How to watch NHL 2025: live stream games from anywhere

Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 during overtime in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 04, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. — (Image credit: Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

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Only five teams have ever won three or more consecutive Stanley Cups, the most recent of those being the Islanders when they went four-for-four 42 years ago. The Panthers have a rare opportunity to join the illustrious list, but their task has been made that much harder by injuries to Matthew Tkachuk and skipper Aleksander Barkov.

You can watch NHL live streams from anywhere with a VPN.

NHL 25/26 live streams: TV schedule, dates

The 25/26 NHL season runs from October 7, 2025 to June 2026.
• Australia — 9Now (FREE select games)
• U.S. — ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TBS and TNT via Sling TV
• Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN 100% risk free

The reigning champions' frustrations offer a much-needed glimmer of hope to Edmonton, who fell foul of Florida in both finals and, as such, are in danger of losing their three-time Hart Memorial Trophy-winning captain Connor McDavid. The future Hall of Famer is in the final year of his contract, so Kris Knoblauch needs to convince him that the Oilers haven't missed their shot.

Alex Ovechkin is another great approaching the end of his contract. The 40-year-old broke Wayne Gretzky's NHL record last season and, in his 21st campaign, will become the first player to hit the 900 mark. It's only once that's been ticked off that the Capitals, and Ovechkin himself, will get a handle on how much fire remains.

The NHL will take a mid-season break in February for Milano Cortina 2026, the first edition of the Winter Olympics since Sochi 2024 that National Hockey League players are permitted to participate at. With rosters set to be finalized around the turn of the year, this may very well be a season of contrasting halves.

Check out all of the TV and streaming details below to find out how to watch NHL 25/26 from anywhere.

Watch NHL live streams for FREE

You can watch select NHL games free-of-charge on 9Now in Australia. The network shows one Friday night game each week.

Away from home? You may not be able to watch the action like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution — you can use a VPN to watch NHL 2025/26 for free. We’ll show you how to do that below.

Watch NHL 25/26 from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the hockey on your usual subscription?

You can still watch NHL 25/26 live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software can make your devices appear to be back in your home country regardless of where you are, making it ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN — we explain why in our NordVPN review.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Aussie service, you'd select Australia from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to 9Now or another streaming service and watch NHL 2025.

How to watch NHL live streams in the U.S.

In the U.S., NHL games are televised on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TBS and TNT.

The most cost-efficient way of watching the NHL, therefore, is via one of the best cable TV alternatives.

Sling will give you the most bang for your buck. Sling Blue includes TBS and TNT, plus local network affiliates from ABC, FOX and NBC (availability varies by market). Sling Orange carries ESPN, ESPN2, TBS and TNT. Both plans start at $46/month, but you can combine them for $66/month and get 50% off your first month for the Blue plan.

ESPN simulcasts its coverage on ESPN Unlimited, which carries ESPN Select and all ESPN channels, and costs $29.99/month or $299.99/year, but for a limited time you can bundle it with Disney Plus and Hulu for $29.99/month for 12 months.

TBS and TNT simulcast their games on Max, which starts at $16.99/month for a plan that includes live sports.

YouTube TV, Hulu With Live TV, and the DirecTV Stream MySports Genre Pack will also get you comprehensive NHL coverage, while Fubo carries ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 on its Sports + News plan.

How to watch NHL live streams in the U.K.

British flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

In the U.K., 15 games per week are available to watch via Premier Sports, which costs £11.99/month if you commit to a year, or £120/year if you pay upfront.

Premier Sports also holds the rights to Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, URC and Top14 rugby, La Liga and Coppa Italia soccer, and every race of the NASCAR Cup.

Alternatively, comprehensive NHL coverage is being provided by NHL.tv on DAZN, which starts at £19.99/month or £109.99 for the season.

If you're not in the U.K. right now but already subscribe to one of these services, try using NordVPN to watch the NHL as if you were back at home.

How to watch NHL live streams in Canada

Canadian flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

In Canada, NHL coverage is split between Sportsnet and Prime Video. Select Hockey Night in Canada games are also shown on CBC and CityTV.

You can stream NHL games live on Sportsnet Plus, which costs CA$29.99/month CA$249.99/year for the Standard plan, and CA$42.99/month CA$349.99/year for the Premium plan.

Although Premium plan grants access to significantly more NHL games, you'll get the same number of Maple Leafs, Oilers, Canucks and Flames games whichever package you choose.

Monday Night Hockey is exclusive to Prime Video, which costs CA$9.99/month or CA$99/year after a 30-day free trial.

If you live in Canada but aren't at home right now, you can still watch NHL live streams by using a quality VPN like NordVPN to unlock your usual service.

How to watch NHL live streams in Australia

Australia flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

One Friday game is free-to-air in Australia each week, courtesy of 9Go! and the 9Now streaming service.

Multiple NHL games air on ESPN via Foxtel.

Don't have Foxtel and don't want to subscribe? The same games are also shown on Kayo Sports, with its affordable, commitment-free plans starting from just AU$30/month, and hosting plenty of NFL, cricket, AFL, rugby, F1 and more.

Anybody who hasn't used the service before can choose between a 7-day FREE trial and 1 month for AU$1.

Alternatively, ESPN's NHL coverage is available to live stream via Disney Plus too. A subscription starts at AU$15.99/month or AU$159.99/year.

Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action on your account as if you were back home.

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Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Aatif is a freelance journalist and copywriter based in the UK. He’s written about technology, sport and politics for a wide range of publications including TechRadar, What Hi-Fi?, The Independent, Trusted Reviews, and Newsweek. These days, he focuses mainly on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: live TV and penny-pinching. When he's not attending a top-flight English soccer match, you can find him perfecting his table tennis skills.

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