Fall is here, meaning it's time for ice hockey to return to our screens. The 2024-2025 NHL regular season kicked off on October 8, and we've compiled everything you need to know about how to watch NHL games, including cable and live streaming options.
The Florida Panthers closed out the 2023-2024 regular season with a bang, taking home the Stanley Cup in Game 7 of the Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers helped kick off the season with a banner-raising home game against the Boston Bruins, which the Florida reigning champs won 6-4.
Each team will play 82 games this season, so the schedule is shaping up to be absolutely stacked. Nationally broadcast games are spread across several networks, including multiple Disney and Warner Bros.-owned options, so it can get a bit tricky to figure out how to watch everything, especially since there are now streaming-exclusive games. Fortunately, we've combed through all the viewing options to highlight the best and most affordable ways to watch.
Keep reading to learn how to tune in to every nationally broadcast NHL game of the 2024-2025 season. Plus, we'll show you how to watch from anywhere if you happen to be traveling away from home, so you never have to worry about missing out on any of the action.
How to watch NHL games in the US
Nationally broadcast NHL games will air on ABC, ESPN, TNT/TBS, and ESPN+ this season. Most (but not all) ESPN and ABC games will be available to live stream through ESPN+. There will also be some exclusive streaming service-only games on ESPN+, which you can also watch through Hulu.
ESPN+ costs $10.99/month, although its subscription price will increase to $11.99/month in mid-October. It's one of the cheaper hockey-friendly streaming services out there and will grant you access to several games this season, including those streaming exclusive ones we mentioned above. An annual subscription costs $109.99/year and will also see a price hike in mid-October, so it's not a bad idea to lock into a yearlong plan now if you see yourself hanging onto ESPN+ for the foreseeable future.
ESPN Plus is designed for sports, giving subscribers access to live MLB, NHL, NFL, soccer, golf, and UFC fights. You can pay $12 monthly or go for an annual deal, which saves you about $20 a year. There's also a bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus, which offers an even better discount.
Sling TV is another relatively affordable month-to-month streaming service that will give you access to all the ESPN and TBS/TNT games this season. You'll need to subscribe to Sling Orange to access all of these options; it also comes with 32 other live channels. Subscriptions start at $40/month, but Sling is always running an introductory offer that will give you at least half off your first month of service.
Sling TV offers some of the best cable channels for $61 or less. There are three different tiers to choose from, plus several sports and entertainment-specific add-ons, but the Orange + Blue combo is the best way to get the most major sports channels. Plus, you can usually get about half off your first month.
ESPN+ will cover you for several Disney-owned games, but if you're looking to just access Warner Bros. games like those on TBS and TNT, you'll need to turn to Max. Max is HBO's streaming counterpart, but it recently branched into live sports with the B/R Sports Add-on, which live streams games from TNT, TBS, and truTV. Subscriptions for Max start at $9.99/month for the ad-supported tier, and the B/R Sports Add-on currently comes free with every plan. This will eventually end up costing an additional fee each month, but right now, there is no specific end in sight for the promo.
Max is a premium service for fans of prestige television, iconic films, and unscripted programs like Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Succession, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and more. The ad-supported tier is $9.99 a month, but you can upgrade to ad-free for $16.99 or view your programming in 4K for $20.99.
If you have no existing cable, antenna, or streaming services, and your main focus is NHL games, Hulu + Live TV is a one-stop shop. The month-to-month live TV package offers 95+ live channels, including ABC, TNT, and ESPN. All subscriptions are bundled with ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu on-demand, so you can catch the exclusive ESPN+ games. Plans start at $76.99/month and the service offers a three-day free trial.
Hulu + Live TV includes over 90 channels, along with Hulu's on-demand library and access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Adding live TV drives up the price significantly, but it's a rolling one-month contract that you're free to cancel at any time. As live TV services go, this is one of the best.
Another one of our top month-to-month live TV picks is DirecTV Stream. The service offers ABC, ESPN, TNT/TBS, and 90+ other live channels for $86.99/month. The service offers a five-day free trial and has some savings opportunities when signing up for long-term contracts, but you can also just subscribe to the month-to-month plan we've mentioned above if you're looking for something that you can cancel anytime.
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV Stream offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
Select regional games will also be broadcast through the NHL Network. You can live stream the NHLN through all of the above options by either getting Sling's Sports Extra add-on ($11/month), upgrading to Fubo Elite with Sports Plus ($100/month), or upgrading to DirecTV Stream Ultimate ($110/month).
How to watch NHL games from anywhere
If you'll be traveling away from home during any notable games, you can still access your subscriptions with the help of a VPN. VPNs, short for virtual private networks, are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable you, among other things, to change your device's virtual location. This way, you can keep up with all of your usual websites, apps, and subscriptions from almost anywhere in the world, just like you would if you were back home.
If you don't already have a VPN, we recommend giving ExpressVPN a try. It's user-friendly, even if you're a beginner, and has a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. You can check out our ExpressVPN review for more information.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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