When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The hockey season may be coming to a close, but the NHL Playoffs are just getting started. The first round kicks off this weekend. Keep reading to learn how to watch the NHL Playoffs and when your favorite team will play in the tournament.
The Playoffs started on Saturday with an Islanders vs. Hurricanes game, followed by Maple Leafs vs. Bruins. The Panthers currently lead the Atlantic Division, while the Rangers helm the Metropolitan League. Both teams will hit the ice on Sunday. The first round is played out of the best of seven games, so this portion of the tournament will go to at least the end of April if not early May.
If you're a cord-cutter who still wants to tune in live, we've got you covered. We'll recommend a couple of helpful live TV packages as a streaming alternative to cable and tell you what channel every game streams on.
How to watch NHL Playoffs in the US
The NHL Playoffs will air across the ESPN and Turner Network family of channels, meaning you'll need access to ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, and truTV to catch all games of the tournament. If you don't have cable, you'll need to try out a live TV package like Sling TV or Hulu + Live TV to access all the games.
For Sling TV, you'll need to go with the Sling Orange plan to get access to ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and TBS (most games are simulcast on TBS and truTV, so it should be fine if you're missing one). Sling plans start at $40 a month.
When it comes to Hulu + Live TV, subscriptions start at $76.99. You'll get ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, and truTV. Although this is the more expensive option, the bundle comes with ESPN+, Disney+, and regular Hulu.
If you don't mind missing the ESPN games, you can catch all of the TNT, TBS, and truTV games live with a subscription to Max. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 a month and have live sports options thanks to the service's B/R Sports Add-on. The add-on is currently free with subscriptions, but it will eventually cost an additional $9.99 monthly.
How to watch NHL Playoffs from anywhere
For hockey fans traveling outside the US during the NHL Playoffs, you can keep up with the aforementioned subscriptions using a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are easy ways to alter your device's virtual location (plus, they're handy ways to boost your internet privacy). This recommendation is mainly for Americans who are just abroad at the moment and looking to use their existing subscriptions, as the live TV services we've highlighted today require US forms of payment.
Interested in trying out a VPN? Our go-to suggestion is ExpressVPN, a straightforward VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want to learn more, take a look at our ExpressVPN review and keep reading to see how to use it.
How to watch NHL Playoffs with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don't already have one.
- Install it on the device you're planning to watch on.
- Turn it on and set it to a US location.
- Sign up for a live TV streaming service mentioned above with a US form of payment.
- Navigate to the correct channel or page and enjoy the show.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
