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The best streaming deals to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs:
Best introductory offer
YouTube TV
5-day free trial period, then $59.99/month for two months
(Save $46)
For hockey fans: The Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s the most wonderful, stressful time of the year. The first round of the 2025 NHL playoffs began in mid-April after a record year (actually). After the NHL’s 20th season, Alex Ovechkin is now the greatest goalkeeper of all time, breaking the record for what many consider unbreakable Wayne Gretzky. Not to mention, the entire Washington Capitals season has had a huge season – falling on the Winnipeg Jets only in the standings.
Of course, as hockey fans know, anything can happen in the NHL playoffs. If you want to witness the excitement (and frustration) of the playoff hockey scene, here’s everything you need to know.
When will the Stanley Cup playoffs start?
The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 19, with a showdown between the St. Louis Blues and the No. 1 seed Winnipeg Jets. Teams usually play every other day, and if needed, schedule games by May 4. The dates of the second round, third round (finals) and Stanley Cup finals will depend on the first series. The final will be held later on June 23. You can view the full schedule on the official NHL website.
What is the NHL playoff channel?
If you have cables or access cable login, live games will be played on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and TNT/TRUTV/TBS families throughout the playoffs. Each series is not strictly assigned to a broadcaster, for example, a series of games may be played on TNT, ABC, and ESPN within the same week.
Check out the official playoff schedule on NHL.com to see which channels you want to adjust for a specific game.
How do I watch the Stanley Cup playoffs without the cable?
This is where things get complicated. If you don’t have cable access or cable login, at least one streaming service is required to live stream all playoff games. To watch games played in the TNT network family, you can listen to them via the Max App or via live TV streaming providers such as Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Hulu + Live TV. You will be able to capture a small portion of the games played on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 via ESPN+, but definitely not all. Instead, you need a pay TV provider (streaming via YouTube TV, sling TV, etc. via cable or live TV).
For a stubborn hockey fan who can’t understand live games, the best option is to subscribe to the live TV streaming service. Although the cost is a little higher, you will get the most profit.
Unlike cable TV, live TV streamers rely on the internet and provide you with a lineup of live channels that do not require a monthly contract. You can cancel at any time it no longer fits your time – no additional conditions attached. These services are not cheap, but many offer introductory rates and are generally more affordable than monthly wired bills. Plus, you can get funding by visiting live and local channels for news, sports and entertainment. If you choose to keep your subscription, it will serve you long after the team receives the coveted Stanley Cup reward.
Here is a breakdown of the best service and streaming deals to watch the Stanley Cup playoff scene.
Best for TNT, TBS and TRUTV games: the largest annual plan
By May 7, you can save $30 per year on the maximum standard plan, reducing the fee to just $139.99 per year or $11.67 per month. Savings are about 32% compared to monthly payment plans. The largest standard subscription includes B/R Sports add-ons, which include NHL access to TNT games (as well as Simulcast TBS and TRUTV games). Of course, this only covers half of the playoffs, so you still need another way to tweak ESPN and ABC broadcasts. Also note that after the initial discount year grows, the price will return to the typical annual plan fee, which is $169.99.
Mixable transactions
The Most Lowest Price Game: Sling TV Orange Plan
Sling TV’s Orange Plan is your best choice for watching the most playoff NHL games at the lowest price. The Orange Plan includes access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT and TBS, as well as 30 other other channels. Although ABC is not included, most ABC NHL games are also available via ESPN3, so you’ll set it all up. Sling subscriptions are a la carte, so you can add and take it from the plan at any time and cancel or pause your subscription at any time. The Orange Plan is priced at $46 per month, but new users can reduce it by 50% in the first month to $26.
Best Beginner Quotes: YouTube TV
YouTube TV
Free 5-day trial period, then $59.99 in the first two months (save $46)
We are a big fan of YouTube TV’s massive 100+ channel lineup, including all the network you need to live stream to the Stanley Cup playoffs. On the other hand, we are not the biggest fans of $82.99 per month. Fortunately, by July 31, new users can register with killer entry quotes. Start your subscription with a five-day trial and then pay only $59.99 per month, enough to last until the Stanley Cup final. After the introduction period, the price will return to $82.99, so be sure to cancel it before that.
Honorary mentions:
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Fubo TV (No TNT or TBS) – 7-day free trial followed by $54.99 for the first month
$84.99 per month(Save $30) -
Hulu + Live TV (all networks) – 3-day trial, then $82.99 per month
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ESPN+ (Choose Game) – $11.99/month or as part of the $16.99/month Disney+ bundle
Can I watch the NHL playoffs for free?
Penny Pinchers can watch at least part of the playoffs for free through free trials. You have to be very strategic to make the most of it, but we will leave all the details to you. This is your choice.
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YouTube TV currently offers a 20-minute free preview followed by a free five-day free trial. To unlock the trial, you must enter your credit card information. Five days later (you can keep an eye on the rest of the time), you can cancel or pay $59.99 per month for the first two months, which is a $46 savings.
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You can also unlock a 7-day free trial with Fubo TV, and then cancel the first month for $54.99. The only downside is that FUBOTV does not allow you to access the TNT network.
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Hulu+ Live TV is free for you for three days when you sign up. Just make sure to cancel three days ago to avoid a $82.99 monthly fee.
This is a free 15-day free live NHL game. If you plan accordingly, you can watch a large portion of the Stanley Cup playoffs for free.
