How to watch the NHL Playoffs: The road to the Stanley Cup is here
The road to the Stanley Cup has arrived, and the second round of the 2025 Playoffs is underway. We've put together everything you need to know about how to watch the NHL Playoffs, including live streaming options for those without cable.
The Winnipeg Jets have been the standouts this season, with a 56-22-4 regular season record that put them firmly on top of the Central Division leader board. The Vegas Golden Knights lead the Pacific Division with a 50-22-10 record, while the Toronto Maple Leafs lead the Atlantic 52-26-4 and the Washington Capitals lead the Metropolitan 51-22-9. The Florida Panthers, who took home the Stanley Cup in 2024, finished the season ranked third in the Atlantic Division and have advanced to the next round of the tournament.
Round 2 kicked off on May 5 and will see the top eight teams vie for a shot at the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. The first round featured two different match-ups that went all the way to game seven: the Colorado Avalanche vs. the Dallas Stars and the Jets vs. the St. Louis Blues. Dallas and Winnipeg ultimately managed to win their respective series, with the Jets' victory coming in double overtime. So far, the second round has been slightly less dramatic, with no major sweeps or upsets (yet).
Whether you're rooting for the Panthers to repeat last year's success or hoping to see a new team rise to the top, we've got you covered. Keep reading to learn how to tune in to each best-of-seven round, no matter where you are.
How to watch the NHL Playoffs: quick links
US: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, truTV, TBS
Sling TV (All games)
DirecTV (All games)
ESPN Plus (ABC games only)
Max (TNT/truTV/TBS games only)
Access subscriptions anywhere: ExpressVPN (try risk-free for 30 days)
When: April 19—June 23, 2025 at the very latest
What channels are the NHL Playoff games on?
The NHL Playoffs are spread across a few different channels. Games will air on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and TNT/truTV/TBS family of networks. As the rounds progress, the games will mainly be on ESPN, ABC, and TNT/truTV. All games will be nationally televised, so (unlike during the regular season) there won't be any streaming-exclusive matchups.
How to watch the NHL Playoffs in the US
For cord-cutters, the best way to ensure you don't miss a game is to subscribe to a streaming service that carries all of the networks. Some of our favorite all-inclusive live streaming services are Sling TV and DirecTV. All of the options below, though, are solid and feature in our roundup of the top sports streaming services.
Sling TV is the cheapest way to watch every single game in the NHL Playoffs. You'll want to opt for Sling Orange, which comes with ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and TBS, in addition to 31 other live channels. From what we've seen in the network lineup so far, all truTV games appear to be simulcast on TNT or TBS, so you don't need to worry about getting truTV. Additionally, most ABC NHL games are available through ESPN3, which is also included with Sling Orange. Sling subscriptions start at just $46/month, making it the most affordable live streaming channel package with sports, and new users can get 50% off their first month of service.
DirecTV also carries everything you'll need to watch the NHL Playoffs with its DirecTV MySports package. MySports offers ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, and ABC (in select regions), in addition to about 20 other popular live sports channels. Subscriptions start at $70/month and come with a five-day free trial for new customers.
The above options are the two core packages we recommend for cord-cutters looking for a way to live stream every single game of the 2025 NHL Playoffs. Other streaming services will be able to help you out with specific games. For example, ESPN Plus should eventually come in handy for some ABC games. No further scheduling/streaming announcements have been made so far, but ESPN Plus carried the ABC games for the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. The NHL on ESPN Plus landing page also says that you can stream every game of the East or West Conference Finals. Subscriptions start at $12/month.
Max will live stream every single TNT, truTV, and TBS game through its B/R Sports Add-on. The add-on is included in all ad-free Max subscriptions, which start at $17/month. The ad-free designation is for the on-demand content, so ads will still appear on live sports.
How to watch the NHL Playoffs from anywhere
NHL fans traveling outside the US can still keep up with their usual watch options with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are handy tools that allow you to change your virtual location, so you can use your usual websites and apps from anywhere in the world. The services we've recommended require US payment methods, so this option will work best for Americans who are simply abroad at the moment.
ExpressVPN is our top VPN recommendation. It's a breezy, cybersecurity-focused service with a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. You can read more about it in our ExpressVPN review, and see below to learn how to use a VPN.
How to watch the NHL Playoffs with a VPN
Sign up for a VPN if you don't already have one.
Install it on the device you're using to watch.
Turn it on and set it to a US location.
Sign up for one of the above streaming services.
Enjoy the games!
Round 1 match-ups
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars
Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets
Round 2 match-ups
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