After an exciting Stanley Cup Qualifier filled with upsets, the NHL makes its way onto the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in Edmonton and Toronto.
How to Stream the NHL’s 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs
- When: Starting August 11th - October 12th
- Where: Toronto & Edmonton
- TV: Your Team’s RSN, NBC, NBCSN, & NHL Network
- Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Hulu + Live TV
Unlike the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, all games that air on NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC, and NHL Network will be available locally, in addition to your local RSN – meaning no local blackouts.
The lone exception is in Las Vegas, which will only air Vegas Golden Knights games on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. This is good news for Colorado Avalanche fans since no Live TV Streaming Service carries Altitude, meaning you can still watch their games on NBCSN/NHLN/CNBC.
There are now five services that offer Stanley Cup Playoffs games, most of which you can try for free with a 7-Day Free Trial. The best service for you depends on whether you want to watch games on your local RSN.
You can stream on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, iOS, Android, and your computer.
How to Stream 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on Your Local RSN
Most games during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will be available locally on your Regional Sports Network like MSG+ (Islanders), NESN (Boston Bruins), Fox Sports Southwest (Dallas Stars), NBC Sports Chicago (Chicago Blackhawks), and AT&T Sportsnet Rocky Mountain (Vegas Golden Knights).
Unlike the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, games won’t be blacked out nationally in most markets — meaning you can choose to either watch the game on your local RSN or the nationally televised station (NBCSN, NHL Network, etc.)
But, with your RSN, you’ll get your local announcers, pre-game and post-game coverage.
The best Live TV Streaming Service for you really depends on which team you follow. All but the Colorado Avalanche (Altitude) are available with at least one Live TV Streaming Service.
Your best option for most teams is Hulu Live TV, since they are the least expensive service ($55) with Fox Sports RSNs, NBC Sports RSNs, NBC, and NBCSN.
However, for certain teams, you will need another service.
- For the New York Islanders on MSG/MSG+, your least your least expensive option is fuboTV ($60)
- For the Boston Bruins, your least your least expensive option is also fuboTV ($60)
- For the Vegas Golden Knights on AT&T Sportsnet Rocky Mountain, the only option is AT&T TV NOW Max Tier ($80)
How to Stream NHL Qualifying Round Games Nationally
Every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be available nationally on NBC, NBCSN, NHL Network, CNBC. There will be no local blackouts of games on these channels, except for in Las Vegas.
To stream NHL Network without cable, you can subscribe to Fubo, which has 7-Day Free Trial, or Sling TV.
Unlike the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, the Stanley Cup Playoffs won’t be available with NHL.TV. They do offer a $9.99 package to watch every game on-demand, but you can also get those with $4.99 a month subscription to ESPN+.
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Sign Up | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $25 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NBC Sports Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NHL Network | + $15 | + $8 | - | - | + $11 | + $11 | - | |
| CNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | + $6 | ✓ | |
What Streaming Services Carry Each NHL Team?
Depending on your favorite team, certain services will be better for you based on which regional sports networks they carry.
TBD
As with other leagues, the NHL has limited the amount teams qualified to come back. The hockey league has opted to have a 24-team tournament, with 12 teams from each conference playing in empty arenas in Toronto (for the East) and Edmonton (for the West), reports ESPN.
With empty stands, the NHL has decided to change the way the games will look in order for fans at home to remain engaged. “The NHL has essentially turned its hub arenas into large TV studios, complete with constructed stages and giant LED screens behind the player benches. Empty seats are covered with tarps with team names and NHL logos. There will be additional cameras and unique lighting,” ESPN stated.
“Hopefully everybody likes it. I know there are going to be people that just want to watch the game. And when the puck drops, for the most part, they’re just going to watch the game. We’re not messing with the game. We’re just trying to make it look pretty,” said Steve Mayer, NHL chief content officer and senior executive VP of events and entertainment.
How to Stream the NHL’s 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Live on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS and Android
There are six major streaming providers that offer Live TV Streaming. Check the chart below to see which providers will allow you to watch the NHL Playoffs live on NBCSN using iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast and Web.
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Sign Up | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $25 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| NBC Sports Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NHL Network | $15 | $8 | - | - | $11 | $11 | - | |
| CNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | $6 | ✓ | |
All Live TV Streaming Services
Price: $79.99
Includes: NBC Sports Network, NBC, and CNBC + 31 Top Cable Channels
Add-on: $15 Sports Pack
Includes: NHL Network
Price: $91.99
Includes: NBC Sports Network, NBC, and CNBC + 25 Top Cable Channels
Add-on: $8 fubo Extra
Includes: NHL Network
Add-on: $11 Sports Plus
Includes: NHL Network
Price: $40
Includes: NBC Sports Network and NBC + 24 Top Cable Channels
Add-on: $6 News Extra
Includes: CNBC
Add-on: $11 Sports Extra
Includes: NHL Network
Price: $76.99
Includes: NBC Sports Network, NBC, and CNBC + 33 Top Cable Channels
Price: $72.99
Includes: NBC Sports Network, NBC, and CNBC + 32 Top Cable Channels