The 2022-23 NHL season is in full swing, and the Colorado Avalanche remain eager to defend their title. Although the Avs entered the year as the odds-on favorite to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, they’re expected to face significant challenges from the always-dangerous Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and Vegas Golden Knights in the coming months.
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 the 2022-23 NHL season in just a few simple steps:
- Get ExpressVPN.
- 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.
- Check the schedule of the broadcaster you want to watch, such as CBC, and find the match you want to stream.
- 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:
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a secure VPN server in Canada.
- Visit https://gem.cbc.ca/ to sign up or log in, and check CBC’s schedule to know when to tune in.
- 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:
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to the server location in the United States.
- Sign up for or log in to your preferred cord-cutting service platform.
- Check your team’s broadcast schedule and find the game you want to stream.
- 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: 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.
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.
2022-23 NHL Stanley Cup Finals odds
Will the Colorado Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions? Here are the most recent odds according to BetMGM.
| Team | Odds |
| Boston Bruins | +450 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +800 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +800 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +900 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1100 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1100 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1400 |
| Dallas Stars | +1500 |
| Calgary Flames | +1900 |
| New York Rangers | +2000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +2000 |
| Minnesota Wild | +2200 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +2000 |
2022 NHL early-season storylines
All eyes are on the Colorado Avalanche as they look to win a second straight Stanley Cup title. Here’s what other storylines we’ll be watching during the 2022-23 NHL season:
The end of the heavyweights? The Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins have been among hockey’s most consistent franchises over the last 15 seasons, and all have celebrated championships along the way. However, none of these three are considered locks to reach the playoffs, and the Caps and Pens are rapidly approaching rebuilding mode. Can anyone hold off Father Time for one more year?
Ovechkin vs. Gretzky: Speaking of the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin sits 115 goals away from surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals. We can all agree Ovie isn’t likely to pass the Great One this season, but he can still set himself up to break the record during the 2023-24 campaign. However, Ovechkin turned 37 in September, so age isn’t exactly working in his favor, even after a 50-goal season last year.
Patrick Kane trade watch: Seeing as the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to be among the league’s worst teams this season, one should reasonably expect the franchise to trade veteran right wing Patrick Kane to a contender. For now, Kane and longtime teammate Jonathan Toews will begin the season in Chicago amid a rebuild. It’d certainly be interesting if Kane, who hails from upstate New York, found himself playing for the Buffalo Sabres.
New York, New York? The Rangers seemingly came from nowhere to reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season. That proved fruitful for New York hockey fans after the Islanders surprisingly missed the postseason and fired head coach Barry Trotz. If the Yankees and Mets can each reach the playoffs in the same year, who says the Rangers and Islanders can’t follow in their footsteps?
Old faces, new places: No one should dare call the 2022-23 NHL offseason boring. The Florida Panthers traded left winger Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman Mackenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames for winger Matthew Tkachuk, who promptly signed a long-term extension to stay in the Sunshine State. Not to be outdone, Huberdeau inked an eight-year deal with Calgary. The Carolina Hurricanes stocked up for a title run by acquiring defenseman Brent Burns and veteran left winger Max Pacioretty. And, of course, we’re still waiting to see if Patrick Kane winds up anywhere.
All about the 2023 NHL All-Star Game
The 2023 NHL All-Star Game is rapidly approaching. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event.
When is the 2023 NHL All-Star Game?
The 2023 NHL All-Star Game begins at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 4. The Central Division faces off against the Pacific Division in the first semifinal, with a game between the Metropolitan and Atlantic Divisions following an hour later. The two semifinal winners will meet in the championship game at 5 p.m. ET. The All-Star Game will stream for free on CBC.
Where is the 2023 NHL All-Star Game?
FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, will host the NHL All-Star Skills Competition and the All-Star Game. The arena and home of the Florida Panthers last served as the All-Star Game site in 2003.
