How to Watch the Boston Bruins

By Jim Kimble / Published October 4, 2023

NHL fans can watch Boston Bruins games without a cable TV or satellite subscription.

Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM are the only two live TV streaming services that carry NESN and other key hockey channels, including ESPN, TNT, and local broadcast channels such as ABC.

You can watch a majority of in-market and out-of-market games live on ESPN+, which costs $10.99 per month.

You can jump down to the summary of how to watch Boston Bruins without cable, check out the 2023-24 schedule or read through all your options.

• What TV Channel is the Boston Bruins game on?
• How to Watch Boston Bruins
  • ESPN+
  • DIRECTV STREAM
  • fubo
• NESN 360
• 2023 Boston Bruins Schedule
• Where to Watch Boston Bruins games

The Boston Bruins, founded in 1924, are one of the NHL’s original six teams. They have captured the Stanley Cup six times in their storied history, with championship wins in 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, and 2011.

What TV Channel is the Boston Bruins game on?

The majority of Bruins games this season will air locally on NESN. The Bruins have 15 games that will be national broadcasts with games on ESPN, ABC and TNT. 

ESPN+ now has the streaming rights to out-of-market games. So Boston Bruins fans living outside of the local market can watch games for $10.99 per month. You can also add an ESPN+ subscription to your Hulu account, but it costs the same.

Regional sports networks have been undergoing major changes through either consolidations, shuddering completely or undergoing bankruptcy proceedings. NESN is among the few regional sports networks that remain on solid footing. 

Sling costs $40 per month when you sign up for either the Orange or Blue plan.

How to Watch Boston Bruins

TV	IN-MARKET	OUT-OF-MARKET
NESN	YES	NO
ABC	YES	YES
ESPN	YES	YES
NHL Network	YES	YES
ESPN+	NO	YES

All you need to start watching the Boston Bruins without cable is a Smart TV or streaming device. 

Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire Stick or Apple TV all support major streaming services. Smart TVs by Samsung, Sony Bravia, Vizio and LG support most live TV streaming services as well. Game consoles including XBox and PlayStation support watching live TV.

If you are a sports fan or cord-cutter in search of your ideal streaming service that has Blackhawks home games, chances are you want other sports channels too.

NFL Network, FS1, ESPN2, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, NBA TV, and Golf Channel cover some of the most popular live sports programming on cable. Thanks to a wave of cord-cutting, you don’t need cable for these networks anymore.

You can get local broadcast networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX as well.

Some of these services have a free trial that lasts a week without any obligation. Just remember to cancel before the trial ends if you decide that the streaming service isn’t for you.

You just need to look over the channel lineups for each streaming service, and pick the one that best fits your needs. If you don’t like a service, no worries. Unlike cable TV or satellite services, there are no contracts. You can just cancel online whenever you want.

ESPN+

If you live outside the Boston Bruins TV market, ESPN+ is the cheapest option for watching their games without cable.

A subscription is $10.99 per month. 

Keep in mind, these NHL games are out-of-market, not ones that are carried on ESPN’s flagship channel that you watch with a cable or satellite TV plan.

That said, there are a number of NHL games on ESPN+ that are simulcasts from ESPN. 

Throughout the 2023-24 season, NHL Power Play on ESPN+ offers access to over 1,050 out-of-market games. Replays of every NHL regular season and playoff game on ABC, ESPN, NHL Network, and TNT are also available on NHL Power Play on ESPN+.

ESPN+ live streams NHL games, out-of-market Major League Baseball games, UFC fights, tennis and top rank boxing. There are hundreds of college basketball and football games aired throughout the year.

ESPN+ has a number of original programs and is now the home for the 30 for 30 library.

You just need a streaming device connected to your TV that has the ESPN app. Log in to your ESPN+ account within the ESPN app and you’re ready to go.

ESPN+ works on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, PS4, Samsung Smart TVs, and Chromecast.

If you’re not watching on a TV, you can use an iPhone (with current iOS), Android smartphone, and web browsers too.

Once you sign up for an ESPN+ subscription, you can activate your account on the ESPN app. Unlike cable or satellite subscriptions, there are no contracts, and you can easily cancel online if the service isn’t for you.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) has NESN in the three of its plans. 

ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, and FS1 are included in the channel lineup.  

The Choice package has a wide selection of 40 regional sports channels, including regional NBC Sports and local channels such as ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. You get unlimited Cloud DVR and unlimited simultaneous streams within your household.  

Choice subscribers get more than 105 channels for $99.99 per month. You can get $10 off for the first three months of service. DIRECTV STREAM has a 5-day free trial.

The Ultimate package has more than 140 channels, including locals, and sports channels such as NHL Network. The Ultimate package is $109.99 per month.

The Premier Package has over 150 channels, including premium channels such as Max, Cinemax and Showtime. A subscription is $154.99 per month.

Subscribers to Entertainment, Choice or Ultimate can get three months of Max, Showtime, Cinemax and MGM+ for free before the monthly rates kick in.

All subscribers get unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows.

You can watch live TV on unlimited screens within your home. 

DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. You can use apps on supported Smart TVs running on Google TV and Android TV. Subscriptions run month to month and so you can cancel whenever you want.

