo.†)
• Best for out-of-market games: ESPN+ ($9.99/mo. or $99.99/yr.)

Editor’s choice: DIRECTV STREAM

• Large channel counts
• Wide selection of regional sports networks
• No contract

• Expensive plans
• No out-of-market NHL add-on available
• Limited included Cloud DVR (20 hrs.)

DIRECTV STREAM is our 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 except ESPN+/Hulu, but it also offers a fantastic range of regional sports networks 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 STREAM. It even carries the Bally Sports RSNs—the only other place you can stream those is the newly launched Bally Sports+ for $19.99 a month.

We single out a live TV streaming service as our 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, we recommend DIRECTV’s traditional satellite TV service instead.

The biggest drawback of DIRECTV STREAM is its price. To stream NHL Network in your channel lineup, you’ll need to sign up for the ULTIMATE plan, which usually costs $109.99 a month. And yeah, we don’t blame you if you spit your beverage out while reading that price. That’s a lot of money for a streaming service—especially if you still want that separate subscription to ESPN+ for its out-of-market coverage and 50+ exclusive games.

If you don’t need RSN coverage, you can try our best-in-value option, Sling TV, for less than half the cost of DIRECTV STREAM. Keep scrolling to learn more about that.

Best value: Sling TV

• Low price
• Customizable packages
• No contract

• Poor local channel coverage
• Weak DVR storage options

Sling TV is a less expensive option than DIRECTV STREAM for watching national NHL games. Its Sling Orange plan is $40.00 a month and gets you ESPN and TNT, while its Sports Extra add-on ($11.00 a month) has NHL Network. Add a separate subscription to ESPN+ to the mix for $9.99 a month, and you’ll have nearly complete access to every NHL game, apart from any matchup that airs on in-market RSNs.

The main NHL channel missing from Sling TV 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. You can also try one of Sling TV’s signup deals that offers a free HD antenna for more local channels when you prepay for two months of service.

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—including every Stanley Cup playoff game—because Sling Orange with the Sports Extra add-on is just $46.00 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 to the Sling Orange plan is that it allows just one stream at a time. We also don’t like that Sling TV’s best DVR package is a measly 200 hours of recording space. 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

• Large channel counts
• Wide selection of regional sports networks

• Expensive plans
• 2-yr. contract
• Bulky satellite dish

We already explained why DIRECTV STREAM is great for watching the NHL, and DIRECTV isn’t much different with its content offerings. That’s why we label it the best traditional service for viewing NHL games because it’s ideal for anyone unable to commit to a streaming service.

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 out-of-market NHL access—something DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t offer.

We recommend DIRECTV’s ULTIMATE All-Included plan because that’s where you’ll find NHL Network. It’s $109.99 a month and comes with a free three-month trial of several premium services, including HBO Max. You’ll also get over 270 channels, which ought to hold you over between hockey games.

The reason we chose DIRECTV STREAM over DIRECTV as our top choice for watching NHL games is because of the commitment that comes with DIRECTV. You must sign a two-year contract and deal with the satellite dish and its corresponding cables, which we know is impossible for some who live in apartments or condos. There are also some hidden costs of DIRECTV that you should be aware of before signing up.

Best for out-of-market games: ESPN Plus

• Every out-of-market NHL game
• Home and away team commentary feeds
• Access to every NHL game replay

• 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 US. 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 over 50 exclusive NHL game telecasts on top of its out-of-market coverage. Any Hulu subscription will also carry the same 50+ 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. Usually, we would recommend signing up for Hulu + Live TV (starting at $69.99 a month) 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 about $12.00 cheaper.

Overall, ESPN+ is a cheap way to watch thousands of NHL hockey games. It also includes NHL-themed shows like In The Crease, Quest for the Stanley Cup, and The Point. But the puck doesn’t stop there. ESPN+ has tons of 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 local team will only be available to watch on ESPN+ when they take part in any of the service’s 50+ exclusive games. Therefore, you’re more suited to sign up for a TV service that offers your RSN—like DIRECTV STREAM.

How to watch NHL games for free

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 2022–2023 NHL regular season, 15 matchups will air on ABC—including the NHL All-Star Game. 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 2024 and 2026.

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.

One of our favorite antennas is the Mohu Leaf 50 ($47.99 on Amazon^‡). 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 Antennas for Cord-Cutters page.

Final take

You’ll need ABC, ESPN, NHL Network, and TNT in your channel roster to watch this season’s biggest NHL matchups. But the TV package you choose ultimately depends on what teams you want to watch, where you’re located, and how much you’re willing to spend.

DIRECTV STREAM’s ULTIMATE plan ($109.99 a month*) with a separate subscription to ESPN+ ($9.99 a month) is our top recommendation for hardcore hockey fans who want every NHL game. The ULTIMATE plan carries all NHL channels and most RSNs—giving you complete local and national NHL access. With ESPN+ added to the mix, you’ll get 50+ exclusive games and full out-of-market coverage.

Sling TV is the cheapest option to get the national NHL channels. Its many plans and add-ons allow you to build a package that fits your spending limit and viewing needs. The Sling Orange plan ($40.00 a month) has ESPN and TNT, while its Sports Extra add-on ($11.00 a month) comes with NHL Network. And you can always get ESPN+ separately if you support a team far from home.

If reliable internet is unavailable in your area, DIRECTV’s ULTIMATE All-Included plan ($109.99 a month^†) delivers the best non-streaming NHL coverage. The satellite TV provider has all the main national NHL channels and offers many RSNs. Plus, you can add NHL Center Ice ($69.99 a season) to your package for out-of-market access that’s easily accessible within the DIRECTV interface.

How to watch NHL games FAQ

Methodology

Our sports experts immersed themselves in 12 of the nation’s top TV providers to determine the best options for watching the NHL. Over the last NHL season, we tested each provider’s features and reliability while comparing prices and channel offerings. We rationalized our recommendations using our editorial star rating system.

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.

*Price subj. to change. New customers only. Available in select sales channels only. Restrictions apply.

^†w/ 24-mo. agmt. AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15.00/mo. and Regional Sports Fee up to $13.99/mo. are extra & apply.

**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 3/30/23 12:30 p.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.