2023 NHL All-Star Game rosters
The NHL All-Star Game features four teams consisting of 11 players from each division. Here’s every team’s roster:
Atlantic Division
| Player | Position | Team |
| Nikita Kucherov | Forward | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Dylan Larkin | Forward | Detroit Red Wings |
| Mitch Marner | Forward | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Auston Matthews* | Forward | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| David Pastrnak* | Forward | Boston Bruins |
| Nick Suzuki | Forward | Montreal Canadiens |
| Tage Thompson | Forward | Buffalo Sabres |
| Brady Tkachuk | Forward | Ottawa Senators |
| Matthew Tkachuk | Forward | Florida Panthers |
| Linus Ullmark | Goaltender | Boston Bruins |
| Andrei Vasilevskiy* | Goaltender | Tampa Bay Lightning |
Metropolitan Division
| Player | Position | Team | ||
| Sidney Crosby | Forward | Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| Adam Fox* | Defenseman | New York Rangers | ||
| Johnny Gaudreau | Forward | Columbus Blue Jackets | ||
| Kevin Hayes | Forward | Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Jack Hughes | Forward | New Jersey Devils | ||
| Brock Nelson | Forward | New York Islanders | ||
| Alex Ovechkin | Forward | Washington Capitals | ||
| Artemi Panarin* | Forward | New York Rangers | ||
| Igor Shesterkin | Goaltender | New York Rangers | ||
| Ilya Sorokin* | Goaltender | New York Islanders | ||
| Andrei Svechnikov | Forward | Carolina Hurricanes |
Central Division
| Player | Position | Team |
| Connor Hellebuyck* | Goaltender | Winnipeg Jets |
| Seth Jones | Defenseman | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Kirill Kaprizov | Forward | Minnesota Wild |
| Clayton Keller | Forward | Arizona Coyotes |
| Nathan MacKinnon* | Forward | Colorado Avalanche |
| Cale Makar | Defenseman | Colorado Avalanche |
| Josh Morrissey | Defenseman | Winnipeg Jets |
| Mikko Rantanen | Forward | Colorado Avalanche |
| Jason Robertson | Forward | Dallas Stars |
| Juuse Saros | Goaltender | Nashville Predators |
| Vladimir Tarasenko | Forward | St. Louis Blues |
Pacific Division
| Player | Position | Team |
| Matty Beniers | Forward | Seattle Kraken |
| Leon Draisaitl* | Forward | Edmonton Oilers |
| Kevin Fiala | Forward | Los Angeles Kings |
| Bo Horvat* | Forward | Vancouver Canucks |
| Nazem Kadri | Forward | Calgary Flames |
| Erik Karlsson | Defenseman | San Jose Sharks |
| Connor McDavid | Forward | Edmonton Oilers |
| Elias Pettersson | Forward | Vancouver Canucks |
| Stuart Skinner* | Goaltender | Edmonton Oilers |
| Troy Terry | Forward | Anaheim Ducks |
| Logan Thompson | Goaltender | Vegas Golden Knights |
*Denotes player elected via fan vote
More about the NHL
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | November 26, 1917 (104 years ago), Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Inaugural season | 1917–18 |
| Commissioner | Gary Bettman |
| No. of teams | 32 |
| Countries | Canada (7 teams), United States (25 teams) |
| Headquarters | 1185 6th Avenue, New York City |
| Most recent champion(s) | Colorado Avalanche (3rd title) |
| Most titles | Montreal Canadiens (25 titles) |
Schedule for the 2022-2023 NHL season
| Event | Date(s) |
| Opening Night | October 7, 2022 |
| NHL Thanksgiving Showdown | November 25, 2022 |
| Winter Classic | January 2, 2023 |
| NHL All-Star Game | February 3-4, 2023 |
| End of Regular Season | April 13, 2023 |
| Stanley Cup Playoffs | April 17, 2023 |
| NHL Draft | June 28–29, 2023 |
ExpressVPN is a VPN service not intended to be used as a means of copyright circumvention. Please read the ExpressVPN Terms of Service and your content provider’s Terms of Use for more details.
FAQ: About the NHL
Is the 2023 NHL Winter Classic canceled?
Nope! The Boston Bruins will host the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Winter Classic. However, it will take place on January 2 rather than January 1.
What is the coldest NHL game ever?
The 2022 Winter Classic marked the coldest game in NHL history at -5.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
Which NHL team is no longer in existence?
There are 19 defunct and relocated NHL teams. The Brooklyn Americans were the last team to become defunct in the NHL.
Is the NHL getting a new team?
Maybe down the line, but the NHL currently has no further plans to expand right now. The league added a 32nd team, the Seattle Kraken, ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Je me suis inscrit aujourd’ui pour un abonmnement de 6 mois et je voudrais le canceller puis avoir mon crédit merci
Hi Réjean,
Please contact Support at https://www.expressvpn.com/support/#open-chat
Will this similarly work logging into my TV provider through the VPN? I’m located in Victoria B.C., and do not get the Toronto Maple Leafs games regularly. Will logging into a server in the east circumvent this?
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I’m in Peru and would like to watch the NHL Stanley Cup.. could you please let me know which one is the best option to subscribe. Thank you in advance
go canucks! my team!
I’ve been unable to sign up successfully to anything in order to watch NHL – they all know I’m using a VPN and they don’t allow it.
Hi Darren,
Which service are you trying to access? If you’re on a computer, please make sure you’ve installed and are using the ExpressVPN browser extension (https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/expressvpn-browser-extension/). If you’re on a mobile device, please make sure you don’t share your location. For further assistance, please contact Support at https://www.expressvpn.com/support/#open-chat
Can i use my Capital one credit card? and can i only apply for the UFC and NHL Channelll?
