How to Stream NHL Games Without Cable (2026-27)
DIRECTV STREAM covers the most NHL games; Hulu + Live TV is close behind and also carries the 47 streaming-exclusive games.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure
Who airs what: NHL packages in 2026-27
Game counts from the NHL's 2026-27 national TV announcement. The ESPN and TNT deals run through 2027-28.
| Game window / package | Network | Streaming access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 games incl. 16 ABC Saturday games from January 16; first three playoff rounds | ESPN / ABC | ESPN app (ESPN Unlimited), YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Orange, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM | ABC games also in the ESPN app |
| 47 streaming-exclusive games | ESPN+ / Hulu / Disney+ | ESPN app, Hulu + Live TV, Disney+ | Not on YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo, or DIRECTV STREAM |
| 72 games, Winter Classic (Dec 31, Utah vs. Colorado), 2027 Stanley Cup Final | TNT Sports (TNT, TBS, truTV) | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling (both plans), DIRECTV STREAM; HBO Max | Not on Fubo (no Warner Bros. Discovery networks) |
| Out-of-market games (1,050+) | NHL Power Play | ESPN app for ESPN direct-to-consumer subscribers | Blacks out in-market and national games |
| Out-of-market games (linear) | NHL Network | Sling Sports Extra, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM (Ultimate and MySports) | Not on YouTube TV; Hulu + Live TV unconfirmed |
| Local games | RSNs and team streaming | Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM (Choice and up); select markets on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV; FanDuel via Prime Video Channels in select markets | Not on Sling TV; varies by market |
Source: docs/research/channel-sports-availability.md and nhl.com, verified Oct 12, 2026.
Services that carry NHL games, ranked
Ordered by packages reached, then by starting price. Every service is "partial" because the Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery halves never live on one streaming-only service.
-
Nearly every channel, at a cable-like price
- Deepest channel lineup, up to 185+
- Regional sports plus ESPN and TNT
- 5-day free trial, unlimited at-home streams
Highest price; regional sports fee up to $19.99
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$74.99/moMySports genre pack; ENTERTAINMENT $89.99
Best cable-like channel lineup
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Live TV plus three on-demand libraries in one plan
- 95+ live channels with locals, ESPN, TNT
- Includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select
- Unlimited cloud DVR
2 streams unless you add $9.99/mo
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- On-Demand
- No Contract
From$99.99/moWith ads, rate effective Oct 21, 2026; $109.99 Premium
Best bundle: live TV plus Disney+ and ESPN
Editorial scoreVery good7.4/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
The best all-around cable replacement
- 100+ channels incl. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN
- Unlimited cloud DVR, 3 streams
- Intro offer: $59.99/mo for 2 months
$82.99/mo after the intro period
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$82.99/moBase Plan; promo $59.99 for 2 months for new members
Best live TV overall
Editorial scoreExcellent8.0/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Built for fans who need their regional sports network
- Most regional sports networks of any streamer
- Up to 10 streams, unlimited DVR, 4K events
- Free trial usually offered
No TNT or TBS; regional sports fee extra
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- 4K
- Free Trial
From$55.99/moSports tier; Pro $88.99 plus regional sports fee
Best for regional sports networks and soccer
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Live TV for less, if you can skip CBS
- Lowest-priced major live TV service
- Orange: ESPN, TNT; Blue: FS1, NFL Network
- No contract; cheap add-on packs
No CBS; 1 stream on Orange; 50-hour DVR
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- No Contract
From$45.99/moOrange or Blue; $60.99 for both
Best budget live TV
Editorial scoreVery good7.1/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
The family catalog, with flexible bundles
- Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Nat Geo
- Bundles with Hulu and ESPN available
- Premium adds 4K and 4 streams
No free trial; price rises every October
- On-Demand
- 4K
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$12.49/moWith ads; $21.49 Premium (no ads, 4K)
Best for families
Editorial scoreVery good7.9/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
A strong bonus if you already pay for Prime
- Included with Amazon Prime membership
- Thursday Night Football and NBA games
- 30-day Prime trial for new members
Ad-free and 4K need the $4.99 Ultra add-on
- On-Demand
- Sports
- Free Trial
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moPrime Video alone; included with $14.99 Prime
Best if you already pay for Prime
Editorial scoreVery good7.3/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
Key facts
- Rights holders: ESPN/ABC, ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+, TNT Sports, NHL Network.
- 47 streaming-only games are not in any ESPN live TV plan except Hulu + Live TV.
- Fubo has no TNT: no Winter Classic or 2027 Stanley Cup Final.
- NHL Power Play blacks out in-market and national games.
- NHL Network needs DIRECTV STREAM Ultimate or Sling Sports Extra; not on YouTube TV.
- Trials: DIRECTV STREAM 5 days; Fubo usually 5 to 7; YouTube TV varies; Hulu + Live TV short, sometimes; Amazon Prime 30 days; none for Disney+ or Sling.
NHL broadcast rights and viewing restrictions
- The 2021 U.S. deals split national games between Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery and alternate the Stanley Cup Final; 2027 belongs to TNT.
- Disney's 2026-27 share: 100 exclusive games (53 on ESPN and ABC, 47 streaming-only on ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+) plus the first three playoff rounds.
- TNT Sports: 72 regular-season games, the Winter Classic on December 31, and the Final; every TNT game also streams on HBO Max.
- The 47 streaming-only games need the ESPN app (ESPN Unlimited includes ESPN+), Hulu, or Disney+. Disney+ has no linear ESPN channel, so it covers only that slice.
