It can be a little tricky to watch hockey through an NHL live stream, not to mention expensive.
In the U.S., NHL games for the 2018-19 will be broadcast nationally on NBC, NBC Sports, ESPN, ESPN+, and NHL Network, and locally on NBCSN, MSG (that’s the Madison Square Garden channel), and NESN (New England Sports Networks). But if you’ve cut the cord, it can be confusing figuring out how to watch NHL on NBC. And then you have to factor in NHL TV, the premium service that lets you stream basically every other NHL game.
We’ve done our best to break down all of the essential information and services you’ll need. Here’s everything you need to know to find the NHL live stream you’re looking for.
HOW TO STREAM NHL GAMES
NHL live stream: NHL TV
Much like NFL Sunday Ticket or NBA League Pass, NHL TV (or NHL.TV) is a premium service that allows you to stream every out-of-market NHL game. In fact, you can stream up to four games at once—and the service lets you choose from a couple of different camera angles you won’t see anywhere else. While some games are subject to blackouts, you’ll be able to watch them after the fact, thanks for NHL TV’s on-demand library. Simply put: NHL TV is essential for serious fans, but if you’re not convinced of its value, you can stream eight NHL games for free (schedule below) or buy a monthly pass to see if you’re getting your money’s worth.
NHL TV devices:
- Roku
- Apple TV (3 and 4)
- Google Chromecast
- Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- iOS and Android devices
NHL TV price breakdown:
- 2018-19 All Access: $139.99
- 2018-19 Monthly Pass: $24.99 per month
- 2018-19 Single Team Pass: $109.99
NHL.TV live stream free game schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 16, 10pm: Buffalo Sabres at Vegas Golden Knights
Thursday, Oct. 18, 7pm: Philadelphia Flyers at Columbus Blue Jackets
Saturday, Oct. 20, 10pm: Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights
Tuesday, Oct. 23, 7pm: Florida Panthers at New York Rangers
Thursday, Oct. 25, 8pm: New York Rangers at Chicago Blackhawks
Saturday, Oct. 27, 3pm: Edmonton Oilers at Nashville Predators
Sunday, Oct. 28, 8pm: San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks
Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7pm: New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL live stream: ESPN+
Cost: $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
Devices: Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Android and Kindle Fire, Google Chromecast, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and iOS and Android devices
Launched in April, ESPN+ is a premium subscription from ESPN, and it’s set to broadcast more than 180 NHL games in the 2018-19 season. (You can see the full NHL on ESPN+ schedule here.) In the same way that you’ll need cable or live TV streaming credentials to stream live events in the WatchESPN app or on the ESPN website, you’ll need an ESPN+ subscription to unlock its exclusive offerings, which include the daily hockey show In The Crease. As you can see in the screenshot below, games that are subject to local blackouts are clearly marked in advance (leaving you plenty of time to set up a VPN). We’ll cover how to stream NHL games on ESPN in the next section.
NHL live stream: How to watch NHL games online
There’s not a smoking-gun solution for streaming NHL games. Only two live streaming services offer NHL Network (Sling TV, DirecTV Now), and the availability of NBC and NBC Sports is going to vary depending on the provider and your location—as will the availability of regional channels that stream NHL games like MSG+ and NESNplus. That said, we’ve done our best to break down all of your options and to make it easy to find exactly what you’re look for and at the price point you’re comfortable with.
1) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $40 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
You won’t be able to watch NHL Network with Hulu with Live TV, but all of the other essentials are covered, including ESPN and NBCSN, and you’ll get a lot of other sports options for your buck, including FS1, Big Ten Network, and CBS Sports Network. What sets Hulu apart from the competition, however, is its on-demand offerings. Your subscription unlocks Hulu’s full catalog, so when you’re not streaming NHL games, you can watch Hulu originals, anime, movies, and documentaries, or catch up on your favorite TV shows.
Game-changing feature: Every subscription comes with free access to Hulu’s on-demand library, meaning you can catch up on all of your favorite shows. (Here are our picks for the best movies on Hulu, Hulu documentaries, anime, and the must-see Hulu originals.)
2) Sling TV
- Cost: $30-$45 per month ($10 off first month)
- Devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, and iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
- Channels included: ESPN (Sling Orange, Sling Orange + Blue); NHL Network (Sling Orange Sports Extra or Sling Blue Sports Extra); NBC, NBC, and NBC Sports (Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue)
One of the leaders in live TV streaming, Sling TV has two basic starter packages (Sling Orange and Sling Blue, both $30 per month), but to live stream NHL games, you’ll want Sling Orange + Blue, which combines the two for $45 per month. That ensures you get both ESPN and all of the NBC channels. From there, you can add either the Sling Orange Sports Extra Pack ($5 per month) or the Sling Blue Sports Extra ($10 per month) to get NHL Network. Both add-on packages include Pac-12 Network, NBA TV, and the Golf Channel, but only the Sling Blue version offers NFL RedZone. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels.)