You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.

fubo

Fubo (formerly fuboTV) has all the channels you will need to watch the Boston Bruins all season long.

There are three plans with NESN, fubo Pro, Elite and Premium. 

The Pro channel package has 170 channels, including news, entertainment and local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations. 

Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV, Pac-12 Networks and local CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX stations are part of the Pro bundle.

There are entertainment channels like A&E, Bravo, FX, two Hallmark channels and National Geographic. The Weather Channel and FOX News are among 152 channels in its lineup.

A subscription costs $74.99 per month. There’s a free trial for new customers. 

There is 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and you don’t even need to rely on that to record games. fubo has “lookback”, an on-demand feature for sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours.

The Elite plan is $84.99 per month, and has 65 more sports, news and entertainment channels. The Premier plan has 231 channels, including Showtime, for $94.99 per month

Subscribers can watch live TV on three screens at once.

fubo adds a regional sports fee. It costs $10.99 per month for one regional network. It’s $13.99 per month if you have two RSNs in your area. You can look over fubo’s channels to see what locals and regional sports networks are available in your area.

If you own a 4K TV, then take note: fubo is the only streaming service that live streams select sporting events in 4K HDR.

fubo has its own app for live streaming on Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire Sticks, Apple TV and Android TV devices like NVIDIA Shield TV. You can also live stream NBC Sports Chicago on your iPhone and Android smartphone using the fubo mobile app.

NESN 360

NESN 360 is a standalone streaming service that lets you watch live Boston Bruins games without cable or satellite service. 

Bruins fans pay $29.99 per month, or $329.99 annually. 

The service launched on June 1, 2022. I signed up for it right away to test it out. You can read about my experience testing out NESN 360 if you are thinking about signing up.

NESN 360 has more than Red Sox and Bruins games. A number of other New England teams are on NESN 360, including the Worcester Red Sox, Hockey East, ACC, and Connecticut Sun. 

Aside from providing a live NESN stream, NESN 360 has highlights, game recaps, full episodes of originals, and new exclusive shows.

The service currently works on Roku, Apple TV, iOS and Android. NESN 360 supports streaming in 4K HDR video quality on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV devices and Google TV 4K devices.

