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Written by Frank Moraes - June 3, 2024 Senior Content Editor

As the 2024 NHL season builds towards its climactic Stanley Cup finals next May and June, I’m watching closely to see which teams emerge as true contenders. From the Chicago Blackhawks to the Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings to Pittsburgh Penguins, and even Canadian franchises like the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens, the path to hockey’s ultimate prize remains wide open. At this stage, it’s impossible to predict which team will hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup when the dust settles.

One thing is for certain, the final – named after Lord Stanley of Preston – will see the top National Hockey League (NHL) teams in North America, from Calgary to Las Vegas, competing in all sorts of arenas to win the Stanley Cup championship and take home the cup.

Will your favorite hockey club have what it takes to be the winning team? Not even Wayne Gretzky knows at this stage but read on to find out how to stream all the action between now and then.

In a hurry? The Stanley Cup Finals are on TNT. These services allow you to watch it all and more:

  • DIRECTV STREAM: Get a great channel lineup with the best selection of RSNs in the industry. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
  • Sling TV: This low-cost service allows you to select just the channel lineup you want. Save 50% on Sling TV now.
  • Hulu + Live TV: This total entertainment streaming service provides a great on-demand selection and all the essential live TV channels with a 3-day free trial.

If you can’t watch your favorite sports because of your location, get ExpressVPN to access the content you deserve.

Note for viewing from : streaming platforms like Fubo or Sling TV limit access to US viewers, but combining your existing subscription with a VPN enables streaming from anywhere in the world.

ExpressVPN is my #1 choice because it’s easy to set up, super reliable, and works perfectly with these streaming services. You get access to US content through their servers in 25+ US cities, plus 3 free months and a 30-day refund if you’re not happy.

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

See our NHL Playoffs Viewer’s Guide for more information about watching all the games without cable!

Stanley Cup Finals Channels

The Stanley Cup playoffs are spread over ABC/ESPN and Turner channels. The early rounds play primarily on TBS, TNT, ESPN, and ESPN2. The Conference Finals will air on either ABC or ESPN.

The Stanley Cup Finals will air on TNT. This is the first time that it has broadcast the event.

ABC Sports events are normally also shown live on ESPN3. But that is not the case this year for the NHL playoffs.

Unlike last year, it does not appear that ESPN+ will simulcast any of these playoff games.

2024 Stanley Cup Finals Schedule

See our NHL Playoffs Viewer’s Guide for the complete schedule. The Stanley Cup will take place in June. Check back for more details.

  • Sat Jun 8 8:00 pm: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers (ABC)
  • Mon Jun 10 8:00 pm: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers (ABC)
  • Thu Jun 13 8:00 pm: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers (ABC)
  • Sat Jun 15 8:00 pm: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers (ABC)
  • Tue Jun 18 8:00 pm: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers‡ (ABC)
  • Fri Jun 21 8:00 pm: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers‡ (ABC)
  • Mon Jun 24 8:00 pm: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers‡ (ABC)
FuboTV New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils
New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils on MSG Network via FuboTV.

Watch 2024 Stanley Cup Finals

This is the first year since 1994 when you will need “cable” to watch the entire Stanley Cup Finals. Every game will air on TNT.

But some of the earlier games will air on ABC. So if you’ve been thinking of setting up an antenna, now is the time to do it. You will be impressed with everything you get. And it is all digital and in HD. See our Antenna Guide for complete information on doing it.

But to watch all of the playoffs without cable or satellite, you must choose a live TV streaming service.

  • Sling TV: This is the cheapest choice to watch the whole NHL season including almost all playoff games. You get TBS, TNT, ESPN, and ESPN2 for just $45.99/month with Sling Orange. If you are wondering about the lack of ABC, all ABC Sports events are simulcast on ESPN3, which is included right in the Sling TV app! The plan is limited to one stream at a time, but this isn’t a big deal for most people. And it comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage. (NHL guide, Stanley Cup Playoffs, schedule, and Final guide, and Sling TV review)
  • DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV): For NHL fans, this is the way to go. It has an unmatched selection of RSNs, which will allow you to watch pretty much every regular season matchup of your hometown team(s). But it also gives you all the channels you need for the playoffs. To get access to all the RSNs, you need the Choice plan for $114.99/month. This also includes roughly 100 other channels. But to get NHL Network, you need to upgrade to the 130+ channel Ultimate plan for $129.99/month. It includes unlimited cloud DVR storage and streaming on 20 devices at a time. (DIRECTV STREAM review)
  • Hulu + Live TV: Provides 85+ live TV channels including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT. But on top of that, you get Disney+ and ESPN+ for $82.99/month. The plan provides unlimited cloud DVR and streaming on two devices. (Hulu + Live TV review)
  • YouTube TV: Good overall streaming service with all you need to watch the NHL playoffs for $82.99/month.

Devices to Live Stream the Stanley Cup Finals

There are some minor exceptions, but all the live TV streaming services support most of the following devices:

  • Amazon Fire TV
  • Android mobile
  • Android TV
  • Apple TV
  • Chromecast
  • iOS devices (eg, iPhone)
  • Roku
  • Samsung Smart TVs
  • Web browsers
  • Xbox.

Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV also support the PlayStation.

Our Choice

After exploring various streaming services, I found that Sling TV’s Orange plan is the best choice for catching the Stanley Cup Finals. It offers TNT, the channel broadcasting the finals, ensuring you won’t miss a moment. The streaming quality is solid, and the interface is user-friendly, making it easy to navigate to your favorite games. While it doesn’t include local channels, its affordability and focus on essential sports networks make it a practical option for hockey fans. Compared to pricier alternatives like DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV provides the necessary coverage without extra costs. For those who prioritize watching the Stanley Cup without breaking the bank, Sling TV’s Orange plan is a reliable and cost-effective solution.

FAQs

Round 1

Eastern Conference
  • TBL (1) vs FLA (4)
  • BOS (4) vs TOR (3)
  • NYR (4) vs WSH (0)
  • CAR (4) vs NYI (1)
Western Conference
  • DAL (4) vs VGK (1)
  • COL (4) vs WPG (1)
  • VAN (4) vs NSH (2)
  • LAK (1) vs EDM (4)

Round 2

Eastern Conference
  • FLA (4) vs BOS (2)
  • NYR (4) vs CAR (2)
Western Conference
  • COL (2) vs DAL (4)
  • VAN (3) vs EDM (4)

Conference Finals

  • FLA (4) vs NYR (2) (Eastern Conference)
  • DAL (2) vs EDM (4) (Western Conference)

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