NHL Playoffs Online: When & How to Watch Hockey Finals Cheaper Without Cable

As a cord-cutter, I can watch the entire NHL postseason without needing a cable or satellite TV subscription. The playoff action kicked off Saturday, April 20th, 2024.

In a hurry? Here are three popular streaming services that give you access to the necessary channels to watch the NHL playoffs without cable:

Why You Need a VPN Today

However, first you need a VPN to unblock US streaming services from . Our favourite is ExpressVPN. It’s definitely not the cheapest option at $4.99/month, but it just works – and across all your devices.

They have servers in 25+ US cities/states and 105 countries, which unblock access to premium streaming platforms available only in the US, as well as free “on demand” TV services worldwide.

You’ll have access to local platforms as if you were in the country, meaning you can watch BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK, CBC Gem as if you were in Canada, plus hundreds more worldwide.

Sign Up for ExpressVPN

Hotdog users get three months free at ExpressVPN, so it’s a “no-brainer” for us. Decide for yourself with their 30 day money-back guarantee.

IMPORTANT: Once you’ve installed your VPN and connected to a US server, you’ll still need to subscribe separately to access premium streaming services.

Even though you’re going to need a few channels to do it, everything you need to watch the NHL playoffs online is available without cable. So, whether you’ve cut the cord recently or you’re just thinking about it, read on to discover all of the ways you can watch the NHL playoffs without cable.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Today’s NHL Playoff Games

None

2024 NHL Playoff Channels

The official schedule for the NHL Playoffs games live stream have not yet been released. But the broadcasting rights are the same as they have been the last two years, and other are three TV channels that you will need.

The networks that air the NHL playoffs are ABC, ESPN, and TNT. Some of these channels are easier to find than others. But they are all available without cable.

TNT will be airing the Stanley Cup Finals alone. This is the first time the channel has done this — and the first time it has aired solely on a “cable” channel since 1994 when ESPN carried it alone.

Here’s a quick overview of which streaming services offer channels that will show NHL Playoffs games in the US:

Sling TV is the cheapest option to catch the NHL Playoffs. If that is your only concern, it’s the way to go. If you care about the NHL regular season and other sports, you might want to look elsewhere.

Sign up now for Sling Orange to be ready for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final. Complete First Round schedule available too.

If you are a fan of your local NHL team, DIRECTV STREAM is the best bet because it provides the RSNs (regional sports networks) that will bring you nearly every game of the season. Any blackouts in your area will appear on your local RSN. Hulu + Live TV does the same but for out-of-market hockey fans who don’t live in the broadcast area of their favorite team.

Read on to find out which other streaming services offer all the channels you need.

With an antenna, you should be able to watch hockey games that are broadcast on ABC. And that includes every game of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Other than that, the streaming services listed below are going to be the only way to watch the NHL playoffs online.

How to Live Stream the 2024 NHL Playoffs

The hardest part about streaming the NHL playoffs without cable is making sure you have access to all of the channels you need. Luckily, there are a few streaming services that provide access to each of the required channels, so you’d be able to watch the NHL playoffs online through one app.

The good news is that you don’t need more than one streaming service to watch the playoffs because there’s an option that has all channels in a single plan. To get you started, see the summary below of the streaming service plans that might work for you to catch the playoffs this year.

• Sling TV: The cheapest choice to watch all of the NHL Playoff games in 2024. For $40.00/month, you can get Sling Orange, which features ESPN, TNT, and the underappreciated ESPN3 that simulcasts most games broadcast by ABC Sports (but sadly not the NHL playoffs this year). It’s not the best service for the regular season but it’s an awesome deal for the playoffs. The plan comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage but you are limited to a single stream. (Sling TV review, NHL playoffs on Sling TV, NHL playoff schedule on Sling TV)
• DIRECTV STREAM: This is our top choice for NHL fans because it allows you to watch pretty much every game of the regular season via its vast selection of RSNs. But it’s also a top choice for the playoffs with ABC, ESPN, and TNT. You can get all that with its base (Entertainment) plan for $86.99/month. But to get the RSNs, you need to upgrade to the Choice plan for $114.99/month. This also includes many other sports channels including MLB Network and NBA TV. All plans come with unlimited cloud DVR storage and streaming on unlimited devices at once. (DIRECTV STREAM review)
• Hulu + Live TV: Starts with the outstanding Hulu on-demand library and adds 100+ live TV channels. And then it tops it off with Disney+ and ESPN+ — all for $82.99/month. This includes ABC, ESPN, and TNT as well as Fox Sports (FS1, FS2), CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, and more. But during the regular season, it’s ESPN+ that really shines, offering most out-of-market games live. The plan comes with unlimited cloud DVR and streaming on up to two devices. (Hulu + Live TV review)
• Fubo: Most known for its live sports coverage, it’s an excellent service for $79.99/month. And it is great for the regular NHL season because it provides the RSNs for every US-based NHL team. But its 150+ channel lineup does not include TNT (or any of the Turner channels like TBS and TCM), so you will miss out on many playoff games although you will get to watch all of the Stanley Cup finals, which are on ABC. All plans come with unlimited cloud DVR storage and streaming on up to 10 devices. (Fubo review)
• YouTube TV: Provides a similar plan to Hulu + Live TV that will allow you to watch all the NHL playoffs for $72.99/month.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Choosing a Streaming Service

Each streaming service offers one or more plans with a number of channels. These can be supplemented with add-ons. For example, Sling TV is more customizable than any of the other services but it also offers the fewest channels in its base plan.