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3) FuboTV
- Cost: $44.99 for your first month and $54.99 per month thereafter (after a 7-day free trial)
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
- Channels included: NBC and NBCSN
On paper, while known as sports streaming service, FuboTV isn’t a great option for NHL live streams. Not only does it not offer any ESPN programming, but it doesn’t feature NHL Network, either. However, the websites for both MSG+ and NESNplus note that the channels are available via FuboTV. My guess is that you have to live locally (New York City and Boston, respectively), to pick them up. If that’s the case, or if you find the rest of its channel offerings compelling, FuboTV is worth a closer look. It’s certainly worth noting that it offers three-day replay for games and 30 hours’ worth of cloud DVR. (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
4) AT&T Now
- Cost: $50-$135 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
There’s a good chance that you’re already looking to AT&T for your wireless needs. The second you sign up you’ll gain instant access to 45+ channels, including local channels and even free HBO on PLUS and MAX channel suites. Plus, it comes with CloudDVR which lets you record up to 20 hours of TV per month. One account works on two devices, but you can add more devices for only $5.
5) YouTube TV
- Cost: $49.99 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
Channels included: NBC, NBCSN, NBC Sports, NESN, and ESPN
YouTube TV offers the perfect balance of sports and entertainment. You get almost everything you need to stream NHL games, including NESN, as well as Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, the CW, and AMC. If you have roommates, YouTube TV might be your best bet. Each subscription accommodates up to six accounts, each of which receives unlimited DVR, so you can always record NHL games to watch later. Then at least you can fast-forward through ads.
NHL on NBC TV schedule 2018-19
BC Sports will broadcast more than 100 NHL games during the 2018-19 season. That includes a new Wednesday Night Hockey program on NBCSN that will feature 17 double-headers and 25 weeks of action in total. NBC will also host 13 NHL games, starting Nov. 23, with the New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Eagles.
All games are subject to change, and all times are ET.
Wednesday, Oct. 3
7:30pm, Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
10:30pm, Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks | NBCSN
Thursday, Oct. 4
7:30pm, Nashville Predators at New York Rangers | NBCSN
10pm, Philadelphia Flyers at Vegas Golden Knights | NBCSN
Tuesday, Oct. 9
7:30pm, San Jose Sharks at Philadelphia Flyers | NBCSN
Wednesday, Oct. 10
8pm, Vegas Golden Knights at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
Tuesday, Oct. 16
8pm, Arizona Coyotes at Minnesota Wild | NBCSN
Wednesday, Oct. 17
7pm, New York Rangers at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
9:30pm, Boston Bruins at Calgary Flames | NBCSN
Friday, Oct. 19
8pm, Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars | NBCSN
Tuesday, Oct. 23
8pm, San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators | NBCSN
Wednesday, Oct. 24
7pm, Toronto Maple Leafs at Winnipeg Jets | NBCSN
9:30pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche | NBCSN
Tuesday, Oct. 30
8pm, Vegas Golden Knights at Nashville Predators | NBCSN
Thursday, Nov. 1
2pm, Winnipeg Jets at Florida Panthers | NBCSN
Tuesday, Nov. 6
7:30pm, Edmonton Oilers at Tampa Bay Lightning | NBCSN
Wednesday, Nov. 7
7:30pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
10pm, Nashville Predators at Colorado Avalanche | NBCSN
Tuesday, Nov. 13
7:30pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres | NBCSN
Wednesday, Nov. 14
8pm, St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks | NBCSN
10:30pm, Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights | NBCSN
Tuesday, Nov. 20
10:30pm, Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks | NBCSN
Wednesday, Nov. 21
7:30pm, Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres | NBCSN
Friday, Nov. 23
1pm, New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers | NBC
7:30pm, Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning | NBCSN
Tuesday, Nov. 27
8pm, Vegas Golden Knights at Chicago Blackhawks | NBCSN
Wednesday, Nov. 28
7pm, St. Louis Blues at Detroit Red Wings | NBCSN
9:30pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche | NBCSN
Tuesday, Dec. 4
7:30pm, Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres | NBCSN
Wednesday, Dec. 5
8pm, Edmonton Oilers at St. Louis Blues | NBCSN
10:30pm, Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks | NBCSN
Tuesday, Dec. 11
7:30pm, Detroit Red Wings at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
Wednesday, Dec. 12
8pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks | NBCSN
Tuesday, Dec. 18
8:30pm, Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks | NBCSN
Wednesday, Dec. 19
8pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
Friday, Dec. 21
7pm, Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
Thursday, Dec. 27
7:30pm, Philadelphia Flyers at Tampa Bay Lightning | NBCSN
Tuesday, Jan. 1
1pm, Boston Bruins at Chicago Blackhawks | NBC
Wednesday, Jan. 2
7pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers | NBCSN
9:30pm, San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche | NBCSN
Thursday, Jan. 3
7:30pm, Chicago Blackhawks at N.Y. Islanders | NBCSN
Sunday, Jan. 6
8pm, Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBCSN
Tuesday, Jan. 8
7:30pm, Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
Wednesday, Jan. 9
8pm, Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks | NBCSN
Thursday, Jan. 10