2023 Boston Bruins Schedule

• Oct 11, 2023 – 7:30 PM EDT vs Chicago Blackhawks (TV: TNT)
• Oct 14, 2023 – 7:00 PM EDT vs Nashville Predators (TV: NESN, BSSO)
• Oct 19, 2023 – 10:30 PM EDT at San Jose Sharks (TV: NESN, NBCSCA)
• Oct 21, 2023 – 10:30 PM EDT at Los Angeles Kings (TV: NESN, BSW)
• Oct 22, 2023 – 8:39 PM EDT at Anaheim Ducks (TV: NESN, BSSC, BSSD)
• Oct 24, 2023 – 8:30 PM EDT at Chicago Blackhawks (TV: ESPN, ESPN+)
• Oct 26, 2023 – 7:00 PM EDT vs Anaheim Ducks (TV: NESN, BSSC, BSSD)
• Oct 28, 2023 – 7:00 PM EDT vs Detroit Red Wings (TV: NESN, BSDETX)
• Oct 30, 2023 – 7:00 PM EDT vs Florida Panthers (TV: NESN)
• Nov 2, 2023 – 7:30 PM EDT vs Toronto Maple Leafs (TV: ESPN+, HULU)
• Nov 4, 2023 – 7:00 PM EDT at Detroit Red Wings (TV: NESN, BSDET)
• Nov 6, 2023 – 8:00 PM EST at Dallas Stars (TV: NESN, BSSWX)
• Nov 9, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs New York Islanders (TV: NESN, MSGSN)
• Nov 11, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST at Montreal Canadiens (TV: NESN)
• Nov 14, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST at Buffalo Sabres (TV: MSG-B, NESN)
• Nov 18, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs Montreal Canadiens (TV: NESN)
• Nov 20, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST at Tampa Bay Lightning (TV: NESN)
• Nov 22, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST at Florida Panthers (TV: TNT)
• Nov 24, 2023 – 1:00 PM EST vs Detroit Red Wings (TV: NESN, BSDET)
• Nov 25, 2023 – 1:00 PM EST at New York Rangers (TV: MSG, NESN)
• Nov 27, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST at Columbus Blue Jackets (TV: NESN, BSOH)
• Nov 30, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs San Jose Sharks (TV: NESN, NBCSCA)
• Dec 2, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs Toronto Maple Leafs (TV: NESN)
• Dec 3, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs Columbus Blue Jackets (TV: NESN, BSOH)
• Dec 7, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs Buffalo Sabres (TV: MSG-B, NESN)
• Dec 9, 2023 – 1:00 PM EST vs Arizona Coyotes (TV: NESN)
• Dec 13, 2023 – 7:30 PM EST at New Jersey Devils (TV: MSGSN)
• Dec 15, 2023 – 7:30 PM EST at New York Rangers (TV: NESN, MSGSN)
• Dec 16, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs New York Islanders (TV: MSG, NESN)
• Dec 19, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs Minnesota Wild (TV: NESN, BSN, BSWIX)
• Dec 22, 2023 – 8:00 PM EST at Winnipeg Jets (TV: NESN)
• Dec 23, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST at Minnesota Wild (TV: NESN, BSN, BSWI)
• Dec 27, 2023 – 7:30 PM EST at Buffalo Sabres
• Dec 30, 2023 – 7:00 PM EST vs New Jersey Devils (TV: NESN, MSGSN)
• Dec 31, 2023 – 5:00 PM EST at Detroit Red Wings (TV: NESN, BSDET)
• Jan 2, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST at Columbus Blue Jackets (TV: NESN, BSOH)
• Jan 4, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Pittsburgh Penguins
• Jan 6, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Tampa Bay Lightning (TV: NESN)
• Jan 8, 2024 – 9:00 PM EST at Colorado Avalanche (TV: ALT, NESN)
• Jan 9, 2024 – 9:00 PM EST at Arizona Coyotes (TV: NESN)
• Jan 11, 2024 – 10:00 PM EST at Vegas Golden Knights (TV: NESN, SCRIPPS)
• Jan 13, 2024 – 8:00 PM EST at St. Louis Blues (TV: NESN, BSMW)
• Jan 15, 2024 – 1:00 PM EST vs New Jersey Devils (TV: NESN, MSGSN)
• Jan 18, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Colorado Avalanche (TV: ALT, NESN)
• Jan 20, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Montréal Canadiens (TV: NESN)
• Jan 22, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Winnipeg Jets (TV: NESN)
• Jan 24, 2024 – 7:30 PM EST at New Jersey Devils (TV: MSGSN, NESN)
• Jan 25, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST at Ottawa Senators (TV: NESN)
• Jan 27, 2024 – 12:30 PM EST at Philadelphia Flyers (TV: NESN, NBCSP)
• Feb 6, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Calgary Flames (TV: NESN)
• Feb 8, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Vancouver Canucks (TV: NESN)
• Feb 10, 2024 – 3:30 PM EST vs Washington Capitals
• Feb 13, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Tampa Bay Lightning (TV: NESN)
• Feb 15, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Seattle Kraken (TV: NESN, ROOT-NW)
• Feb 17, 2024 – 12:30 PM EST vs Los Angeles Kings (TV: NESN, BSW)
• Feb 19, 2024 – 1:00 PM EST vs Dallas Stars (TV: NESN, BSSW)
• Feb 21, 2024 – 10:00 PM EST at Edmonton Oilers
• Feb 22, 2024 – 9:00 PM EST at Calgary Flames (TV: NESN)
• Feb 24, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST at Vancouver Canucks (TV: NESN)
• Feb 26, 2024 – 10:00 PM EST at Seattle Kraken (TV: NESN, ROOT-NW)
• Feb 29, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Vegas Golden Knights (TV: NESN, SCRIPPS)
• Mar 2, 2024 – 7:30 PM EST at New York Rangers (TV: NESN, MSGSN)
• Mar 4, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST at Toronto Maple Leafs (TV: NESN)
• Mar 5, 2024 – 7:30 PM EST vs Edmonton Oilers
• Mar 7, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST vs Toronto Maple Leafs (TV: NESN)
• Mar 9, 2024 – 3:00 PM EST vs Pittsburgh Penguins
• Mar 11, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT vs St. Louis Blues (TV: NESN, BSMW)
• Mar 14, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT at Montréal Canadiens (TV: NESN)
• Mar 16, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT vs Philadelphia Flyers (TV: NESN, NBCSP+)
• Mar 19, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT vs Ottawa Senators (TV: NESN)
• Mar 21, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT vs New York Islanders (TV: NESN, MSG 2)
• Mar 23, 2024 – 1:00 PM EDT at Philadelphia Flyers (TV: NESN, NBCSP)
• Mar 26, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT at Florida Panthers (TV: NESN)
• Mar 27, 2024 – 7:30 PM EDT at Tampa Bay Lightning
• Mar 30, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT at Washington Capitals (TV: NESN, MNMT)
• Apr 2, 2024 – 8:00 PM EDT at Nashville Predators (TV: NESN, BSSO)
• Apr 4, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT at Carolina Hurricanes (TV: NESN, BSSO)
• Apr 6, 2024 – 3:30 PM EDT vs Florida Panthers (TV: ESPN+, ABC)
• Apr 9, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT vs Carolina Hurricanes (TV: NESN, BSSO)
• Apr 13, 2024 – 8:00 PM EDT at Pittsburgh Penguins (TV: ESPN+, ABC)
• Apr 15, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT at Washington Capitals (TV: NESN, MNMT)
• Apr 16, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT vs Ottawa Senators (TV: NESN)

Where to Watch Boston Bruins games

Hulu Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV and DIRECTV STREAM all carry NESN, which airs in-market games. These four streaming services also stream TNT, ESPN and ABC.

Out of those four services, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM and YouTube TV offer a free trial.

ESPN+ has out-of-market games for $10.99 per month. You can sign up for ESPN+ and start streaming live through the ESPN app.

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.