Now let’s look at how such streaming services are different from conventional cable deals:

• Contract vs No Contract: Cable and satellite companies have reduced their prices to compete with streaming services. But generally you have to sign up with a multi-year contract to get the same prices.
• Add-On Fees vs Base Fee: Avoid rental and equipment charges. And get extras like DVRs for free.
• Useful Extras: Both cable and streaming services allow you to add additional channels to your package. Streaming services offer on-demand libraries that allow you to view previously aired content, but some cable packages allow that, as well.

Otherwise, the process is how it’s always been. Just tune into the channel you want to watch and enjoy the show.

Streaming Devices to Watch NHL Playoffs

The popular devices in wide use today are supported by most of the live TV streaming services we’ve discussed:

There is a minor exception: DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t support Xbox.

Our streaming reviews provide complete lists of supported devices. There are many we haven’t mentioned here. One of note is that Hulu supports the PlayStation.

2024 NHL Playoffs

The top three teams are seeded from four divisions, namely, the Central, Pacific, Atlantic, and Metropolitan. There are also 4 wild card teams. These are the top two teams in each conference that were not already in the playoffs. In each matchup of the first two rounds, the team with the best record competes with the team with the worst, and so on.

The tournament itself is split into four segments:

• First Round
• Second Round
• Conference Final
• Stanley Cup Final

Each round consists of a best-of-seven series structure. The higher-placed team gets the home-ice advantage in games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The lower-placed team gets the home-ice advantage in games 3, 4, and 6.

2024 NHL Playoff Teams

The final NHL playoffs teams are set.

Here are the teams that have been eliminated:

• Eastern Conference: Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets)
• Western Conference: St Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks)

2024 NHL Playoffs Schedule

The 2024 NHL playoffs will start on Saturday, April 20th. We will have all the details as they become available. Thus far, we don’t know the teams, but we do know the dates, times, and channels of each of the first four games of each matchup for the first round.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Wrapping Up

The NHL playoffs are coming and you can watch it all without cable. In fact, you can watch some of it for free without an antenna. Otherwise, you have many streaming options to choose from.

Sling TV is our top choice for the NFL playoffs. Save 50% on your first month of Sling TV.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

FAQs

How can I watch the NHL playoffs in Canada?

Canadian hockey fans who live near the US border may be able to pick up games that air on ABC. But in general, they should sign up for NHL LIVE. This streaming service provides access to most games throughout the season and all of the playoffs. It is $29.99/mo or $74.99 for the end of the regular season and all the playoffs.

Do I need NHL Network to watch the playoffs?

You do not need NHL Network to watch the playoffs. According to the official event schedule, the NHL Playoff games will air entirely on ABC, ESPN, and TNT. Most of the games will air on TNT. But all of the Stanley Cup finals will appear on ABC, so you should be able to watch with an antenna.

How do the NHL playoffs work?

The NHL playoffs consist of four separate rounds and a total of 16 teams from four divisions. Teams are seeded based on their performance in the Central, Pacific, Atlantic, and Metropolitan divisions as well as the top two remaining teams in each conference. Then, they play a best-of-seven series of games, right up until the final.

Round One

• Seattle Kraken (4) vs Colorado Avalanche (3)
• Minnesota Wild (2) vs Dallas Stars (4)
• Los Angeles Kings (2) vs Edmonton Oilers (4)
• Winnipeg Jets (1) vs Vegas Golden Knights (4)
• New York Rangers (3) vs New Jersey Devils (4)
• New York Islanders (2) vs Carolina Hurricanes (4)
• Tampa Bay Lightnight (2) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (4)
• Florida Panthers (4) vs Boston Bruins (3)

Round Two

• Seattle Kraken (3) vs Dallas Stars (4)
• Edmonton Oilers (2) vs Vegas Golden Knights (4)
• New Jersey Devils (1) vs Carolina Hurricanes (4)
• Florida Panthers (4) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (1)

Conference Finals

• Dallas Stars (2) vs Vegas Golden Knights (4)
• Florida Panthers (4) vs Carolina Hurricanes (0)

Stanley Cup Finals

• Florida Panthers (1) vs Golden Knights (4)

The games ended as follows:

• Sat Jun 3 8:00 pm: Panthers (2) at Golden Knights (5) (TNT)
• Mon Jun 5 8:00 pm: Panthers (2) at Golden Knights (7) (TNT)
• Thu Jun 8 8:00 pm: Golden Knights (2) at Panthers (3) (TNT)
• Sat Jun 10 8:00 pm: Golden Knights (3) at Panthers (2) (TNT)
• Tue Jun 13 8:00 pm: Panthers (3) at Golden Knights (9) (TNT)

• Author
• Recent Posts

Follow me

Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

Follow me

Latest posts by Frank Moraes (see all)

• How to Watch Pac-12 College Teams in 2024-25 - 08/06/2024
• States That Have Produced the Best Actors and Actresses - 09/06/2022
• US States With the Fastest Internet - 06/21/2022