The 2026-2027 NHL season starts in September for the first time, and the streaming mess that comes with it is mostly familiar territory — except for a few price deals that might ease the pain.
Hockey season opens Sept. 29 with five matchups, including one between the Florida Panthers and last season’s Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes. The regular season runs through April 10, 2027, with each team playing 84 games instead of 82.
What Channels Are NHL Games On?
The ESPN/ESPN2/ABC family of networks, the TNT/truTV/TBS family of networks, the NHL Network, and regional sports networks all carry live games for cable subscribers. Without cable, a viewer must instead subscribe to at least one streaming service.
Nationally broadcast games will be on ESPN’s family of networks, TNT’s family of networks, or ESPN+ (now ESPN Select). The breakdown:
- ESPN+ broadcasts: Stream with ESPN Select, Hulu, or Disney+
- TNT broadcasts: Stream on HBO Max
- ESPN broadcasts: Stream with ESPN Unlimited
- ABC broadcasts: Stream with ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited
National Broadcasts Only Cover A Fraction Of Games
The vast majority of broadcasts land on regional sports networks (RSNs), which frequently provide their own streaming plans or partner with Prime Video for distribution. Not every RSN has a streaming alternative, however.
The NHL website sets forth which RSN you require for your local team, alongside its FAQs section, and that remains the most direct route to these networks.
Out-Of-Market Games Are Actually Cheaper To Watch
Practically all regional broadcasts for teams outside your local market are streamed by ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+), which makes following an out-of-market team cheaper and easier than watching in-market.
A fan in Nashville who supports the Washington Capitals can view every local Capitals broadcast through ESPN Select, though Nashville Predators games remain unavailable. National broadcasts continue to need ABC, ESPN, and TNT.
Which Streaming Services Do You Need?
First, determine which regional sports network covers your local team. The RSN’s own streaming subscription tends to be the best option for seeing the largest number of games, since it delivers the widest selection of content.
You need a cable replacement such as Fubo or DirecTV Stream if your provider does not carry the network, and both of those services come with a price tag. NHL Network broadcasts certain regional games throughout the season outside of local markets.
Two main services cover nationally broadcast games: HBO Max and ESPN. The Standard plan on HBO Max gets you all TNT broadcasts, and ESPN Unlimited opens up ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+ exclusive games.
A streaming version of NHL Network does not exist. Anyone without cable access must instead turn to a cable replacement service that carries sports, such as Sling TV or Fubo.
The Best Deals To Watch NHL Games
A great deal of sports streaming demands numerous subscriptions, though some packages don’t cost an arm and a leg. Several offers exist to help you save this season.
The ESPN Unlimited yearly plan offers a savings of 16%, which makes it the best choice for those who want to watch games across ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+.
ESPN began offering its own direct-to-consumer streaming service last summer, bundling the complete set of ESPN channels and services into a single subscription. The standard monthly price sits at $29.99, though locking in for a full year instead cuts the cost by roughly 16% or close to $60.
The yearly plan covers far more than NHL games alone, which makes it worthwhile for anyone following several sports.
What Has Changed Since Last Season
The streaming landscape has stayed largely the same since last season. If you don’t have cable access, you will still need multiple streaming subscriptions to cover what you want to watch.
The season starts earlier, the game count is up to 84, and the blackout rules remain as complicated as ever. But the core streaming structure — national broadcasts on ESPN+, TNT, and ABC, with RSNs scattered across Prime Video, Hulu, Disney, and HBO Max — stays the same.
The Bottom Line On Watching Live Hockey
Without cable, keeping up with live sports grows harder every year, and hockey is included in that trend. The streaming disorder largely repeats what happened last season, though there are a few price deals on offer now to ease the strain.
There are deals available, and the ESPN Unlimited yearly subscription offers savings of nearly $60 compared to what you would otherwise pay.
The situation with RSNs is still a mess, and not every network has a streaming version to match it.
The best way to catch every game this season is simple: start with the NHL website, then sign up for the RSN your team uses, and add ESPN Unlimited for the nationals. After that, the cable alternatives are all you can hope will last until the season ends.
September brings the start of the season, with games arriving thick and fast. The streaming may be wild, but the deals are genuine, and that matters.
Fast Facts
- NHL season starts in September for the first time
- Five matchups open the season on Sept. 29
- Each team plays 84 games
- Regional broadcasts vary by RSN, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney, and HBO Max
- ESPN Unlimited yearly plan saves about 16%
- Cable alternatives like Sling TV and Fubo required for NHL Network games
See the video the story is built around at Mashable.
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