Where to stream every game of the 2025 NHL Playoffs
Where to stream every game of the 2025 NHL Playoffs
Every first-round matchup, full TV schedule, and the best streaming deals to watch the 2025 NHL Playoffs live.
The 2025 NHL Playoffs are here, with 16 teams, four grueling rounds, and one Stanley Cup champion. Can the Florida Panthers repeat? Can the Edmonton Oilers win one more game than last year? Can the Los Angeles Kings finally get out of the first round? The answers are coming when the puck drops on the First Round on Saturday, April 19. All playoff games will be broadcast across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, and TBS which you can watch live with a 50% off deal from Sling TV.
How to watch the 2025 NHL Playoffs
- When: Begins Saturday, April 19 at 6 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS
- Stream: Watch with a subscription to Sling TV.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about the 2025 NHL Playoffs
When do the 2025 NHL playoffs start?
The First Round of the 2025 NHL playoffs starts at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 19 when the Winnipeg Jets take on the St. Louis Blues.
Why we recommend Sling TV for watching the 2025 NHL Playoffs
We think the best way to watch the 2025 NHL Playoffs is with Sling TV. Sling’s Blue package offers ABC (in select markets) along with TNT and TBS, while the Orange package gets you ESPN and ESPN2.
Keep in mind that Sling TV offers ABC in its Blue plan in eight major markets across the country: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham, and Fresno. So, if you live near one of these cities, you can watch with a subscription to Sling TV.
Sling TV
Sling TV is The Streamable’s choice for cord-cutters on a budget. Sling is a live TV streaming service with multiple channel packages. The $45.99/month Sling Orange plan offers about 30 channels, including Disney Channel and ESPN. The $45.99/month Sling Blue plan offers about 40 channels, including ABC, Fox, and NBC in major markets.
You can combine Orange+Blue for a total of $60.99 / month. Sling also offers many channel add-on packages starting at $6/month.
Can you watch the 2025 NHL Playoffs for free?
Yes, you can. The 2025 NHL Playoffs are available on several streamers that offer free trials, starting with DIRECTV STREAM. After a five-day free trial, the service starts at $85 per month for the Entertainment package, which includes ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT.
Hulu + Live TV is the other streamer that comes with a standard three-day free trial. After that trial, Hulu + Live TV starts at $83 per month, and plans at that price get you the Disney Bundle — including ESPN+ — at no extra cost.
Finally, YouTube TV offers a trial, but it can vary in length depending on when you sign up. YouTube TV’s trial runs from two days to two weeks in duration, after which packages start at $83 per month.
What are all the services you can use to watch the 2025 NHL Playoffs?
As mentioned above, Sling TV is our favorite way to watch the 2025 NHL Playoffs. However, you can also watch them on the free trial services listed – DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. Fubo isn’t a good option because it doesn’t carry TNT or TBS.
ESPN+, Max, and Victory+ will also stream select playoff games.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| ABC | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| ESPN | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| ESPN2 | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| TBS | + $24 | - | + $61 | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| TNT | + $24 | - | + $61 | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
About the 2025 NHL Playoffs
The 2025 NHL Playoffs are the ultimate grind – four rounds of super intense playoff hockey. The favorites coming include the President Trophy winner Winnipeg Jets, Ovi’s Washington Capitals, the Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers. Oh, and you can’t forget about the Florida Panthers who have been in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, beating the Oilers last season in Game 7 to win the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup. Whoever you’re cheering for, underdog or favorite, there are always upsets, epic storylines, and dramatic finishes, so as long as you’re in the dance, anything can happen. The 2025 NHL playoffs begin on Saturday, April 19.
What’s the First Round schedule for the 2025 NHL Playoffs?
