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Hockey is surging in popularity, thanks to the HBO Max sensation “Heated Rivalry.” But watching real games from the comfort of home can be surprisingly complicated, for lifelong fans and recent converts alike.
Catching on-the-ice action isn’t always as simple as flicking on the TV to basic cable. Some games require an upgraded TV package or streaming subscription to watch.
Our guide can help you find hockey games on-screen.
How to watch NHL games
NHL games are spread across a handful of networks and services, thanks to a complicated web of league broadcast agreements. Whether you’re following one team or several, you’ll probably need to cobble together multiple options to catch every puck drop.
Where an NHL matchup is shown depends on whether the game is broadcast nationally or regionally.
- Where to watch nationally televised games: ESPN+ (streamed in ESPN+ and Hulu), TNT (streamed in Watch TNT and HBO Max), ESPN (streamed in the ESPN app) or ABC (streamed in the ESPN app).
- Where to watch regional games: Viewers in a team’s local market will find most games on their regional sports network. There’s a link to each team’s broadcast page on the NHL website. Out-of-market games air on NHL Center Ice (stream in ESPN+) or NHL Network.
Because games rotate between these channels and apps, it’s easy to lose track. The NHL’s online schedule can tell you where each matchup airs.
So, what’s the best way to watch hockey?
That depends on how much time and money you want to spend. If you’ll only tune in every once in a while, start small. Puck lovers can mix and match services to get more.
An antenna may work for some: You might get access to ABC, and possibly a regional broadcast channel, over the air with an indoor or outdoor TV antenna. All you’ll pay is the price of the hardware.
ESPN+ gets you a lot for a little: Casual watchers who want more coverage might do great with just ESPN+. That’s what fans in the r/hockey subreddit typically recommend. ESPN+ gives you access to many nationally televised and out-of-market NHL games. A standalone ESPN+ subscription starts at $12.99 per month. You can bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu starting at $19.99 per month.
Tack on for more: Adding a Standard HBO Max plan will get you the TNT games, too, for $18.49 per month.
ESPN+, plus a live TV streaming service, gets you the most for more: Avid hockey fans may want to pair ESPN+ with a robust cable package or live TV streaming service — such as YouTube TV or FuboTV — to round out the coverage. Live TV streaming services basically cost as much as cable nowadays, but typically include ABC, ESPN and TNT, all in one app.
» RELATED: How to watch NFL football without cable
How to watch hockey during the Olympics
The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics feature more than 100 events across eight sports and 16 disciplines. That’s a lot of competition to wade through. How can you make sure you don’t miss out on ice hockey? Cord-cutters can rely on Peacock (or an antenna).
Hockey takes place through Feb. 22, according to the official Olympics website. Here’s where to watch:
- TV: Games will be shown on NBC, CNBC and USA Network.
- Streaming: You can catch live streams and full replays on Peacock (Premium and Premium Plus plans only). Live streams and replays will also be available on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app and the NBC Sports app — but you’ll have to link your TV provider.
A TV antenna that picks up NBC is one of the cheapest ways to watch Olympic hockey. The cheapest full-coverage option is a Peacock Premium plan for $10.99 per month.
Hoping to catch USA vs. Canada hockey? The men's teams face off in the gold-medal game at 8:10 a.m. Eastern time Feb. 22. Watch it on NBC and the streaming services listed above.
You can find the hockey viewing schedule at NBCOlympics.com.
(Lead photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images News via Getty Images)
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