The Short Answer
You can watch every nationally televised NHL game — including the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs — without cable. The NHL's broadcast rights are split between ESPN/ABC (Disney) and Turner Sports (TNT, TBS, truTV). A combination of ESPN+ and Max covers all national games for around $30/month, or YouTube TV covers everything in one bundle for $73/month.
Where Each Network's Games Stream
| Network | Streaming Option | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN / ABC | ESPN+ or YouTube TV / Hulu Live | $11/mo or $73/mo |
| TNT / TBS / truTV | Max (with Live TV add-on) or YouTube TV | $30/mo or $73/mo |
| ESPN+ | ESPN+ (standalone) | $11/mo |
| NHL Network | fuboTV or Sling (Sports Extra add-on) | $83/mo or $51/mo |
The Best Setup for Most People
Option A — Best Value ($30/mo): ESPN+ ($11/mo) + Max with Live TV add-on ($20/mo). This covers every ESPN, ABC, TNT, TBS, and truTV game — which is every nationally broadcast NHL game and every Stanley Cup Playoff game. No cable required.
Option B — One Bundle ($73/mo): YouTube TV includes ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, and truTV. This is the simplest option — one bill, one app, everything covered. Add ESPN+ for $11/mo to get the full ESPN+ exclusive game slate.
Option C — Budget ($51/mo): Sling Orange + Blue with Sports Extra add-on. Covers ESPN, TNT, TBS, truTV, and NHL Network. Missing CBS and NBC, but those rarely carry NHL games outside of special events.
Watching the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are currently in the Second Round. All remaining games broadcast nationally on ESPN, ABC, TNT, TBS, and truTV — every one of which is streamable without cable. The Stanley Cup Finals, when they begin, will air on TNT and truTV, both available on Max and YouTube TV.
Key streaming options for the playoffs specifically:
- Max with Live TV: Streams all TNT, TBS, and truTV playoff games live. The most direct option for Turner's playoff coverage.
- ESPN+ / Hulu: Streams all ESPN and ABC playoff games live.
- YouTube TV: Covers both Turner and ESPN/ABC games in one app — the easiest all-in-one solution for the playoffs.
Local Team Games (RSNs)
Local NHL games — your home team's non-nationally-broadcast games — air on regional sports networks (RSNs) like Bally Sports, NBCS Regional, or MSG. These are the hardest part of cord-cutting for NHL fans.
Your options for local games:
- DirecTV Stream — the only major streaming service that still carries most Bally Sports RSNs. Starts at $80/mo.
- NHL.tv / ESPN+ — streams out-of-market games only. Local games are blacked out.
- Your team's app — some franchises offer direct streaming. Check your team's official website for current options.
During the playoffs, blackout restrictions are largely lifted for nationally broadcast games, so most playoff games are available on the services listed above regardless of your location.
Free Options
Unlike the NFL, the NHL has very limited free-to-air coverage. ABC carries a small number of games per season, which means an indoor antenna can pick up those specific broadcasts in most metro areas. For the playoffs, ABC typically airs select games in each round — check the schedule to see which games are on ABC before subscribing to anything.
How GridCast Helps
GridCast shows every NHL game on today's schedule — including all Stanley Cup Playoff games — with the exact streaming service for each game, updated in real time. Instead of checking multiple apps to find tonight's game, open GridCast, tap the NHL tab, and tap the badge to go directly to the stream.