Desk of Contents
The very best streaming offers to look at the Stanley Cup Playoffs at a look:
BEST INTRODUCTORY OFFER
YouTube TV
5-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months
(save $46)
It is probably the most fantastic — and anxious — time of 12 months for hockey followers: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The primary spherical of the 2025 NHL playoffs kicked off in mid-April after a record-breaking 12 months (actually). After a historic twentieth season within the NHL, Alex Ovechkin is now the best aim scorer of all time, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s file that many thought was unbreakable. To not point out, the Washington Capitals as an entire have had an incredible season — falling solely to the Winnipeg Jets within the standings.
In fact, as hockey followers know, something can occur within the NHL playoffs. If you wish to witness the joy (and frustration) of playoff hockey stay, here is every little thing it’s essential to know.
When do the Stanley Cup playoffs begin?
The primary spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs kicked off on April 19 with a matchup between the St. Louis Blues and No. 1 seed Winnipeg Jets. Groups usually play each different day, with video games scheduled via Could 4 if vital. The dates for the second spherical, third spherical (convention finals), and Stanley Cup closing will depend upon how the primary sequence pans out. The ultimate will happen no later June 23. You may take a look at the full schedule on the official NHL web site.
What channels are the NHL playoffs on?
When you’ve got cable or entry to a cable login, stay video games will air on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and TNT/truTV/TBS household of networks all through the postseason. Every sequence is just not strictly designated to 1 broadcaster — for instance, video games in a sequence might air on TNT, ABC, and ESPN throughout the similar week.
Take a look at the official playoffs schedule on NHL.com to search out out which channel to tune into for particular video games.
How can I watch the Stanley Cup playoffs with out cable?
Here is the place issues get difficult. If you do not have cable entry or a cable login, you may want no less than one streaming service to catch all of the playoff video games stay. To look at video games that air on the TNT household of networks, you’ll be able to both tune in via the Max app or by way of a stay TV streaming supplier like Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Reside TV. You can catch a fraction of the video games that air stay on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 via ESPN+, however positively not all of them. As an alternative, you may want a paid TV supplier (both cable or stay TV streaming by way of YouTube TV, Sling TV, and many others.).
For die-hard hockey followers who cannot fathom lacking a stay sport, your greatest wager is to subscribe to a stay TV streaming service. You will get probably the most bang to your buck, regardless of the fee being a bit larger.
Completely different from cable, stay TV streamers rely on the web and give you a stay channel lineup with no month-to-month contract. You may cancel any time it now not fits you — no strings hooked up. These providers aren’t low-cost, however many supply introductory charges and are nonetheless usually extra inexpensive than a month-to-month cable invoice. Plus, you get your cash’s price with entry to stay and native channels spanning information, sports activities, and leisure. It will serve you lengthy after a workforce is awarded the coveted Stanley Cup, do you have to select to maintain your subscription.
Here is a breakdown of the perfect providers and streaming offers to look at the Stanley Cup playoffs stay.
Finest for TNT, TBS, and truTV video games: Max yearly plan
Via Could 7, you’ll be able to save $30 on a yearly Max Commonplace plan, dropping the fee down to only $139.99 per 12 months or $11.67 monthly. That is about 32% in financial savings in comparison with paying for the month-to-month plan. A Max Commonplace subscription consists of the B/R Sports activities add-on, which incorporates entry to the NHL on TNT video games (and simulcast TBS and truTV video games). In fact, this solely covers about half of the postseason, so you may nonetheless want one other strategy to tune into ESPN and ABC broadcasts. Additionally be aware that after your preliminary discounted 12 months is up, the value will revert to the everyday annual plan price, which is $169.99.
Mashable Offers
Essentially the most video games for the bottom worth: Sling TV Orange plan
Sling TV’s Orange plan is your greatest wager to look at probably the most postseason NHL video games for the bottom worth. The Orange plan consists of entry to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and TBS, plus 30 different channels. Whereas that does not embody ABC, most ABC NHL video games are additionally out there via ESPN3, so you may be all set. Sling subscriptions are a la carte, so you’ll be able to add to and take away out of your plan with no worries and cancel or pause your subscription at any time. The Orange plan prices $46 monthly, however new customers can slash 50% off their first month, knocking it down to only $26.
Finest introductory supply: YouTube TV
We’re large followers of YouTube TV’s huge 100+ channel lineup, which incorporates all the networks you may have to tune into the Stanley Cup playoffs stay. However, we’re not the largest followers of the $82.99 monthly value. Thankfully, via July 31, new customers can enroll with a killer introductory supply. Kick off your subscription with a five-day trial, then pay simply $59.99 monthly to your first two months — lengthy sufficient to final via the Stanley Cup closing. After your introductory interval, the value will revert to $82.99, so make sure you cancel forward of that.
Honorable mentions:
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Fubo TV (no TNT or TBS) — 7-day free trial, then $54.99 for first month
$84.99 monthly(save $30) -
Hulu + Reside TV (all networks) — 3-day trial, then $82.99 monthly
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ESPN+ (choose video games) — $11.99/month or as a part of $16.99/month Disney+ bundle
Can I watch the NHL playoffs totally free?
Penny pinchers can watch no less than a part of the postseason totally free by using free trials. You will need to be extraordinarily strategic to get probably the most out of it, however we’ll depart all the small print as much as you. Listed here are your choices.
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YouTube TV at present presents a free 20-minute preview, then a free five-day trial. To unlock the trial, you may need to enter your bank card info. After your 5 days are up (you’ll be able to regulate how a lot time you’ve left), you’ll be able to both cancel or pay $59.99 monthly to your first two months — that is $46 in financial savings.
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You can too unlock a free seven-day trial via Fubo TV, then cancel earlier than you get charged $54.99 for the primary month. The one draw back is that fuboTV would not provide you with entry to TNT networks.
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Hulu + Reside TV offers you one other three days totally free once you enroll. Simply make sure you cancel earlier than the three days are as much as keep away from that steep $82.99 monthly price.
That is a grand complete of 15 days of free stay NHL video games. If you happen to plan accordingly, you’ll be able to watch a reasonably large chunk of the Stanley Cup playoffs totally free.
