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How to watch NHL games live in 2024
Hockey season offers some of the most thrilling showdowns in all of sports. From the start of the 2023–24 regular season in October until its enthralling conclusion in the Stanley Cup Final in June, the action will unfold non-stop — and there are bound to be plenty of highlight-reel moments you won’t want to miss.
Thankfully, for hockey fans, there are plenty of options for streaming NHL games this season. From live TV streaming platforms to over-the-top services like ESPN Plus, there are ways to catch virtually every play. Read on to learn where to watch NHL contests throughout the regular season.
Where to watch NHL games
To find live hockey, you need to first answer the question, “What channel is hockey on?” 2023–24 regular season NHL games will be broadcast across a wide array of networks, starting primarily with regional sports networks (RSNs) in each local market. Those RSN broadcasts will also stream out of market on ESPN Plus, and national contests will air on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Plus, NHL Network and TNT. Here’s a look at the main channels NHL is on and where you can find them.
| ABC |
ESPN |
TNT |
NHL Network |
|
| DIRECTV STREAM |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Fubo |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
| Hulu + Live TV |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
| Sling TV |
✓* |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Vidgo |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
| YouTube TV |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
| *local channels available only in select locations Disclaimer: Some streaming services only offer certain channels in select markets or require add-ons to the standard service to view those channels. | ||||
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is one of only two streaming services that offer a way to catch every national NHL broadcast in 2023–24. The Entertainment Plan costs $79.99 per month and includes over 75 local and national networks, including ABC, ESPN and TNT, but not NHL Network. To get every national match on the main networks, you’ll have to upgrade to the Ultimate plan at $119.99 a month — a steep increase. If you don't need NHL Network but still want to catch local broadcasts on stations like Bally Sports, you’ll need the Choice plan, which runs $108.99 per month.
DIRECTV STREAM’s overall experience is fairly similar to cable — but without the long-term contracts. The channel lineup is a little smaller than some competitors, and you’ll have to pay more to get all the NHL games you want, but it’s one of the only streaming services that makes it possible to catch nearly every local and national NHL game. Currently, DIRECTV STREAM offers a five-day free trial.
Fubo
Fubo was the original sports-first streaming platform, and it’s a great way to watch NHL games. A basic Pro plan costs $79.99 a month, plus a $10.99 monthly regional sports fee. Although that’s more expensive than DIRECTV STREAM’s basic plan, you’ll get more than 160 channels, including ABC, ESPN and regional sports coverage for your local team, along with plenty more sports on networks like beIN Sports, NFL Network, Golf Channel and Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
If you want to add NHL Network, you have a few options with Fubo. For an extra $10 per month, you can upgrade to the Elite plan or add Fubo Extra for $7.99 a month. There’s also a Sports Plus with NFL RedZone add-on for $10.99 a month, which is the best way to get the most sports coverage. Unfortunately, none of these options includes TNT, so you’ll miss out on some of the marquee national matchups on Fubo.
Currently, Fubo offers a seven-day free trial for new subscribers, so you can scope out the NHL action before you decide to pay for a monthly subscription.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers one of the most compelling options for streaming NHL games. For $76.99 a month, you’ll get more than 90 channels, including ABC, ESPN and TNT. Although you can’t find NHL Network on Hulu + Live TV, the service more than makes up for it by including the Disney Bundle as part of the package. That means you’ll have access to more than 1,000 out-of-market NHL games and 75 national contests on ESPN Plus, not to mention a huge library of popular, on-demand shows and films on Hulu and Disney Plus.
Hulu + Live TV isn’t the complete package for hockey fans, but it’s pretty close. If you want to catch most NHL games and get an excellent mix of other entertainment across popular cable networks and on-demand libraries, this service is second to none. However, the biggest downside is that you won’t be able to watch any RSNs, so you might have to supplement your Hulu subscription with a service like Bally Sports Plus. Currently, Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer a free trial, so you’ll need to pay for a full month to try it out.
Sling TV
In some markets, Sling TV offers one of the best ways for hockey fans to catch every national broadcast. In fact, this budget-friendly streaming service allows you to customize your plan in a few ways depending on what coverage you value most. For streaming hockey, Sling Orange includes ESPN and TNT, while Sling Blue features only TNT.
Both plans cost $40 per month, and Sling Orange is clearly the better choice for hockey fans. If you want more coverage, you can add the Sports Extra add-on, which includes NHL Network and costs $11–$15 per month based on whether you choose an individual plan or combine Sling Orange & Blue.
The big question mark with Sling is its local coverage. ABC, CBS and Fox are only available in select markets and require the Sling Blue or Sling Orange & Blue plan. You can check local network availability in your area on Sling’s website. Keep in mind, too, that Sling Orange & Blue with Sports Extra will cost you $70 per month and still doesn’t include any RSNs, so you may still want to add supplemental coverage to get more NHL channels. Sling doesn’t currently offer a free trial, but new and returning subscribers can often get a discount on their first few months.
Vidgo
Vidgo joined the streaming wars just a few years ago, offering a sports-focused streaming service somewhat like Fubo’s. If you’re wondering where to watch NHL games, it covers a lot of your bases. Vidgo’s Plus plan costs $69.99 a month and includes ABC, ESPN and NHL Network. TNT isn’t available on any Vidgo plan, so that may turn some hockey fans away.
