How to watch the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs online without cable

One of the best streaming offers to look at the Stanley Cup Playoffs at a look:

BEST INTRODUCTORY OFFER

5-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months
(save $46)

It is probably the most fantastic — and annoying — time of 12 months for hockey followers: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The primary spherical of the 2025 NHL playoffs kicked off in mid-April after a record-breaking 12 months (actually). After a historic twentieth season within the NHL, Alex Ovechkin is now the best aim scorer of all time, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s document that many thought was unbreakable. To not point out, the Washington Capitals as a complete have had an incredible season — falling solely to the Winnipeg Jets within the standings.

After all, as hockey followers know, something can occur within the NHL playoffs. If you wish to witness the joy (and frustration) of playoff hockey stay, here is the whole lot you have to know.

When do the Stanley Cup playoffs begin?

The primary spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs kicked off on April 19 with a matchup between the St. Louis Blues and No. 1 seed Winnipeg Jets. Groups usually play each different day, with video games scheduled by means of Might 4 if needed. The dates for the second spherical, third spherical (convention finals), and Stanley Cup remaining will rely upon how the primary collection pans out. The ultimate will happen no later June 23. You may try the full schedule on the official NHL web site.

What channels are the NHL playoffs on?

When you’ve got cable or entry to a cable login, stay video games will air on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and TNT/truTV/TBS household of networks all through the postseason. Every collection isn’t strictly designated to at least one broadcaster — for instance, video games in a collection may air on TNT, ABC, and ESPN throughout the identical week.

Try the official playoffs schedule on NHL.com to search out out which channel to tune into for particular video games.

How can I watch the Stanley Cup playoffs with out cable?

Here is the place issues get difficult. If you do not have cable entry or a cable login, you may want a minimum of one streaming service to catch all of the playoff video games stay. To observe video games that air on the TNT household of networks, you’ll be able to both tune in by means of the Max app or through a stay TV streaming supplier like Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Reside TV. You can catch a fraction of the video games that air stay on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 by means of ESPN+, however positively not all of them. As an alternative, you may want a paid TV supplier (both cable or stay TV streaming through YouTube TV, Sling TV, and so forth.).

For die-hard hockey followers who cannot fathom lacking a stay recreation, your greatest guess is to subscribe to a stay TV streaming service. You will get probably the most bang on your buck, regardless of the fee being a bit increased.

Totally different from cable, stay TV streamers rely on the web and give you a stay channel lineup with out a month-to-month contract. You may cancel any time it not fits you — no strings connected. These providers aren’t low-cost, however many supply introductory charges and are nonetheless usually extra reasonably priced than a month-to-month cable invoice. Plus, you get your cash’s price with entry to stay and native channels spanning information, sports activities, and leisure. It’s going to serve you lengthy after a crew is awarded the coveted Stanley Cup, must you select to maintain your subscription.

Here is a breakdown of the most effective providers and streaming offers to look at the Stanley Cup playoffs stay.

Finest for TNT, TBS, and truTV video games: Max yearly plan

By way of Might 7, you’ll be able to save $30 on a yearly Max Standard plan, dropping the fee down to simply $139.99 per 12 months or $11.67 per 30 days. That is about 32% in financial savings in comparison with paying for the month-to-month plan. A Max Normal subscription contains the B/R Sports activities add-on, which incorporates entry to the NHL on TNT video games (and simulcast TBS and truTV video games). After all, this solely covers about half of the postseason, so you may nonetheless want one other technique to tune into ESPN and ABC broadcasts. Additionally word that after your preliminary discounted 12 months is up, the worth will revert to the everyday annual plan payment, which is $169.99.

Mashable Offers

Essentially the most video games for the bottom worth: Sling TV Orange plan

Sling TV’s Orange plan is your greatest guess to look at probably the most postseason NHL video games for the bottom worth. The Orange plan contains entry to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and TBS, plus 30 different channels. Whereas that does not embody ABC, most ABC NHL video games are additionally obtainable by means of ESPN3, so you may be all set. Sling subscriptions are a la carte, so you’ll be able to add to and take away out of your plan with no worries and cancel or pause your subscription at any time. The Orange plan prices $46 per 30 days, however new customers can slash 50% off their first month, knocking it down to simply $26.

Finest introductory supply: YouTube TV

YouTube TV

free 5-day trial, then $59.99/month on your first two months (save $46)

We’re large followers of YouTube TV’s large 100+ channel lineup, which incorporates all the networks you may have to tune into the Stanley Cup playoffs stay. Then again, we’re not the most important followers of the $82.99 per 30 days value. Happily, by means of July 31, new customers can enroll with a killer introductory supply. Kick off your subscription with a five-day trial, then pay simply $59.99 per 30 days on your first two months — lengthy sufficient to final by means of the Stanley Cup remaining. After your introductory interval, the worth will revert to $82.99, so you’ll want to cancel forward of that.

Honorable mentions:

Fubo TV (no TNT or TBS) — 7-day free trial, then $54.99 for first month ~~$84.99 per 30 days~~ (save $30)
Hulu + Live TV (all networks) — 3-day trial, then $82.99 per 30 days
ESPN+ (select games) — $11.99/month or as a part of $16.99/month Disney+ bundle

Can I watch the NHL playoffs totally free?

Penny pinchers can watch a minimum of a part of the postseason totally free by using free trials. You will need to be extraordinarily strategic to get probably the most out of it, however we’ll go away all the small print as much as you. Listed below are your choices.

YouTube TV at present gives a free 20-minute preview, then a free five-day trial. To unlock the trial, you may need to enter your bank card info. After your 5 days are up (you’ll be able to keep an eye on how much time you have left), you’ll be able to both cancel or pay $59.99 per 30 days on your first two months — that is $46 in financial savings.
You may also unlock a free seven-day trial by means of Fubo TV, then cancel earlier than you get charged $54.99 for the primary month. The one draw back is that fuboTV would not provide you with entry to TNT networks.
Hulu + Live TV offers you one other three days totally free whenever you enroll. Simply you’ll want to cancel earlier than the three days are as much as keep away from that steep $82.99 per 30 days payment.

That is a grand complete of 15 days of free stay NHL video games. In case you plan accordingly, you’ll be able to watch a reasonably large chunk of the Stanley Cup playoffs totally free.

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