Which streamers are best for watching the NHL this season?
Which streamers are best for watching the NHL this season?
If you want to stream in-market and nationally televised NHL games on the same streamer, we break down the best options here.
The 2026-27 NHL season is nearly ready to hit the ice. Games begin on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and viewers will once again find games on national broadcast platforms like ESPN and TNT, as well as regional sports networks (RSNs) that will carry the vast majority of each team’s games this season.
But which streaming services are the best choices for watching all games in the same place? We’ll rank our favorite ways to stream the NHL this season, giving our customers our expert guidance on how to get the best value and stream the most games at the same time.
Which streamers are best for watching the NHL in 2026-27?
The best live TV streaming services for watching the NHL in 2026-27
No. 1: DIRECTV
DIRECTV is our favorite way to watch as many NHL games as possible this season. The streamer carries local broadcast channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as ION in all Signature channel packages. These plans cost between $90 and $170 per month, depending on channel count, but they’ll cover the growing number of NHL teams that will play at least a selection of in-market games on local broadcast channels. Each of these plans also includes ESPN and TNT, and viewers can add NHL Network with the Sports add-on pack ($15 per month).
All subscribers to DIRECTV CHOICE and above packages also get their local RSN included with their plan — for an additional monthly fee. That will be a boon to fans of teams like the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche, which still play on traditional RSNs.
Customers can also find ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NHL Network in the DIRECTV MySports Genre Pack, which costs $65 per month. This package only has around 30 channels total, but it’s significantly less than DIRECTV Signature plans, and customers can add their local RSN to the MySports package for an extra $20 per month.
Finally, ESPN Unlimited is included with all DIRECTV packages listed above. This is key, as ESPN Select will host a selection of exclusive NHL games this season, but DIRECTV viewers won’t have to worry about missing these contests.
Ultimately, DIRECTV is our favorite choice because it offers all channels that carry nationally televised NHL games, and because it has a good selection of regional sports networks, and wide availability of ION. Viewers get to choose the package that fits them best with DIRECTV, and it’s our No. 1 choice to watch the NHL this season.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Runner-up: Fubo
Fubo is a good choice to watch the NHL season this year, but not as good as DIRECTV. Let’s start with the positive: Fubo is the only service other than DIRECTV to offer a big selection of RSNs like Altitude, MSG, and others. These channels are available in the Fubo Pro plan (starting at $89 per month) and its Elite plan (starting at $99), but each plan comes with an additional RSN fee.
The service also includes ABC, ESPN, and NHL Network for nationally televised NHL games, but the service has one big gap in its coverage that puts it firmly at No. 2: it does not have TNT Sports channels. Any NHL games on TNT, TBS, or truTV in 2026-27 will be unwatchable on Fubo, forcing viewers to purchase an ad-free HBO Max plan if they want to watch.
The absence of TNT drops Fubo firmly behind DIRECTV, but it’s still a good choice for many fans whose teams are still partnered with a traditional RSN for in-market broadcasts.
Fubo
Fubo is a live TV streaming service offering a robust lineup of approximately 150 premier channels, with plans starting at $63.99 per month. This entry-level package provides access to local broadcast affiliates 18 of the leading 35 cable channels channels, and valuable regional sports networks (RSNs).
Third-place: YouTube TV
YouTube TV is something of the inverse of Fubo; it has most of the channels offering nationally televised NHL games this season in multiple packages, but its RSN selection is limited to NBC Sports networks. Still, viewers who want to watch games on ABC, ESPN, ION, or TNT can find them in the YouTube TV base channel package for $83 per month.
This service does not offer NHL Network, but it does have a sports-only genre package for $65 per month with local broadcast channels, ESPN, and TNT. It won’t have ION, but this is a cost-effective way to stream a good selection of nationally televised NHL games this season.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.
The most important direct-to-consumer streamers for the NHL in 2026-27
None of the streamers below are really better or worse than any other in providing hockey fans with access to NHL games in 2026-27. Each of them is important to a specific segment of fans; some offer regional broadcasts of in-market games, for example, while others offer streams of games only available otherwise on national cable channels. See which direct-to-consumer services are important for NHL fans this season below!
Most important for New York hockey fans: DAZN
DAZN is now the streaming distributor for all NHL clubs that play on MSG, including the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and New Jersey Devils. The streamer is also carrying Los Angeles Kings games for viewers in that team’s market, so customers who are fans of these clubs will want a DAZN subscription to stream non-national games from them this year.
DAZN charges $30 per month or $119 per year to watch New York-area NHL teams in 2026-27, and watching the Kings will cost $20 per month or $130 for the season.
DAZN
DAZN is an international sports streaming service dedicated to live and on-demand sports programming. Since its launch in 2016, the platform has expanded to become one of the world’s leading sports streaming destinations, offering coverage that varies by region and includes boxing, soccer, MMA, women’s sports, motorsports, and other major competitions.
Most important for cord-cutters: ESPN Unlimited
With ESPN Unlimited, viewers will be able to stream exclusive NHL games shown on ESPN Select, as well as all nationally televised games on ABC and ESPN. The service also includes access to out-of-market NHL games via NHL Power Play on ESPN Select.
ESPN Unlimited costs $32 per month on its own, and is also available in bundles with Disney+, Hulu, and Fox One.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.
Most important for watching TNT Sports games: HBO Max
HBO Max offers all NHL games appearing on TNT, TBS, and truTV in the Bleacher Report Sports add-on, included with its ad-free plans. The Standard plan costs $18.49 per month, and the Premium plan costs $23 per month. Viewers with ad-supported HBO Max will not be able to watch live hockey games on the streamer this season.
HBO Max
HBO Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library and exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Within HBO Max, B/R Sports allows users to watch live NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.
Most important for in-market fans: Prime Video
Prime Video will host local-game broadcasts for seven NHL clubs this season: the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, and Seattle Kraken. The streamer will charge Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Wild, and Blues fans an extra $20 per month to watch their local hockey teams, while Ducks, Stars, and Kraken fans will see games included at no extra cost.
By itself, Prime Video costs $9 per month, or $14 per month if you choose to go ad-free. Prime Video access is also included at no cost with an Amazon Prime subscription, costing $15 per month.
Prime Video
Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.