8pm, Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild | NBCSN
Monday, Jan. 14
7:30pm, Montreal at Boston Bruins | NBCSN
Tuesday, Jan. 15
8pm, Los Angeles at Minnesota Wild | NBCSN
Wednesday, Jan. 16
7:30pm, Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers | NBCSN
10pm, San Jose Sharks at Arizona Coyotes | NBCSN
Thursday, Jan. 17
7pm, Chicago Blackhawks at New York Rangers | NBCSN
Sunday, Jan. 20
12:30pm, Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks | NBC
Monday, Jan. 21
4pm, St. Louis Blues at Los Angeles | NBCSN
Tuesday, Jan. 22
9pm, Detroit Red Wings at Edmonton Oilers | NBCSN
Wednesday, Jan. 23
7:30pm, Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs | NBCSN
10pm, Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights | NBCSN
Monday, Jan. 28
7pm, Winnipeg Jets at Philadelphia Flyers | NBCSN
Tuesday, Jan. 29
7:30pm, Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers | NBCSN
Wednesday, Jan. 30
8pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBCSN
Saturday, Feb. 2
8pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers | NBC
8pm, Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks | NBC
Sunday, Feb. 3
12:30pm, Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals | NBC
Wednesday, Feb. 6
8pm, Boston Bruins at New York Rangers | NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 10
12:30pm, St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators | NBC
7pm, Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers | NBCSN
Monday, Feb. 11
7pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers | NBCSN
Tuesday, Feb. 12
7pm, Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins | NBCSN
Wednesday, Feb. 13
8pm, Edmonton Oilers at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 17
12:30pm, New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBC
3pm, St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild | NBC
6pm, Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings | NBCSN
Monday, Feb. 18
7:30pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jacket | NBCSN
10pm, Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks | NBCSN
Tuesday, Feb. 19
8pm, Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Louis Blues | NBCSN
Wednesday, Feb. 20
7:30pm, Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings | NBCSN
10pm, Boston Bruins at Vegas Golden Knights | NBCSN
Thursday, Feb. 21
8pm, Los Angeles at Nashville Predators | NBCSN
Saturday, Feb. 23
8pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers | NBC
Sunday, Feb. 24
7pm, St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild | | NBCSN
Monday, Feb. 25
7:30pm, Los Angeles at Tampa Bay Lightning | NBCSN
Tuesday, Feb. 26
7pm, Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers | NBCSN
Wednesday, Feb. 27
7:30pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers | NBCSN
10pm, Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks | NBCSN
Thursday, Feb. 28
7:30pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins | NBCSN
Sunday, March 3
12:30pm, Washington Capitals at New York Rangers | NBC
7:30pm, Nashville Predators at Minnesota Wild | NBCSN
Tuesday, March 5
8pm, Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators | NBCSN
Wednesday, March 6
7:30pm, Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers | NBCSN
10pm, St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks | NBCSN
Thursday, March 7
7pm, Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBCSN
Sunday, March 10
7:30pm, Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBCSN
10pm, Los Angeles at Anaheim Ducks | NBCSN
Monday, March 11
8pm, San Jose Sharks at Minnesota Wild | NBCSN
Tuesday, March 12
7pm, Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBCSN
Wednesday, March 13
7pm, Chicago Blackhawks at Toronto Maple Leafs | NBCSN
9:30pm, New Jersey at Edmonton Oilers | NBCSN
Sunday, March 17
7:30pm, Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBCSN
10pm, Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights | NBCSN
Tuesday, March 19
7:30pm, Washington Capitals at New Jersey | NBCSN
Wednesday, March 20
7:30pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
10pm, Winnipeg Jets at Anaheim Ducks | NBCSN
Sunday, March 24
12:30pm, Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals | NBC
8pm, Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks | NBCSN
Monday, March 25
8pm, Nashville Predators at Minnesota Wild | NBCSN
Tuesday, March 26
7pm, Carolina at Washington Capitals | NBCSN
Wednesday, March 27
7:30pm, New York Rangers at Boston Bruins | NBCSN
10pm, Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche | NBCSN
Sunday, March 31
12:30pm, New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers | NBC
7:30pm, Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings | NBCSN
Wednesday, April 3
8pm, St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks | NBCSN
10:30pm, Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks | NBCSN
New to cord-cutting? Here are our picks for the best movie streaming sites of 2018 and free live TV apps and channels. If you’re looking for a specific channel, here’s how to watch HBO, Showtime, Starz, Sundance TV, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, Willow, AMC, FX, Fox News, Freeform, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FS1, TBS, TNT, Tennis Channel, Golf Channel, Syfy, HGTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Bravo, Lifetime, Discovery, PBS, the CW, BBC, CSPAN, NBA TV, MTV, Comedy Central, Food Network, TLC, HLN, A&E, Animal Planet, National Geographic, the Weather Channel, the History Channel, and NFL RedZone without cable, as well as free movies on YouTube. If you’re on the move, here’s how to watch Fox Sports Go and live stream NBC Sports.
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