How to Stream Live NHL Games Without Cable

Live Stream NHL on NBCSN or FOX regional sports networks

Streaming live NHL games on a Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV is pretty easy.

You don’t need to rely on a cable TV or satellite provider to watch your favorite team thanks to a number of streaming options.

The two cheapest options to consider for the 2021 season is Sling TV and/or ESPN+.

Sling TV carries regional NBCSN sports networks in its Blue bundle, which has 47 channels for $30 per month.

Subscribers get 10 hours of Cloud DVR for recordings. And you can get NHL Network through the Sports Extra bundle for another $10 per month. 

Sling TV does carry local NBC stations in a small number of markets.

Sling’s Sports Extra package has about 15 channels. Sports Extra includes NFL RedZone, NBA TV, NHL Network, SEC Network, PAC 12 Network, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, Longhorn Network, beIN Sports, MLB Network, SEC Network Plus, ESPNU, ESPNews, Tennis Channel, MLB Strike Zone and Outside TV. 

Sling TV has a free 3-day trial for new customers. If you prepay for two months, you can get a free streaming device.

ESPN+ streams live NHL games daily

A cheaper option than Sling TV is ESPN+ for $5.99 per month. ESPN+ has one to two live games per day, and up to 14 per week.

Once you sign up for ESPN+ online, you can activate your subscription through the ESPN app and start watching from there. 

So if you have a Samsung Smart TV or Roku with the ESPN app on it, then you’re halfway through setting up your ESPN+ subscription. 

Regional sports channels are generally the most important ones to have for the NHL season. And this year is no different. But you may need to go beyond Sling TV or ESPN+ to follow your favorite team. So I’ll try to outline some more (expensive) choices below.

What’s different this season?

The National Hockey League has a shortened season due to COVID-19. Each team will play 56 games. The season runs from January 13 to May 8.

The NHL has reworked the divisions to be North, West, Central and East because of health concerns and a desire to limit travel. 

There will be an all Canadian division (North) for the first time ever. That is expected to set off some new rivalries.

Watch NHL Hockey on NBC for free

NBC will remain an important channel for some games this season. You can watch those games for free and in crisp high definition by using a TV antenna. 

Just head over the Antennas Direct free web tool, punch in your zip code and see if there are broadcast towers within 40 or so miles.

If you don’t have a TV antenna handy for NBC coverage, read my guides: How to Choose the Best Antenna & DVR for more tips. 

fuboTV: Comprehensive NHL coverage

fuboTV has the most complete NHL coverage this year. 

It carries regional NBCSN sports networks, local NBC stations and smaller RSNs such as MSG Network, MSG+ and NESN. 

Fubo’s family plan includes more than 100+ channels. You get 250 hours of Cloud DVR for recordings. 

ESPN, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, FS1 and Golf Channel are among the dozens of sports channels. A&E, HGTV, Investigation Discovery and TLC are included on the entertainment front. 

A subscription to the Family plan costs $64.99 per month. 

You can look over the local channel lineup before trying out the service free for a week. 

There are no contracts or hidden fees like cable TV. fuboTV works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick or Cube, Google Chromecast with Google TV, Smart TVs and Apple TV.

Can I watch NHL games on Hulu?

Hulu with Live TV has NBCSN networks and local NBC stations across the U.S.

A subscription has 65+ live TV channels, including ESPN, TNT, TBS and CBS Sports Networks. A subscription costs $64.99 per month. 

CNN, FS1, HGTV, FX, National Geographic, SyFy and USA are also part of the Hulu channel lineup. NHL Network or FOX regional sports channels are not carried by Hulu. 

You can stream NHL games or whatever else you want on up to two devices at once.

Hulu works on pretty much every streaming device, including Roku, Fire TV and even Android smartphones and iPhones. Subscribers can activate about 38 apps.

Subscribers to Hulu’s Live TV bundle also get unlimited access to the on-demand service that people pay $5.99 and up per month for. 

So you’re essentially getting two services for the same price as many competitors. Look over the local and regional sports channels you can get with Hulu. 

You can sign up for a free 7-day trial even if you already subscribe to Hulu on-demand.

Watch NHL Online with AT&T TV

AT&T TV is the only live TV streaming service that currently carries FOX Regional Sports Networks 

The Choice plan has 90+ channels bundle, including FOX regional sports networks, local channels, ESPN and NBA TV. It does not carry NHL Network.  

A subscription includes HBO Max free for a year. But it also remains one of the higher priced services out there at $84.99 per month. 

The good news is that AT&T TV just began offering a no contract option. So you can go month-to-month. You have the flexibility to pick up the service just for the NHL season and decide whether to keep it later. 

AT&T TV works with all major streaming devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV.

Stream NHL without cable on YouTube TV

YouTube TV carries 85+ channels including NBCSN along with local ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX stations. 

New customers offers a free 7-day trial and works on Roku, smartphones, Apple TV, Fire TV devices and Google Chromecast with Google TV.

What’s the best way to watch NHL Online?

There are a lot of options out there to stream NHL games without a cable subscription, so let’s do a quick recap and narrow your choices.

Sling TV is the cheapest option if you need a regional NBCSN sports network for most of your games. A subscription to the Sling Blue bundle is $30 per month. And you can add NHL Network for another $10 per month. That’s still the cheapest option out there for watching NHL games without a cable TV subscription. 

Sling TV has a free three day trial with no obligations. You can get a free streaming device if you prepay for a brief subscription. 

ESPN+ is best for a casual hockey fan. The streaming service costs only $5.99 per month and shows one to two live games per day within the ESPN app. You can watch In the Crease, an exclusive NHL show that has comprehensive highlights and analysis by Barry Melrose. 

Subscribers also get live soccer, college basketball, UFC matches and the full 30 for 30 library. You can sign up for ESPN+ online, and then activate it on a Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick or Apple TV. 

fuboTV has the most widespread coverage when it comes to regional sports networks.

Hard-to-get networks are on fuboTV including NESN for Boston Bruins games, and MSG Network and MSG+ for New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres.

fuboTV works on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, PCs, Android TV, iPhones, tablets and smartphones. You’ll get 250 hours of Cloud DVR and 100+ live channels. A subscription is $64.99 per month.

You can look over what local channels and regional sports channels are in your area. fuboTV has a free 7-day trial.  

For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.