Live TV bundles vs. streaming-only subscriptions
- YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling (both plans), and DIRECTV STREAM cover the 125 games on ESPN, ABC, and TNT. Only Hulu + Live TV adds the 47 exclusives.
- Fubo subscribers get ESPN, ABC, NHL Network, and RSNs but need HBO Max (not ranked) for TNT.
- ESPN Unlimited covers all 100 Disney games plus Power Play; HBO Max covers TNT. Together they reach the national schedule with no bundle, but no local games.
- See live TV vs. on-demand for DVR and stream trade-offs.
Local, out-of-market, and blackout rules
- NHL Power Play: 1,050+ out-of-market games in the ESPN app for ESPN direct-to-consumer subscribers; blacks out your local team and national games.
- NHL Network: Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM Ultimate and MySports, Sling Sports Extra. Not on YouTube TV; absent from the 2026 Hulu + Live TV lineups we checked.
- RSNs: Fubo (FanDuel and NBC Sports, fee on Pro); DIRECTV STREAM (Choice and up, not MySports); YouTube TV (NBC Sports only); Hulu + Live TV limited; Sling none. Several teams sell their own streams; FanDuel is on Prime Video Channels in select markets.
Pricing comparison
Lowest recurring monthly price, verified Oct 12, 2026. NHL Network on DIRECTV STREAM needs Ultimate, RSNs need Choice, both with fees; Sling needs Orange plus Sports Extra.
| Service | Starting price | NHL coverage from our research |
|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM | $74.99/mo | ESPN, ABC, TNT, NHL Network (Ultimate), RSNs (Choice and up) |
| Hulu + Live TV | $99.99/mo | ESPN, ABC, TNT, and the 47 exclusives via Hulu |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo | ESPN, ABC, TNT; no NHL Network; exclusives need the ESPN app or Disney+ |
| Fubo | $55.99/mo | ESPN, ABC, NHL Network, RSNs; no TNT |
| Sling TV | $45.99/mo | ESPN (Orange), TNT (both plans), NHL Network via Sports Extra |
| Disney+ | $12.49/mo | 47 streaming-exclusive games only |
| Prime Video | $8.99/mo | FanDuel Sports Network add-on in select markets only |
See the comparison table and the household cost guide for a two-service hockey setup.
Compatible devices
- All seven services run on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Samsung and LG TVs, phones, and browsers.
- No PlayStation app for Sling TV, Fubo, or DIRECTV STREAM; DIRECTV STREAM also lacks Xbox. Disney+ and Prime Video work on both consoles.
- Details: device compatibility.
Provider comparisons for hockey fans
- DIRECTV STREAM: ESPN, TNT, most RSNs; unlimited DVR and home streams; five-day trial. Cons: most expensive, fee on Choice and up; NHL Network needs Ultimate. Review.
- Hulu + Live TV: ESPN, ABC, TNT plus the 47 exclusives; Disney+ and ESPN Select included; unlimited DVR. Cons: two streams; expensive; NHL Network unconfirmed. Review.
- YouTube TV: ESPN, ABC, TNT; unlimited DVR; three streams. Cons: no NHL Network; few RSNs; exclusives need another service; $82.99/mo after intro. Review.
- Fubo: most RSNs; NHL Network; up to ten home streams; select 4K. Cons: no TNT (72 games, Winter Classic, 2027 Final missing); regional sports fee. Review.
- Sling TV: lowest base price; TNT on both plans; ESPN on Orange. Cons: one stream on Orange; NHL Network add-on; no RSNs; 50 hours DVR. Review.
- Disney+ and Prime Video: Disney+ is the cheapest way to the 47 exclusives but has no other hockey; Prime Video's only role is the FanDuel add-on. Reviews: Disney+, Prime Video.
NHL streaming FAQ
Which service covers the most NHL games?
DIRECTV STREAM has the broadest lineup (ESPN, ABC, TNT, NHL Network, RSNs). Hulu + Live TV adds the 47 exclusives, so it reaches every national game without a second app.
Does a live TV subscription include the ESPN+ games?
Only Hulu + Live TV. YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM subscribers need the ESPN app or Disney+ for those 47 games.
Where is the 2027 Stanley Cup Final?
On TNT (HBO Max, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, DIRECTV STREAM). Not on Fubo.
Can I watch my local team with NHL Power Play?
No. Power Play blacks out in-market and national games; use the RSN, the team's service, or a live TV provider with the RSN.
Is NHL Network on YouTube TV?
No, per the January 2026 lineup. It is on Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM (Ultimate and MySports), and Sling Sports Extra; Hulu + Live TV is unconfirmed.
Methodology and sources
Rights facts come from docs/research/channel-sports-availability.md and carriage.json, verified Oct 12, 2026; prices render from our dated evidence store. Sources: nhl.com (2026-27 national TV schedule), cordcuttersnews.com (NHL streaming breakdown and YouTube TV lineup), tvguide.com (Sling and Fubo lineups), cloudwards.net (Hulu + Live TV lineup), compareinternethub.com (DIRECTV STREAM), thedesk.net (FanDuel Sports Network on Prime Video), and cabletv.com (Fubo RSNs). Sports rights change; claims on this page expire on January 10, 2027 and are re-verified before republishing. Ordering follows How We Rank with coverage breadth applied first.
We are an independent publisher, not affiliated with the NHL, any network, or any streaming service. Editorial policy.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure