Live 2025/26 NHL TV & Streaming Schedule

The National Hockey League (NHL) is unarguably the world's premier ice hockey league, boasting a rich history and a wide array of talented players. With the NHL season typically commencing in October and culminating in early summer with the thrilling Stanley Cup final, fans worldwide are treated to a daily dose of edge-of-your-seat action.

Keeping up with the games can be a challenge, but the solution is right at your fingertips - Livesportsontv.com provides a complete directory of TV channels and streaming options to ensure you don't miss a single moment. Use the TV schedule above and find tonight's NHL games on TV and stream.

Watching the 2025/26 NHL Season on TV and Streaming

The NHL is one of the most followed sports leagues, with its games broadcast on national and regional TV channels. It's the most followed league in Canada and is considered one of the four major sports leagues in the USA. If you're looking for a place to watch NHL live, look no further than Livesportsontv.com.

Here, you can find all games from the NHL and information about where to watch them live on TV and streams. The goal is to provide an easy-to-use service that allows you to find the right TV and streaming service for the most popular sports.

Overview of Viewing Options

If you are hoping to tune into NHL action, you will need access to some or all of the following:

• ABC
• ESPN
• NHL Network
• TNT
• ESPN+
• ESPN 2
• Hulu
• TBS
• NHL Center Ice (ESPN)

Regional Blackouts and Workarounds

Regional blackouts are the bane of any sports fan’s life, implemented to protect the local broadcast rights of regional sports networks that air games. This can, frustratingly, result in limited access to live games for fans within certain geographical regions. These are primarily in place to encourage attendance at local games and to give priority to local broadcasters, who have paid for the exclusive rights to the games. Watching these games will require access to the relevant regional sports networks (RSNs) which isn't always easy. A very useful tool to determine what is considered in-market for you is the RSN Lookup Tool by DirecTV. Enter your zip code into this to help you identify whether an out-of-market package is required.

Whilst restrictions may limit your access to certain games via your streaming or cable package, you might be able to use a robust Virtual Private Network (VPN), which encrypts your personal data, masks your IP address and allows you to slide past blackout restrictions. Proceed with caution on this route though. Whilst VPNs are very useful, some can have poor security and privacy flaws. Sticking to the big ones, such as NordVPN or Surfshark, is the best way to execute this method.

If that sounds too complicated for you, then you also have the option of finding a screen that is showing it at a local bar or friend's house, or perhaps you are lucky enough to attend the game in person.

Cable and satellite options

Platforms such as DirecTV, Cox, Dish and Verizon Fios all show NHL Network and the other channels you need. Their costs will be much higher than that of ESPN+ and NHL Center Ice, but you benefit from a much larger library of channels to choose from. Going down this route might be a good idea if you are ready to treat yourself to a much broader viewing experience.

• Cox - $61.00–$152.00 per month
• DirecTV - $69.99–$159.99 per month
• Verizon Fios - $69.00–$129.00 per month

Streaming services

There are lots of streaming options out there to choose from, giving you the major channels that you need. Unfortunately, none of them will give you access to all of the regional sports networks (RSNs) required to catch every single game, but they do all show some of them. The best streaming options are Fubo TV, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, giving you access to all the major channels you need. SlingTV is a slightly cheaper option, giving slightly less variety in channels, but all the essentials required to keep the average fan happy.

Each will have a different set of RSNs available, but none have them all. Your best bet is to flick through the offering of each one and decide which you prefer.

• fuboTV: $79.99 per month
• YouTube TV: $72.99 per month
• Hulu with Live TV: $76.99 per month
• SlingTV: $55 per month

ESPN+ & NHL Center Ice

If you truly want exposure to as many games as physically possible, then ESPN+ and NHL Center Ice are going to be your best friends. NHL Center Ice can be bolted onto most cable and satellite providers and streaming platforms, coming in at $69.99 a season. This will give you access to 1,000 out-of-market games, which is by a long way the best of any service we have mentioned here today. It also includes the NHL Network, which is a massive bonus.

There are, however, a few games that remain unavailable to even NHL Center Ice subscribers, thanks to ESPN+ getting themselves 50 exclusive matches. Upgrading to ESPN+ will not only give you access to these 50 exclusive games but also to a variety of other live sports. ESPN+ costs you $109.99 a year, giving you ultimate NHL access. You can also take on a monthly payment option and cancel it after the season finishes, costing $10.99 a month.

