The 2024-25 NHL season is scheduled to start on Friday, October 4 with the Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils in what is the first of two games in Prague, Czech Republic, as part of the NHL Global Series. With 1,312 games to be played, there’s plenty of action for you to watch online, and you can do so without cable.
Traveling abroad may mean you encounter geo-blocking due to copyright and licensing restrictions. Furthermore, NHL blackouts may mean you can’t watch some games even if you’re in the US or Canada. However, you can bypass such issues with the help of a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
We’re only recommending official sources for watching the NHL. While there will be unlicensed streams, it can be a challenge to find them. Even if you do, they’re likely to be of poor quality with low-resolution video and excessive lag. Some will even be taken offline by the copyright holder. By sticking with official sources, you’ll get the highest quality streams without the performance issues or security risks.
If you want to watch NHL games online while traveling abroad, you’ll need a VPN. This allows you to access region-locked content and continue watching via your favorite home streaming services.
How to watch NHL games live online with a VPN
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it to a server in your preferred location. For example, you can live stream NHL games online by connecting to a server in the US, since this gets you an American IP address and tricks services into thinking you’re in the US.
Here’s how you can live stream NHL games abroad using a VPN:
- Sign up with a reputable VPN provider. We recommend NordVPN although Surfshark and IPVanish are reliable and affordable alternatives.
- Download and install one of the VPN apps (or browser extensions). This should be for the device on which you plan to watch NHL games live online.
- Log in to the VPN app and connect to a server in the country of the TV platform or streaming service you plan to use. This may be in the US, for example.
- Now you can navigate to the website or service in question. All of its content should now be unblocked and available to watch in your location.
- Still having trouble? Try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies. Another option is to connect to another server in case your current IP address has been blacklisted.
2024–25 NHL games will air live. It’s for this reason that we encourage you to test your VPN with your chosen platform in advance. That way, you’ll have time to get in touch with your VPN’s customer support if you need any further guidance.
How to watch all NHL games online (without cable) on US TV
In the US, NHL broadcasting rights continue to be shared by ESPN and TNT. Of course, the easiest way to watch is if you have a cable TV subscription. You can then simply sign in via their respective apps using your cable TV credentials and start streaming at no extra cost.
ESPN’s streaming service, ESPN+, offers coverage of out-of-market games and select national games. It costs USD $10.99 a month or $109.99 a year though it’s also possible to bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu (both with ads) for $14.99 a month.
Another way to watch without a cable TV subscription is via select TV streaming services:
- FuboTV: Includes ESPN and NHL Network ($79.99/month)
- Hulu + Live TV: Includes ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT ($76.99/month)
- Sling TV (Orange): ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT ($40/month)
- YouTube TV: ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT ($72.99/month)
Sling TV is by far the most affordable option and, for an extra $11 a month for the Sports Extra add-on, you can get extra channels including NHL Network. Some of the above TV streaming services occasionally run free trials for new customers too.
Fortunately, there are a few other streaming options available in the US. In particular, there’s NHL Network. This is available as an optional add-on with Sling TV ($11/month).
All of the above options are region-locked and only available in the US. However, you can bypass the geographic restrictions by connecting to a US-based VPN server and getting a US IP address. NordVPN has strong unblocking and nearly 2,000 US servers in over a dozen cities. Better still, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. As such, you can try it out risk-free. If you decide it’s not for you, you can request a refund for your money back.
Where else can I watch NHL games online without cable?
Canada
The main way to watch NHL games in Canada is via Sportsnet and TSN. The former covers national and regional NHL games while the latter covers regional games for the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Winnipeg Jets. Although you’ll need a cable subscription to watch Sportsnet and TSN, both offer streaming services which allow you to stream NHL games online without a cable TV subscription.
Sportsnet+ has two plans: Standard and Premium. Standard included in-market regional and national games and costs CAD $19.99 a month or $179.99 a year. Premium adds 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games and costs $34.99/month or $249.99/year. TSN+ is priced at $19.99/month or $199.90/year.
Any streaming options in Canada will be subject to geographic restrictions. This means you’ll need to connect to a VPN server in Canada and have a Canadian IP address to watch their content from abroad.
UK
Viaplay (formerly Premier Sports) is home to NHL in the UK. This will show every match from the 2024-25 NHL season. If you’re already a Sky or Virgin Media customer, you can add Viaplay to your subscription. However, it’s also available via Amazon Prime. A Prime subscription costs £8.99 a month and then you can add Viaplay for a further £14.99/month. Alternatively, there’s NHL.TV (more on this later).
Note that whether you’re watching Viaplay via Sky, Virgin, or Amazon Prime, they’re only available in the UK. By connecting to a UK server, you can get a UK IP address and stream the content from anywhere.
Australia
If you’re in Australia, your best bet is NHL.TV or to sign up with a service that receives broadcasts via ESPN. Note that this will only provide you with access to a handful of games per season. If this is still of interest, it’s worth taking a look at Foxtel Now ($25 AUD/month + $29/month extra for Sports pack) and Kayo Sports ($25/month).
If you’re traveling abroad, you’ll need an Australian IP address to watch their content online. You can get one by connecting to a VPN server in any Australian city.
Worldwide
In most countries, there’s the option to watch every NHL game on NHL.TV. This includes the UK and Australia but not the US or Canada. Prices vary by country but are roughly USD $15 a month. It shows all regular season and playoff games live as well as on-demand. If you do happen to travel to a country in which NHL.TV isn’t available, you’ll need to use a VPN to change your IP address to continue streaming.
How can I bypass NHL blackouts?
While we often recommend VPNs for accessing geo-restricted content while traveling abroad, you may find that you need one even if you’re already in the US or Canada. That’s because NHL blackouts often mean that you’re unable to watch some games from within your region. However, connecting to a server in another state allows to bypass the blackouts and watch the games without restriction.
What should I know about the 2024–25 NHL season?
The 108th season of the National Hockey League, 2024-25 sees big changes with the Arizona Coyotes having been deactivated, and Utah Hockey Club taking its place. There’s still 32 teams who’ll each play 82 games. That’s some 1,312 games for ice hockey fans to look forward to this season.
The regular season kicks off with the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils facing off for two games in Prague, Czech Republic on October 4 and 5. The Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers will play two games in Tampere, Finland on November 1 and 2.
Who is the favorite to win the 2024-25 NHL season?
The Edmonton Oilers are the current favorites to win the 2025 Stanley Cup. The Oilers were defeated four games to three by the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. Indeed, the Florida Panthers are close runners-up in the betting odds. Other teams expected to do well and at least reach the playoffs include the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes, both of whom were involved in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.
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