How to Watch 2021 NHL Pre-Season Live Online Without Cable: Streaming & TV Options

The NHL is coming back with a bunch of changes – new TV partners (TNT and ESPN), new franchise in the Seattle Kraken, and a new way to stream out-of-market games. The NHL kicks off with the 2021-22 pre-season, this Saturday, September 25 through October 10th.

We will break down how you can watch your favorite team on your local RSN, nationally televised preseason games, and out-of-market NHL preseason coverage.

Our Picks

Local Telecasts on RSNs

To watch NHL games locally on your regional sports network online without cable, you will need a subscription to one of the major Live TV Streaming Services.

After YouTube TV, Hulu, Sling TV, and fuboTV each dropped Bally Sports RSNs, for most teams your only option is DIRECTV STREAM “Choice Plan” ($84.99) to stream most NHL games.

If you want to stream games on MSG (Rangers/Sabres), MSG+ (Islanders/Devils), NESN (Bruins), [AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh] (Penguins), or ROOT Sports Northwest (Kraken), your least expensive option is fuboTV ($64.99), which is available with a 7-Day Free Trial.

• fuboTV is the least expensive option for MSG, MSG+, NESN, [AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh], and will soon offer ROOT Sports Northwest (Kraken)
• DIRECTV STREAM ($84.99) is the only service that offers Bally Sports RSNs, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Golden Knights), and Altitude (Avalanche)
• NBC Sports RSNs are carried by nearly all of the Live TV Streaming Services like fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, and YouTube TV

TBD

National Telecasts

Starting with the 2021-22 season, NHL games will no longer air on NBCSN or NBC. Nationally televised games that don’t air on your team’s RSN will now be available on ESPN+, Hulu, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, ABC. Most services include these channels as part of their entry level package.

During the preseason, TNT will air two games:

• 9/30: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins - TNT
• 10/1: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Los Angeles Kings - TNT

If you want the most preseason coverage on TV, NHL Network will carry 25 games during the 2021 NHL Preseason. While TNT won’t have local blackouts with their coverage, for games on NHL Network, local blackouts apply.

ESPN won’t have any nationally televised games during the preseason, but they will carry many out-of-market games on ESPN+.

Out-Of-Market Telecasts

If you live away from your favorite team, you can still catch nearly every game. Starting with the 2021-22 season, NHL.TV has shifted over to ESPN+, meaning that you will save over $50 compared to last season.

While in the past the NHL offered NHL.TV for $145 to watch every team ($25 a month), with ESPN+, you will be able to stream every out-of-market game for just $10.99 / month, or $109.99 / year ($9.17 / month).

How to Stream the 2021 NHL Preseason Live for Free on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS and Android

There are six major streaming providers that offer Live TV Streaming. These providers allow you to watch the 2021 NHL Preseason live on Fox Sports Southeast using iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast and Web.

All Live TV Streaming Services

Price: $79.99
Includes: ESPN and TNT + 29 Top Cable Channels

Add-on: $15 Sports Pack
Includes: NHL Network

Price: $40
Includes: ESPN and TNT + 15 Top Cable Channels

Add-on: $11 Sports Extra
Includes: NHL Network

Price: $76.99
Includes: ESPN and TNT + 31 Top Cable Channels

Price: $91.99
Includes: ESPN + 24 Top Cable Channels

Add-on: $8 fubo Extra
Includes: NHL Network

Add-on: $11 Sports Plus
Includes: NHL Network

Price: $72.99
Includes: ESPN and TNT + 30 Top Cable Channels

Price: $10.99
Includes: ESPN+

NHL Preseason Preview

2021 NHL Preseason TV Schedule

TBD