2023 NHL Playoffs: How to Watch Hockey Games for Free Without Cable
Written by djfrosty on April 25, 2023
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Get your pucks ready! The 2023 NHL Playoffs will resume on Tuesday (April 25).
Three games are scheduled for Tuesday, starting with the New York Islanders vs. Carolina Hurricanes, which airs at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ESPN.
Rather catch the action in person? Tickets to the NHL Playoffs are available on StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster. Prices and availability may vary depending on the date of the game.
Keep reading for details on ways to watch and stream the playoffs without cable.
How to Watch & Stream the NHL Playoffs
You can stream games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ABC, TNT, TBS, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+. There are a lot of games to keep track of, so be sure to check your local listings for additional information.
Tuesday’s Hurricanes vs. Islanders game starts at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ESPN. Hurricanes lead the series 3-1.
Currently tied 2-2, the Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers will face off at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT. on ESPN; while the Minnesota Wild will take the ice against the Dallas Stars Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on TBS. The Stars and Wild are also tied 2-2.
Wednesday’s schedule includes the Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ESPN) and Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT on ESPN).
No cable necessary! We rounded up a handful of streaming options that are perfect for hockey fans on a budget.
Starting at the most budget-friendly plan, SlingTV is discounted to just $20 for the first month to stream live sports, news, entertainment and more.
SlingTV
Fubo is another solid choice at $74.99/month for 154 channels (including 100+ sporting events) and a free trial for a week. Vidgo starts at $69.99/month for access to 150+ channels such as ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Deportes, NHL Network, MLB Network, FS1, FS2, ACC Network and more (if you’re streaming internationally, use Express VPN).
DirectTV Stream offers a free trial for five days and discounted streaming packages. Right now, the Entertainment tied and Optimo Más plan for Spanish-speakers are discounted to $64.99/month (regular $74.99/month) for three months.
DirectTV Stream
Stream dozens of cable and local channels such as ESPN, TNT, TBS, HGTV, Bravo, MTV, BET, and ABC. DirectTV Stream’s higher-priced plans come with free HBO Max, Showtime, Starz, Epix and Cinemax for the first three months.
Hulu + Live TV is another option to stream sports and live television for $69.99/month. Aside from over 75+ live and on-demand channels, subscribers can stream Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.