Since shutting down on March 12, the NHL makes its way back onto the ice on Saturday with the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers beginning in Edmonton and Toronto.
How to Stream the NHL’s 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers
- When: August 1st - August 10th
- Where: Toronto & Edmonton
- TV: Your Team’s RSN, NBC, NBCSN, & NHL Network
- Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Hulu + Live TV
Starting on August 1st, three games will air on the NBC Sports Network (on their RSN locally): the New York Rangers take on the Carolina Hurricanes at 12 p.m. ET, followed by the Florida Panthers vs. the New York Islanders at 4 p.m. ET and then Winnipeg Jets will wrap up the day with their matchup against the Calgary Flames at 10:30 p.m. ET.
On NBC, the Chicago Blackhawks go up against the Edmonton Oilers at 3 p.m. ET., and the Montreal Canadiens will meet the Pittsburgh Penguins at 8 p.m. ET.
There are now five services that offer NHL Qualifying games, most of which you can try for free with a 7-Day Free Trial. The best service for you depends on whether you live near or far from your favorite team.
You can stream on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, iOS, Android, and your computer.
How to Stream NHL Qualifying Round Games Locally
Most games during the NHL Qualifying Round (including round-robin games) will be available locally on your Regional Sports Network like MSG/MSG+ (Rangers & Islanders), NESN (Boston Bruins), Fox Sports Southwest (Dallas Stars), NBC Sports Chicago (Chicago Blackhawks), and AT&T Sportsnet Rocky Mountain (Vegas Golden Knights).
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 Rangers & 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
For fans that live away from their favorite team, many games will be available nationally on NBC, NBCSN and NHL Network. Games airing on those channels will be blacked out locally.
To stream NHL Network without cable, you can subscribe to Fubo, which has 7-Day Free Trial, or Sling TV.
You can also stream most of these games with NHL.TV, which is available for $3.99 (one team) or $4.99 (all teams). In addition to local telecasts, games on NBC or primetime games on NBCSN/NHL Network will be blacked out on NHL.TV.
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $25 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
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 Qualifiers 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 return to the ice live on NBCSN using iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast and Web.
Photo credit: NHL Facebook page
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | 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 | - | |
All Live TV Streaming Services
Price: $79.99
Includes: NBC Sports Network and NBC + 31 Top Cable Channels
Add-on: $15 Sports Pack
Includes: NHL Network
Price: $91.99
Includes: NBC Sports Network and NBC + 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: $11 Sports Extra
Includes: NHL Network
Price: $76.99
Includes: NBC Sports Network and NBC + 33 Top Cable Channels
Price: $72.99
Includes: NBC Sports Network and NBC + 32 Top Cable Channels