Live Stream 2024 Hockey Tournament
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The hockey season may be coming to a close, but the NHL Playoffs are just getting started. The first round will kick 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 will start 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.
Sling TV Subscription
For just the essentials without any extra fluff, Sling TV is the streaming service you’re looking for. It’s more customizable than other plans, with three options you can choose from, so you pay for only what you need. New members get their first month for $10 off.
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.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV includes over 90 channels, along with Hulu’s on-demand library and access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Adding live TV drives up the price significantly, but it’s a rolling one-month contract that you’re free to cancel at any time. As live TV services go, though, this is one of the best.
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.
Max with ads (Monthly Plan)
Formerly HBO Max, now just Max, this streaming service is the US home of premium content from HBO and Warner Bros. Since the rebranding, it’s now also the home of Discovery content for reality, food, true crime, and more. Prices start at $10 a month for ad-supported, $16 for ad-free, and $20 if you want to view in 4K.
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.