Despite that shortcoming, Vidgo’s lineup of over 150 channels and four different plans features an impressive array of entertainment, family and news programming. It may appeal to not only hockey fans looking for what channel has NHL games but also those who want to enjoy plenty of other programming. Keep in mind that Vidgo is missing some of the most popular networks, such as AMC, BBC, CBS, CNN, NBC, TNT and USA. The service doesn’t offer a free trial, either, so it takes a bit of a commitment to test it out for yourself.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV offers a well-balanced lineup of popular networks for hockey fans and plenty of others. In the base plan, which costs $72.99 per month, you’ll get ABC, ESPN and TNT, along with a lot of other sports and entertainment across channels like Fox, PBS, FS1, CNN, Cartoon Network, NFL Network, E!, The Disney Channel and more. Unfortunately, you won’t find NHL Network anywhere on YouTube TV.
That may be all right for many hockey fans who want NHL coverage with a balanced mix of programming and a plan that doesn’t cost upwards of $80 per month. However, you won’t get regional sports coverage with YouTube TV, so that may be a deal-breaker if you want to follow your local NHL team. YouTube TV usually offers free trials of between five days and two weeks, but you’ll need to sign up to find out what’s available for you.
Out-of-market games on ESPN Plus
If streaming NHL games is your favorite pastime, there’s one option that will ensure you’ve got action to follow virtually every night during the 2023-24 regular season: ESPN Plus. This season marks the third year in an agreement between the NHL and ESPN that includes more than 1,000 out-of-market games streaming on the platform. Not only that, but ESPN produces 75 national games each season to air exclusively on ESPN Plus and Hulu.
You won’t be able to watch your local team’s games on ESPN Plus, as those will be blacked out. National games on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NHL Network don’t air on the platform, either. Nonetheless, ESPN Plus offers the best way to keep up with action all over the league throughout the season. You’ll also get access to tons of live content from other sports, including MLB, European soccer, PGA golf, UFC fighting and countless college matchups.
Currently, there’s no free trial for ESPN Plus, but the service only costs $10.99 a month.
NHL schedule
The puck drops on the 2023-24 NHL regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 10, with three games simulcasting on ESPN and ESPN Plus. Each team will play 82 games, for a total of 1,312 across the league. Sixteen of 32 teams (eight per conference) will make the playoffs, which begin after the regular season concludes on April 18. Here are a few of the most notable contests and dates on the schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 10 — Regular Season Begins
- 5:30 p.m. Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lighting, ESPN/ESPN Plus
- 8:00 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, ESPN/ESPN Plus
- 10:30 p.m. Seattle Kraken vs. Las Vegas Golden Knights, ESPN/ESPN Plus
- Sunday, Oct. 29 @ 7:00 p.m. Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers, 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic, ESPN Plus (outside local markets)
Broadcast information not set for the following:
- Nov. 16-19 — NHL Global Series, Stockholm, Sweden
- Nov. 16 @ 2:00 p.m. Detroit Red Wings vs. Ottawa Senators
- Nov. 17 @ 2:00 p.m. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings
- Nov. 18 @ 11:00 a.m. Minnesota Wild vs. Ottawa Senators
- Nov. 19 @ 8:00 a.m. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Minnesota Wild
- Saturday, Dec. 23 @ 3:00 p.m. Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers (Stanley Cup Final rematch)
- Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 @ 3:00 p.m. Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Seattle Kraken (Discover NHL Winter Classic)
- Feb. 1–4 — NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto
- Feb. 17–18 — 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series
- Saturday, Feb. 17 @ 8:00 p.m. Philadelphia Flyers vs. New Jersey Devils
- Sunday, Feb. 18 @ 3:00 p.m. New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders
- Thursday, April 18 — Regular season concludes with six contests
All of the times are Eastern. You can find the full schedule on the NHL website.
Where are you watching NHL games this season?
With more than 1,300 games, the NHL regular season offers tons of action for fans to enjoy. If you want to stream NHL games, your best option is to find a good combination of national broadcasts with RSNs. ESPN Plus also offers a way to supplement this with more out-of-market and national games. The good news for hockey fans is that there are plenty of ways to put together a package so you never miss an important goal or wild save.
FAQ
How can I watch NHL games for free?
Select NHL games are broadcast on ABC throughout the regular season and playoffs, so you can watch these for free with an antenna. To watch most NHL games, however, you’ll need to subscribe to a live TV streaming service that includes networks like ESPN, NHL Network and TNT, as well as the regional sports network that covers your local team. ESPN Plus is also a great place to stream many out-of-market NHL games. Some of these services offer free trials of up to seven days.
Do you get every NHL game on ESPN Plus?
ESPN Plus doesn’t carry all 1,312 regular season games, but the service offers more than 1,000 out-of-market broadcasts and 75 national contests. Keep in mind that games available in your local market will be blacked out on ESPN Plus.
What is the cheapest way to get NHL games?
At $10.99 a month, ESPN Plus offers the cheapest way to catch the most NHL action. You won’t be able to follow your local team or many national broadcasts with the service, but the service is a great, affordable option for streaming NHL games
