Live stream NHL games online without cable

Updated: December 17, 2024

  • • Stream in HD or even UHD when available
    • • Watch at home or on the go
      • • Setup is quick and easy

30-day money-back guarantee

How to watch NHL games in 2024 with a VPN

Bypass streaming restrictions on your school or office Wi-Fi and learn how to watch NHL games live from anywhere:

  1. Get ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a server location that matches the broadcaster you want to watch. For example, United States hockey fans can connect to a server in the U.S. to catch games on Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.
  3. It’s game time!

Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

Why you need a VPN to watch NHL games

Your internet provider might slow your connection if it thinks you’re streaming too much, causing laggy streams and buffering. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, keeping your online activity private from your ISP, so you can bypass this type of throttling and watch NHL games without any issues.

If you’re working at night and the Wi-Fi at your job blocks streaming services, you could miss out on watching some games. VPN encryption hides your activity from the network, allowing you to unblock streaming platforms with ease. Just make sure you don’t celebrate too loudly when your favorite team scores. 

Best VPN for watching the NHL in 2024

ExpressVPN has a global network of servers in 105 countries and 12 U.S. states, making it easy to find one in your preferred location. Our service works seamlessly with sports streaming platforms that broadcast NHL games, such as NHL.TV, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV. Our 10-Gbps servers give you a blazing-fast VPN connection, so you can enjoy pixel-perfect video quality, even in UHD.

You can connect up to 8 devices to the VPN at once with a single account, so you can watch any game of your choosing on your smart TV while your roommates stream movies and shows on their smartphones, gaming consoles, and other devices. Try ExpressVPN now with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. 

How to watch out-of-market NHL games with NHL.TV

In the U.S. and Canada, blackouts are put in place to protect local broadcasters’ viewership in a given team’s local broadcast area. If you’re streaming from a different country, every game is effectively “out-of-market,” meaning that there are no blackouts to worry about. 

NHL.TV offers various packages, including one for those who only want to watch a specific team. Prices vary by country. The NHL’s official website has a full list of countries where NHL.TV is available.

Is ISP throttling ruining your streaming quality and enjoyment of the game? Connect to one of ExpressVPN’s servers in 105 countries to bypass activity-based throttling and enjoy picture-perfect streaming quality wherever you are. 

How to watch NHL games online via regional sports networks

As in Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association, most NHL games air locally on regional sports networks. However, not every streaming service offers every RSN, and YouTube TV does not provide Bally Sports Networks in any area. As of October 2024, eight of the NHL’s 32 teams play on Bally Sports Network RSNs.

As for the other 24 teams, some like the Chicago Blackhawks (Chicago Sports Network), New York Rangers (MSG Network), and Washington Capitals (Monumental Sports Network) either own or co-own their own regional sports networks. 

Where to watch NHL games without cable

ServiceChannelsRegional sports networks availableFree trial length
DirecTV StreamABC, ESPN, NHL Network (Choice plan and up), TBS, TNT, truTV, select regional sports networksAltitude Sports, Bally Sports (Detroit, Florida, Midwest, North, Ohio, South, Southwest, Sun, West) Chicago Sports Network,  Monumental Sports Network, MSG, MSG Western, NBC Sports California, New England Sports Network, SportsNet Pittsburgh, Root Sports5 days
FuboABC, ESPN, NHL TV (Sports Plus add-on), select regional sports networksAltitude Sports (Colorado Avalanche), Bally Sports (Detroit, Florida, Midwest, North, Ohio, South, Southwest, Sun, West); Chicago Sports Network, Monumental Sports Network, MSG, MSG Western, NBC Sports (California, Philadelphia) New England Sports Network, SportsNet Pittsburgh, Root Sports7 days
Hulu + Live TVABC, ESPN, TBS, TNT, truTV, select regional sports networksChicago Sports Network, Monumental Sports Network, NBC Sports California3 days
YouTube TVABC, ESPN, TBS, TNT, truTVN/AVaries
Sling TVABC, ESPN, NHL TV (Sports Extra), TNT, select regional sports networksMonumental Sports Network, NBC Sports CaliforniaN/A

Prefer to watch on the big screen? Learn about all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.

How to watch NHL games for free in Germany

In Germany, you can watch select NHL games for free on ProSieben and its sports streaming platform, Ran.de. The platform also gives you access to live soccer, the NBA, motorsports, and other popular sports.

How to watch the NHL using Amazon Prime Video

You can watch select NHL games featuring Canadian teams on Amazon Prime Video during the 2024-25 season. If you’re a new customer or are returning after more than 12 months without a subscription, you can use Prime Video’s 30-day free trial to watch some of these games for free, as well as enjoy the Prime Video library in Canada. You’ll need a local payment method to subscribe.

We’ll keep this page updated with more ways to watch NHL games as they’re announced.

Live stream the NHL on all your streaming devices

ExpressVPN offers up to eight simultaneous connections across many devices, allowing you to live stream NHL games on your smartphone, tablet, gaming console, smart TV, and more. Whether you’re watching the NHL at home or on the go, we’ve got an app for you.

2024-25 NHL season: key dates

The 2024-25 NHL season officially begins Tuesday, October 8. Here are some key dates to keep in mind throughout the league’s 108th season.

DateEvent
October 4-5, 2024NHL Global Series (New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres in Prague)
October 8, 2024NHL regular season begins
October 22, 2024Frozen Frenzy
November 1-2, 2024NHL Global Series (Florida Panthers vs. Dallas Stars in Finland)
December 31, 2024NHL Winter Classic (Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field in Chicago)
January 18, 2025Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada
February 12-20, 2025NHL 4 Nations Face-Off
March 1, 2025NHL Stadium Series (Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio)
April 19, 2025NHL Playoffs begin

ExpressVPN is a VPN service not intended to be used as a means of copyright circumvention. Please read the ExpressVPN Terms of Service and your content provider’s Terms of Use for more details.

FAQ: About watching NHL games online

Can I use a VPN to watch the NHL from another country?
Should I use a free VPN to watch NHL games?
Can you stream NHL hockey for free?
Is there a way to watch all NHL games?
How can I watch NHL games in Europe?
Can you watch the NHL on Amazon Prime?
Does YouTube TV have NHL?
What is the cheapest way to stream NHL games?
How much does NHL TV cost?
Is there an app to watch the NHL?
What is the cheapest way to get the NHL Network?
How can I watch the NHL outside the U.S.?
Can I use a VPN to watch NHL games?
Does Europe have the NHL?
Is the NHL on Hulu free?

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes:

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Need help? Chat with us!

Live chat

Online

stream on your phone with a VPN
Need step-by-step streaming help?

24-HOUR LIVE CHAT SUPPORT