The regular NHL season begins at 5:30pm ET on Tuesday, October 10th with a match-up between the Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The game will air on both ESPN and ESPN+ simultaneously, but there are several different ways to stream NHL games this season.
ESPN+ is an essential add-on for this season, because it will broadcast 75 regular season games exclusively. ESPN+ also gives NHL fans access to many out-of-market games.
This year, ABC, ESPN, TNT and the NHL Network will air games exclusively, so it's best to pair your ESPN+ subscription with another streaming service if you don’t want to miss anything. Replays of all the NHL games can be viewed on ESPN+ 24 hours after the live stream ends.
How much does ESPN+ cost?
ESPN+ is a subscription streaming service that you can buy as a standalone service, or pair with another subscription streaming service, like Sling TV or DirecTV Stream.
Why subscribe to ESPN+?
ESPN+ is an essential add-on this year to stream NHL games. At an inexpensive monthly cost, ESPN+ is a great way to get your hockey fix this season. There are quite a few incentives for you to subscribe to ESPN+ as an NHL fan.
- 75 games will be exclusively broadcast on ESPN+ and Hulu.
- Stream all ABC coverage through ESPN+, including the Stanley Cup and All-Star Games.
- Over 1,000 out-of-market national games will be available to stream on ESPN+ this season.
ABC will air 10 exclusive games this season, all of which can be streamed live through ESPN+. The 2024 NHL All-Star game will air on ABC, as well as All-Star Weekend and both Stadium Series games.
In 2024, the Stanley Cup will stream on ABC and ESPN, and you can watch on ESPN+, too.
ESPN+ for out-of-market games
Out-of-market games are included in your ESPN+ subscription at no additional cost, with no regional sports network subscriptions required. Over 1,000 out-of-market games will air on ESPN+ in the 2023-2024 season. There are some local blackout rules to be aware of. This is important to note if you live in the area where your favorite team plays.
If you don’t mind waiting to stream the games that air on the NHL Network and TNT, ESPN+ will post replays of all NHL games within 24 hours after the end of the live stream. The same rule applies for any blacked-out local games. If you can avoid spoilers on the internet and don’t mind being out of the loop, getting a subscription for ESPN+ without another streaming service will save you a lot of cash each month.
Why should I pair ESPN+ with another streaming service?
ESPN+ can work on its own if you don’t mind missing local games and waiting to watch the games that air on TNT and the NHL Network until the next day. However, most devoted hockey fans want to watch the action live. That’s why it’s best to pair your ESPN+ subscription with another streaming service.
Our recommendations are Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo or YouTube TV. You can read our complete recommendations here, and find a breakdown of the costs, pros and cons of all these options.
Lisa Holden • Editor
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself. She began working as an editor for Flixed in 2023. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.
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