Here’s the schedule for all eight series across the First Round of the 2025 NHL playoffs:
Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, April 20 | 7 p.m. | Game 1 – Senators at Maple Leafs | ESPN2 |
| Tuesday, April 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Game 2 – Senators at Maple Leafs | ESPN2 |
| Thursday, April 24 | 7 p.m. | Game 3 – Maple Leafs at Senators | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, April 26 | 7 p.m. | Game 4 – Maple Leafs at Senators | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Tuesday, April 29 | TBD | Game 5* – Senators at Maple Leafs | TBD |
| Friday, May 1 | TBD | Game 6* – Maple Leafs at Senators | TBD |
| Saturday, May 3 | TBD | Game 7* – Senators at Maple Leafs | TBD |
*=If necessary
Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, April 22 | 8:30 p.m. | Game 1 – Panthers at Lightning | ESPN |
| Thursday, April 24 | 6:30 p.m. | Game 2 – Panthers at Lightning | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Saturday, April 26 | 1 p.m. | Game 3 – Lightning at Panthers | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Monday, April 28 | TBD | Game 4 – Lightning at Panthers | TBD |
| Wednesday, April 30 | TBD | Game 5* – Panthers at Lightning | TBD |
| Friday, May 2 | TBD | Game 6* – Lightning at Panthers | TBD |
| Sunday, May 4 | TBD | Game 7* – Panthers at Lightning | TBD |
*=If necessary
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 21 | 7 p.m. | Game 1 – Canadiens at Capitals | ESPN |
| Wednesday, April 23 | 7 p.m. | Game 2 – Canadiens at Capitals | ESPN |
| Friday, April 25 | 7 p.m. | Game 3 – Capitals at Canadiens | TNT, truTV, Max |
| Sunday, April 27 | 6:30 p.m. | Game 4 – Capitals at Canadiens | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Wednesday, April 30 | TBD | Game 5* – Canadiens at Capitals | TBD |
| Friday, May 2 | TBD | Game 6* – Capitals at Canadiens | TBD |
| Sunday, May 4 | TBD | Game 7* – Canadiens at Capitals | TBD |
*=If necessary
New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, April 20 | 3 p.m. | Game 1 – Devils at Hurricanes | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 22 | 6 p.m. | Game 2 – Devils at Hurricanes | ESPN |
| Friday, April 25 | 8 p.m. | Game 3 – Hurricanes at Devils | TBS, Max |
| Sunday, April 27 | 3:30 p.m. | Game 4 – Hurricanes at Devils | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Tuesday, April 29 | TBD | Game 5* – Devils at Hurricanes | TBD |
| Friday, May 2 | TBD | Game 6* – Hurricanes at Devils | TBD |
| Sunday, May 4 | TBD | Game 7* – Devils at Hurricanes | TBD |
*=If necessary
St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 19 | 6 p.m. | Game 1 – Blues at Jets | Max, truTV, TNT, |
| Monday, April 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Game 2 – Blues at Jets | ESPN2 |
| Thursday, April 24 | 9:30 p.m. | Game 3 – Jets at Blues | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, April 27 | 1 p.m. | Game 4 – Jets at Blues | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Wednesday, April 30 | TBD | Game 5* – Blues at Jets | TBD |
| Friday, May 2 | TBD | Game 6* – Jets at Blues | TBD |
| Sunday, May 4 | TBD | Game 7* – Blues at Jets | TBD |
*=If necessary
Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 19 | 8:30 p.m. | Game 1 – Avalanche at Stars | Max, truTV, TNT, [ALT] |
| Monday, April 21 | 9:30 p.m. | Game 2 – Avalanche at Stars | ESPN |
| Wednesday, April 23 | 9:30 p.m. | Game 3 – Stars at Avalanche | ESPN |
| Saturday, April 26 | 9:30 p.m. | Game 4 – Stars at Avalanche | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Monday, April 27 | TBD | Game 5* – Avalanche at Stars | TBD |
| Thursday, May 1 | TBD | Game 6* – Stars at Avalanche | TBD |
| Saturday, May 3 | TBD | Game 7* – Avalanche at Stars | TBD |
*=If necessary
Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, April 20 | 10 p.m. | Game 1 – Wild at Golden Knights | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 22 | 11 p.m. | Game 2 – Wild at Golden Knights | ESPN |
| Thursday, April 24 | 9 p.m. | Game 3 – Golden Knights at Wild | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Saturday, April 24 | 4 p.m. | Game 4 – Golden Knights at Wild | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Tuesday, April 29 | TBD | Game 5* – Wild at Golden Knights | TBD |
| Thursday, May 1 | TBD | Game 6* – Golden Knights at Wild | TBD |
| Saturday, May 3 | TBD | Game 7* – Wild at Golden Knights | TBD |
*=If necessary
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 21 | 10 p.m. | Game 1 – Oilers at Kings | ESPN2 |
| Wednesday, April 23 | 10 p.m. | Game 2 – Oilers at Kings | TBS, Max |
| Friday, April 25 | 10 p.m. | Game 3 – Kings at Oilers | TNT, truTV, Max |
| Sunday, April 27 | 9:30 p.m. | Game 4 – Kings at Oilers | TBS, truTV, Max |
| Tuesday, April 29 | TBD | Game 5* – Oilers at Kings | TBD |
| Thursday, May 1 | TBD | Game 6* – Kings at Oilers | TBD |
| Saturday, May 3 | TBD | Game 7* – Oilers at Kings | TBD |
*=If necessary
How to watch the 2025 NHL Playoffs from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the game as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action no matter where you are in the world with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming service like Sling TV in order to stream the 2025 NHL Playoffs with a VPN.
NordVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get two full years of protection for just $3.59 per month — plus you’ll get three extra months FREE. A high-speed VPN with best-in-class security that can be used on up to 10 devices at once — what more could you ask for? Simply sign up, install the software on your device of choice, and start streaming just as you would back home. It couldn’t be easier!
While NordVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Best Features: ExpressVPN | Starting at $5 per month
- Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available