The 2022 Stanley Cup Finals have arrived, and the Colorado Avalanche will battle the Tampa Bay Lightning in what should be an intense and thrilling series. After a controversial Game 4 loss, the Lightning rebounded and kept their title hopes alive with a 3-2 overtime victory on Friday night. Colorado remains one victory away from its first Stanley Cup title since 2001.
If the Lightning intend on winning their third straight title, they’ll need to defeat Nathan MacKinnon and a resilient Avalanche team. MacKinnon and the Avalanche have home-ice advantage against Steven Stamkos and the Lightning. Tampa Bay is trying to become the first team since the 1980-84 New York Islanders to win three consecutive NHL championships.
Read on to learn how to live stream the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Stream the Stanley Cup Finals free on CBC
Price: Free
CBC is one of the official NHL broadcasters in Canada, and is broadcasting all Conference Final games along with the Stanley Cup Finals. Best of all, it’s completely FREE. Be sure to check CBC’s hockey schedule to know when to tune in. Signing up is painless.
To watch NHL streams live on the CBC:
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server location in Canada.
- Go to CBC Gem and sign up. (You may need to enter a valid Canadian postal code, e.g., R3T 4A7, V1M 1Y8.)
- You’re all set!
How to stream the NHL playoffs on ESPN+ with a VPN
ESPN+ is your go-to source for watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs no matter where you are, on any device. That’s because it’s the most comprehensive option available, offering each and every NHL game at a reasonable price—as well as a number of other live sports.
Price: 7 USD/month or 70 USD/season
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a U.S. server location.
- Visit ESPN+ and sign up.
- Stream without any blackouts!
Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, be sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
Stream NHL playoff games using services with free trials
There are a number of streaming services, such as Sling TV and YouTube TV, that will help you get your hockey fix as they include NHL broadcasters like ESPN and ABC (which will broadcast some Finals games). While they are on the pricier end, the upside is that they offer free trials. This helps you safely and securely test the service risk-free to see if it works for you. Just follow these steps and select your preferred cord-cutting service:
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server location in the U.S.
- Go to Sling TV Orange (35 USD/month) or YouTube TV (65 USD/month) and use a free trial.
- Tune in and enjoy!
Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, be sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
Sling TV
Price: 35 USD/month and up
Sling TV is the cheapest and best option for catching NHL games live. You may need a U.S. credit card or PayPal to subscribe. A three-day free trial is available through its app.
YouTube TV
Price: 65 USD/month and up
YouTube TV includes all the channels you need to watch the NHL. A five-day free trial is available.
Note: You may need a valid U.S. credit/debit card or PayPal to subscribe to YouTube TV. You can still subscribe to YouTube TV via Google Play, even if you don’t have a U.S. credit/debit card.
Hulu + Live TV
Price: 70 USD/month
Hulu does not offer a free trial, but its live TV package includes seven channels for secure NHL streams.
2022 Stanley Cup Finals schedule
Make sure you fire up your VPN to securely live stream the Stanley Cup Finals.
The 2022 NBA Finals officially begin Wednesday, June 15, and will run through Tuesday, June 28 if the series lasts for seven games. The series could end as early as Wednesday, June 22, if either team pulls off a 4-game sweep.
| Game | Location | Date | Time | Final |
| 1 | Denver, CO | Wednesday, June 15 | 8 p.m. EDT | COL 4, TAM 3 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | Saturday, June 18 | 8 p.m. EDT | COL 7, TAM 0 |
| 3 | Tampa, FL | Monday, June 20 | 8 p.m. EDT | TAM 6, COL 2 |
| 4 | Tampa, FL | Wednesday, June 22 | 8 p.m. EDT | COL 3, TAM 2 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | Friday, June 24 | 8 p.m. EDT | TAM 3, COL 2 |
| 6 | Tampa, FL | Sunday, June 26 | 8 p.m. EDT | |
| 7* | Denver, CO | Tuesday, June 28 | 8 p.m. EDT |
*If necessary
Who’s going to win the Stanley Cup Finals?
The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals to upend the plucky New York Rangers. Out west, the Colorado Avalanche swept Connor McDavid and a talented Edmonton Oilers team.
Here are FiveThirtyEight’s championship probabilities:
| Team | Championship Probability |
| Colorado Avalanche | 79% |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 21% |
NHL Awards races picks
Hart Trophy (MVP): Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
With the Oilers clinching a playoff spot and McDavid atop the points leaders, the 25-year-old is back in the driver’s seat. The Canadian center is simply a wizard with the puck on his stick—he’s set a new career record with 43 goals and counting—and is possibly the most dynamic skater in the sport to boot. Every season he’s healthy McDavid is a threat to put another Hart Trophy on his shelf.
Finalists: Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs); Connor McDavid; Igor Shesterkin [Preseason prediction: Connor McDavid]
Norris Trophy (Top defenseman): Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Although Makar has missed some time, when he’s been on the ice there’s been no defenseman capable of matching his contribution. The 23-year-old trails only Nashville’s Roman Josi as the top scoring blue liner, and he doesn’t sacrifice defensive responsibility to be such an offensive force.
Finalists: Viktor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning); Roman Josi (Nashville Predators); Cale Makar [Preseason prediction: Cale Makar]
Vezina Trophy (Top goaltender): Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers
Shesterkin’s statistical case for this award is beyond reproach as he tops the NHL in both goals against average and save percentage. The young Russian’s ascent has been one of the biggest reasons the Rangers have arrived ahead of schedule, and if he keeps up his current pace no one will want to face New York come playoff time.
Finalists: Jacob Markstrom (Calgary Flames); Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators); Igor Shesterkin [Preseason prediction: Connor Hellebuyck]
Calder Trophy (Top rookie): Mortiz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
Although his teammate Lucas Raymond has put up more points, Seider’s all-around contribution can’t be ignored. The 21-year-old is skating approximately two more minutes per night than any other rookie, and looking like a foundational blueliner for the Red Wings. The young german is a poised defender, fine passer, and major contributor on special teams.
Finalists: Michael Bunting (Toronto Maple Leafs); Moritz Seider; Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks) [Preseason prediction: Cole Caufield]
Jack Adams Award (Top coach): Gerard Gallant, New York Rangers
This one will take a while to shake out, but the Rangers look like a breakout team that could shatter expectations, and that’s exactly the type of club whose coach often takes home the Jack Adams. Gallant is also a great coach in his own right. The 58-year-old has found success in multiple situations and was at the helm of the Vegas Golden Knights’ improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in their first year.
[Preseason prediction: Barry Trotz]Key dates for the 2021-2022 NHL season
| Event | Date(s) |
| Opening Night | October 12, 2021 |
| Winter Classic | January 1, 2022 |
| NHL All-Star Game | February 4-5, 2022 |
| Olympic Break | February 7-22, 2022 |
| End of Regular Season | April 29, 2022 |
| Stanley Cup Playoffs | May 2 – June 28, 2022 |
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