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After 20 years since the last time the team won the Stanley Cup, the Carolina Hurricanes
return for a new season as champions. Although the Canes are at the top of league, 31 other teams, namely the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche and others, are looking win the Stanley Cup Trophy for themselves in the 2026-2027 NHL season. The road to the Stanley Cup Finals start on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
For the regular season, NHL games are spread across seven networks, such as ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, truTV and NHL Network, as well as streaming services, like ESPN Unlimited and HBO Max. If you want to catch games, there are a number of ways to watch online. Check out a complete NHL regular season schedule here.
With the start of a new season, it’s likely matches may features a few of celebrities in attendance to support their favorite teams, like Toronto Maple Leafs-fan Justin Bieber, Vegas Golden Knights-fan Lil Jon, Ottawa Senators-fan Avril Lavigne, L.A. Kings-fan Will Ferrell, Utah Mammoth-fan Benson Boone and others.
And with the pop culture phenomenon that is “Heated Rivalry” this year, hockey is more popular than ever. The wide appeal of the TV series might translate to more eyeballs for games throughout the season, especially since the season two of the drama comes out in early in 2027.
And speaking of the NHL, you don’t have to miss any of the action on the ice this season. You can access out-of-market games on your TV with one of these many affordable TV antennas, and all the NHL games are available to stream online on a variety of platforms, such as DirecTV, Fubo,Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and others. All of these services (with the exception of Sling) offer free trials that you can use to livestream NHL games online for free.
How to Watch NHL Online: Livestream Hockey Games Without Cable
DirecTV
DirecTV’s “Entertainment” Package is one of the best ways for cable-cutters to access live sports and TV from home. Starting at $59.99/month for the three first months ($89.99/month afterward), you get access to more than 90 channels. For the NHL, you’ll get access to games broadcasting on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, truTV and NHL Network.
Sling TV
Sling is one of the best options for affordable live streaming with the Sling Orange + Blue package going for $69.99/month. The package includes ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS and truTV. NHL fans can add the Sports Extra package to their plan for an additional $11/month to get access to the NHL Network. Please note: Pricing and channel availability are subject to your local TV market.
Fubo
Starting at $63.99 for the first month ($88.99/month afterward), Fubo is one of the best options for streaming NHL games because it’s the most comprehensive. The service features all seven networks that broadcast games, including ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, truTV and NHL Network. It even has more than 230 live TV channels for cable-free streaming. The streamer offers a 5-day free trial to try out the service before you commit.
Hulu + Live TV
Starting at $49.99 for the first month of service ($99.99/month), Hulu + Live TV is a great option for live channel streaming NHL games with access to ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, truTV and NHL Network, along with more than 100 other channels, as well as access to hit originals on Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited — which features a few NHL games.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN Unlimited includes everything ESPN has to offer, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN on ABC, ESPN Deportes, SECN, ACCN, SECN+, ACCNX and ESPN+. It includes live NHL games, as part of its service. You’ll get access to other sports leagues, like UFC, F1, MLB, NHL, La Liga and others. ESPN Unlimited goes for $31.99/month.
HBO Max
While HBO Max doesn’t offer a free trial, the streaming service starts at $10.99/month for the ad-supported plan. To go ad-free, prices jump up to $18.49/month, or $22.99/month for ad-free programming in 4K Ultra HD. However, you can also get HBO Max bundle with Hulu and Disney+ starting at $21.99/month.
Sign up to watch “NHL on TNT Sports” online, along with other TV shows, like “The Pitt,” “Heated Rivalry,” “House of the Dragon,” “Euphoria,” “Hacks,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and hit movies, like “One Battle After Another,” “The Drama,” “Sinners” and others. You can access live sports for pro leagues, like MLB, NASCAR and MotoGP.