Wanna watch the Bruins tonight play Chicago
I live in BC and can get out of market Canucks games through our Roku but not local games. How do I set up my Roku to get all games?
Hi Lorna,
You’ll need to change the VPN location of your VPN router or virtual router to a location where the games are not blacked out. For further assistance, please contact Support: https://www.expressvpn.com/support/#open-chat
Youtube TV detects ExpressVPN. And won’t let you watch anything. Just thought I’d share that so others can pick a different option other than YouTube TV.
Hi there,
Please make sure you’ve installed and activated the ExpressVPN browser extension (https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/expressvpn-browser-extension/) before accessing any of the streams.
If you encounter further issues, please contact Support: https://www.expressvpn.com/support/#open-chat
I would like to watch maple leafs vs. bruins, april 21, 2019 but it is not broadcast in playa del carmen, on sky tv. what can I do? help.
Hi Steve,
Please try to watch the games on fuboTV. There’s a 30-day free trial available. If you encounter any streaming issues, please contact Support at https://www.expressvpn.com/support/#open-chat
Getting hockey using an USA Zipcode has 2 problems for Canadians.
1/. Most Canadians do not have an USA zipcode.
2/. If you can connect to USA, it is likely that you will not see too many Canadian games.
Hi Joseph,
To watch the games featuring Canadian teams, you can check the team’s schedule and then connect to a server location where the broadcaster is available from.
For example, you can check the schedule for the Canucks (https://www.nhl.com/canucks/schedule/2018-10-01/PT), then connect to a server location where a broadcaster is showing the next Canucks game. To find the USA Zipcode you need, simply Google “(location name) zip code” and you’ll be all set.
Hello,
I opened fuboTV and came to know that it isn’t available in my country. What should I do ?
Hi Kimbaly,
Which device are you trying to watch fuboTV on? If you’re watching in a web browser, please first connect to the VPN and make sure you have the ExpressVPN browser extension (https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/expressvpn-browser-extension/) activated. If you’re watching on a mobile device, please make sure you’re connected to the VPN and allow location access if prompted.
Vegas Golden Knights!
golden knights
Boston Bruins
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas knights
Boston Bruins
I support the Nashville Predators!!
I like Boston Bruins.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
Boston Bruins
I pick Boston to win.
Love ExpressVPN and my Nashville Predators!! Stand with Us! We want the CUP!
Bruins!
The Bruins!
Los Angeles Kings
BRUINS!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Caps are tough, but I’m rooting for the Blue Jackets. O-H!
I’m picking the Boston Bruins.
Red Wings
LA Kings.
Go wings!
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Absolutely love the service of ExpressVPN. I watch hockey all season in every market with this service. Not to mention the privacy on all my devices over my network with a dd-wrt router. I switched from another provider and it was well worth it. Your staff and customer support is second to none. Thanks for a great product and service, and Go Preds!
Thank you, Jeb! Our on-team Preds fan shares your sentiments!
I am cutting cable ASAP. I am a little confused on how to bypass blackouts for NHL, specifically Nashville Predators. I bought Roku, and was looking at Sling tv and Fubo Tv, only to find our that the Fox Sports south feed would more than likely be blacked out. Will the express VPN solve this problem? Does the VPN work through the Roku setup? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
Hi David,
To set up ExpressVPN with Roku, see here: https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/stream-on-roku-with-virtual-router-or-router/
If you run into any issues, contact Support and get sorted right away: https://www.expressvpn.com/support/
hello I want to cut my cable and keep . watching the boston bruins on cable. How does this work ? I am not to good with a computer . what will I need . how to hook to my tv I am getting a amazon jail broken fire stick and cutting cable , what do I need to do
Hi Joseph,
You just need to a broadcast subscription (see the guide above) and ExpressVPN. Simply fire up the VPN and log in to your broadcast subscription, you’ll be all set 🙂
I will be in Florida from January 1st to the end of April in a rental accomodation. What is my best way of obtaining all Toronto Maple Leaf games while in Florida for the three months? I have my computer with me , a chromecast and there is a tv available with a HDMI connection. Their current cable subscriber is Comcast and in the past I have streamed my Netflix subscription from my computer to that tv with no visual problems. An additional bonus is that they do not have an HD subscription although they have an HD tv and the stream through my chromecast projects in HD. Would my doing this result in an additional cost to my owners cable costs?
I am in Florida at the same time. I gave up trying to get the Leafs on anything but NHL Gamecentre. I get it free with my Rogers subscription. It works great here. The problem I am having is getting the Tampa Bay Lightning! They blacking a lot of those games out in the Tampa area.
Does express VPN actually allow me to watch all NHL games that are blacked out for the upcoming season?
what is the payment structure. i.e.the more choices I make does that increase the cost?