Watch 2023 NHL hockey games without cable

The road to the Stanley Cup Playoffs rages on and the 2022-23 NHL season’s second half is underway. Although the Colorado Avalanche opened the campaign as favorites to repeat as champions, any road to a party with Lord Stanley’s Cup will likely need to go through All-Star goalie Linus Ullmark and the Boston Bruins. The Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Tampa Bay Lightning headline the list of other aspiring title contenders.

Whether you’re looking to stream NHL games for free, find the best way to watch on ESPN+, or test cord-cutting services that include NHL action with a VPN, you’ve come to the right place.

On this page, you can find information on how to watch the league you love, plus who looks like a good bet to win the Stanley Cup.

How to watch NHL 2022-23 games with a VPN

You can stream NHL games in just a few simple steps:

1. Get ExpressVPN.
2. Connect to the server location that matches the broadcaster you want to watch. For example, connect to a Toronto server to watch the free CBC stream.
3. Check the schedule of the broadcaster you want to watch, such as CBC, and find the match you want to stream.
4. Tune in to games!

Live stream NHL 2022-23 games for free

CBC

Price: Free

CBC is one of the official NHL broadcasters in Canada. Signing up is painless, although you may need a valid Canadian postal code ( e.g., R3T 4A7, V1M 1Y8.) to connect to CBC Gem. Note that you can also watch the 2023 All-Star Game live on CBC.

To watch NHL streams live for free on CBC:

1. Get ExpressVPN.
2. Connect to a secure VPN server in Canada.
3. Visit https://gem.cbc.ca/ to sign up or log in, and check CBC’s schedule to know when to tune in.
4. Log in and enjoy the games!

Stream NHL games live on ESPN+

ESPN+ is your go-to source for watching the NHL, 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. Just connect to one of ExpressVPN’s United States servers before signing up.

Price: 10 USD/month or 100 USD/season

Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, be sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

NHL Blackout Restrictions on NHL.tv and ESPN+

ESPN+ Blackouts (U.S. only)

Games broadcast on local television in your area are subject to ESPN+ blackouts, as are some national broadcasts. Blackouts are determined based on one’s U.S. based postal code. International customers of ESPN+ are also subject to blackouts if a game appears on an NHL partner network in your viewing area.

NHL.TV Blackouts (outside of U.S. and Canada only)

As with ESPN+, NHL.TV users are subject to blackouts if a game appears on an NHL partner network in your viewing area. Blackout restrictions may also apply based on your IP address.

Stream NHL 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 most of them 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:

1. Get ExpressVPN.
2. Connect to the server location in the United States.
3. Sign up for or log in to your preferred cord-cutting service platform.
4. Check your team’s broadcast schedule and find the game you want to stream.
5. Tune in for some puck!

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: 73 USD/month and up

YouTube TV includes all the channels you need to watch the NHL. A 14-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.

DirecTV Stream

Price: 70 USD/month and up

DirecTV Stream is on the pricier side but if you prefer a cord-cutting service over an additional streaming app, it’s the best option as the “Choice” package (90 USD/month) includes regional sports networks like NESN. DirecTV offers a 5-day free trial.

Hulu + Live TV

Price: 70 USD/month

Hulu does not offer a free trial, but its live TV package includes all the main channels for secure NHL streams as well as many regional sports networks.

2023 NHL Stanley Cup Finals odds

Will the Colorado Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions? Here are the most recent odds according to BetMGM.

2023 NHL second-half storylines

All eyes are on the Boston Bruins as they look to complete their sensational season with a Stanley Cup trophy. Here’s what other storylines we’ll be watching during the 2022-23 NHL season’s second half:

Can the Bruins break their title drought? How good have the Boston Bruins been this season? Consider that they didn’t lose consecutive games until late January. After recent disappointing seasons from the Red Sox and Patriots, one can understand why Bruins fans are begging the hockey gods to deliver the club’s first championship since 2011. First up, the Bruins look to break the single-season record for wins (62) and points (83). Not bad for a team that entered the season with 25-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup!

Empire (and Garden) State of Mind: The New Jersey Devils are all but a lock to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the New York Rangers remain on pace to earn a postseason berth yet again. Brock Nelson and the New York Islanders entered the second half still mathematically in the playoff hunt, though they’ll need consistency and help from others in the coming weeks to secure one of the final postseason spots. The 2006-07 season marked the last time the three “traditional” (sorry, Buffalo Sabres fans!) New York area teams made the playoffs in the same year.

Lose for Bedard: At least the worst NHL teams can sleep at night knowing they’ll have a chance at earning the No. 1 overall pick and selecting top center prospect Connor Bedard. As of March 27, Tankathon gave the San Jose Sharks the best odds (25.5%) of earning the 2023 NHL Draft’s top pick, with the Columbus Blue Jackets (13.5%) and Chicago Blackhawks (11.5%) not far behind. 

Ovechkin continues chasing Gretzky: Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin scored 32 goals in the season’s first half, earning All-Star status and putting him 82 behind Wayne Gretzky for the NHL record. We know Ovie won’t pass Gretzky this season, but a strong final few months could position the three-time Hart Trophy winner to stand alone at some point next season. 

What could happen in Vegas…: Remember when the Vegas Golden Knights reached the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals as a first-year expansion franchise? After narrowly missing the postseason last year, All-Star goalie Logan Thompson and teammates have resembled title contenders throughout the 2022-23 season. However, if the Golden Knights intend on making a lengthy playoff run, they’ll need veteran center Jack Eichel to remain on the ice and play his best hockey since his time in Buffalo. 

Alexander Ovechkin goal tracker

As of March 27, 2022, Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin has 822 career goals, putting him 72 behind Wayne Gretzky for the NHL all-time record. 

More about the NHL

Schedule for the 2022-2023 NHL season

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