How to Watch the NHL for Free

The ability to watch the NHL for free will depend on your access to the correct broadcast networks via digital antennas. Some nationally televised NHL games can be watched like this, but the games might be far and few between.

To get a more consistent run of NHL action for free, you can utilize the streaming platform’s free trials by doing one after another. Platforms such as Hulu, YouTube TV or fuboTV typically offer 7-day free trials, which can be used one after another to maximize your exposure to the NHL.

PLEASE NOTE, it is very important that you remember to cancel your free trial when it ends, otherwise you will be charged, and it’s not cheap.

Diving into the History of the NHL

The NHL was founded in 1917, beginning as a national league in Canada. It was not until 1924 that the league extended its reach to the United States, shaping the NHL into the international sensation it is today.
The number of teams participating in the NHL has fluctuated over the years. The league started with only four teams, but it now showcases the talents of players from 31 teams. From 1942 to 1967, the NHL was made up of six teams, known as the "Original Six." These iconic teams include the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers.

Understanding the Current NHL Structure

The NHL teams are split into two broad conferences: the Western and Eastern Conferences. Each conference is further divided into divisions. The Eastern Conference encompasses the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, while the Central and Pacific divisions fall under the Western Conference.
An ordinary NHL season kicks off in early October and wraps up in April. The top-performing teams then advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs, where they face off in a best-of-seven games format. The Stanley Cup concludes in June, and the triumphant team is crowned.

Understanding the NHL Draft

Every year, before a new season begins, each team gets the opportunity to select new players in the NHL Draft. The selection order is determined by a combination of various performance indicators, with the worst-performing teams from the previous season getting the first pick. This structure aims to prevent any group of teams from becoming overly dominant.

Previous years' nr. 1 pick:

• 2016 – Auston Matthews
• 2017 – Nico Hischier
• 2018 – Rasmus Dahlin
• 2019 – Jack Hughes
• 2020 – Alexis Lafreniere
• 2021 – Owen Power
• 2022 – Juraj Slafkovsky
• 2023 – Connor Bedard
• 2024 – Macklin Celebrini

The Most Successful NHL Teams

Among the NHL teams, the Original Six are some of the most successful. The Montreal Canadiens stand as the most triumphant, having won a whopping 24 Stanley Cup titles. Other prominent teams include the Toronto Maple Leafs with 13 titles, the Detroit Red Wings with 11, and both the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks with 6 titles each. 1. Montreal Canadiens 24 titles 2. Toronto Maple Leafs 13 3. Detroit Red Wings 11 4. Boston Bruins 6 5. Chicago Blackhawks 6

NHL Player Records

Since its inception, the NHL has recognized a host of impressive player records. Undoubtedly, Wayne Gretzky, known as "The Great One," dominates the records. He played in the NHL from 1978 to 1999, representing the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers.

• Most games: Gordie Howe 1767
• Most goals: Wayne Gretzky 894
• Most goals in one season: Wayne Gretzky 92
• Most assist (Regular season): Wayne Gretzky 1963
• Most saves by a goaltender (Career): Martin Brodeur 28 928

NHL - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

To assist you in navigating the world of live sports broadcast information, here are some commonly asked questions:

What NHL games are on TV tonight?

Information on tonight’s NHL games on national TV and how to watch the games live can be found in the broadcast schedule above.

What channels are showing the NHL?

The NHL is broadcast live on national and regional TV channels. By using the broadcast schedule on Livesportsontv.com, you can find information on where to watch upcoming NHL games live.

Where can I find live streams for the NHL?

Every game of the NHL season will be shown on various live streaming services. To find out which airing networks are live streaming upcoming games, check out the complete hockey live streaming schedule above.

Who won the 2024/25 NHL season?

The Florida Panthers clinched the Stanley Cup 2025 after battling against the Oilers in the final series.

Finally, we would like to thank you for using our service and say that we are proud to deliver the most up-to-date and correct TV and stream schedule. Do not miss out on any upcoming hockey game and follow us on our social media channels (Facebook & Twitter) for interesting updates.