Desk of Contents
The perfect streaming offers to observe the Stanley Cup Playoffs at a look:
BEST INTRODUCTORY OFFER
YouTube TV
5-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months
(save $46)
It is probably the most fantastic — and traumatic — time of yr for hockey followers: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The primary spherical of the 2025 NHL playoffs kicked off in mid-April after a record-breaking yr (actually). After a historic twentieth season within the NHL, Alex Ovechkin is now the best purpose scorer of all time, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s file that many thought was unbreakable. To not point out, the Washington Capitals as a complete have had an incredible season — falling solely to the Winnipeg Jets within the standings.
In fact, as hockey followers know, something can occur within the NHL playoffs. If you wish to witness the joy (and frustration) of playoff hockey dwell, this is every thing it’s good to know.
When do the Stanley Cup playoffs begin?
The primary spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs kicked off on April 19 with a matchup between the St. Louis Blues and No. 1 seed Winnipeg Jets. Groups usually play each different day, with video games scheduled by way of Might 4 if needed. The dates for the second spherical, third spherical (convention finals), and Stanley Cup closing will depend upon how the primary sequence pans out. The ultimate will happen no later June 23. You may try the full schedule on the official NHL web site.
What channels are the NHL playoffs on?
If in case you have cable or entry to a cable login, dwell video games will air on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and TNT/truTV/TBS household of networks all through the postseason. Every sequence shouldn’t be strictly designated to at least one broadcaster — for instance, video games in a sequence may air on TNT, ABC, and ESPN inside the identical week.
Try the official playoffs schedule on NHL.com to search out out which channel to tune into for particular video games.
How can I watch the Stanley Cup playoffs with out cable?
Here is the place issues get difficult. If you do not have cable entry or a cable login, you will want at the very least one streaming service to catch all of the playoff video games dwell. To look at video games that air on the TNT household of networks, you possibly can both tune in by way of the Max app or through a dwell TV streaming supplier like Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Dwell TV. You’ll catch a fraction of the video games that air dwell on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 by way of ESPN+, however positively not all of them. As a substitute, you will want a paid TV supplier (both cable or dwell TV streaming through YouTube TV, Sling TV, and many others.).
For die-hard hockey followers who cannot fathom lacking a dwell recreation, your finest guess is to subscribe to a dwell TV streaming service. You will get probably the most bang in your buck, regardless of the price being a bit larger.
Totally different from cable, dwell TV streamers rely on the web and give you a dwell channel lineup and not using a month-to-month contract. You may cancel any time it not fits you — no strings connected. These companies aren’t low-cost, however many provide introductory charges and are nonetheless usually extra reasonably priced than a month-to-month cable invoice. Plus, you get your cash’s value with entry to dwell and native channels spanning information, sports activities, and leisure. It will serve you lengthy after a crew is awarded the coveted Stanley Cup, do you have to select to maintain your subscription.
Here is a breakdown of the very best companies and streaming offers to observe the Stanley Cup playoffs dwell.
Finest for TNT, TBS, and truTV video games: Max yearly plan
By way of Might 7, you possibly can save $30 on a yearly Max Normal plan, dropping the price down to simply $139.99 per yr or $11.67 monthly. That is about 32% in financial savings in comparison with paying for the month-to-month plan. A Max Normal subscription contains the B/R Sports activities add-on, which incorporates entry to the NHL on TNT video games (and simulcast TBS and truTV video games). In fact, this solely covers about half of the postseason, so you will nonetheless want one other technique to tune into ESPN and ABC broadcasts. Additionally word that after your preliminary discounted yr is up, the value will revert to the standard annual plan payment, which is $169.99.
Mashable Offers
Essentially the most video games for the bottom worth: Sling TV Orange plan
Sling TV’s Orange plan is your finest guess to observe probably the most postseason NHL video games for the bottom worth. The Orange plan contains entry to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and TBS, plus 30 different channels. Whereas that does not embrace ABC, most ABC NHL video games are additionally out there by way of ESPN3, so you will be all set. Sling subscriptions are a la carte, so you possibly can add to and take away out of your plan with no worries and cancel or pause your subscription at any time. The Orange plan prices $46 monthly, however new customers can slash 50% off their first month, knocking it down to simply $26.
Finest introductory provide: YouTube TV
We’re massive followers of YouTube TV’s huge 100+ channel lineup, which incorporates all the networks you will have to tune into the Stanley Cup playoffs dwell. Alternatively, we’re not the largest followers of the $82.99 monthly price. Thankfully, by way of July 31, new customers can enroll with a killer introductory provide. Kick off your subscription with a five-day trial, then pay simply $59.99 monthly in your first two months — lengthy sufficient to final by way of the Stanley Cup closing. After your introductory interval, the value will revert to $82.99, so make sure you cancel forward of that.
Honorable mentions:
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Fubo TV (no TNT or TBS) — 7-day free trial, then $54.99 for first month
$84.99 monthly(save $30) -
Hulu + Dwell TV (all networks) — 3-day trial, then $82.99 monthly
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ESPN+ (choose video games) — $11.99/month or as a part of $16.99/month Disney+ bundle
Can I watch the NHL playoffs without cost?
Penny pinchers can watch at the very least a part of the postseason without cost by using free trials. You will should be extraordinarily strategic to get probably the most out of it, however we’ll depart all the small print as much as you. Listed here are your choices.
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YouTube TV at the moment provides a free 20-minute preview, then a free five-day trial. To unlock the trial, you will should enter your bank card info. After your 5 days are up (you possibly can regulate how a lot time you have got left), you possibly can both cancel or pay $59.99 monthly in your first two months — that is $46 in financial savings.
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You too can unlock a free seven-day trial by way of Fubo TV, then cancel earlier than you get charged $54.99 for the primary month. The one draw back is that fuboTV does not offer you entry to TNT networks.
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Hulu + Dwell TV provides you one other three days without cost if you enroll. Simply make sure you cancel earlier than the three days are as much as keep away from that steep $82.99 monthly payment.
That is a grand whole of 15 days of free dwell NHL video games. For those who plan accordingly, you possibly can watch a reasonably large chunk of the Stanley Cup playoffs without cost.
