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The regular hockey season may have come to a close, but the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full force. Keep reading to learn how to watch the NHL Playoffs and when your favorite team will play in the tournament.
The Florida Panthers and New York Rangers face off in Round 3 for the Eastern Conference finals, while the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars are competing in the Western Conference finals. Round 3 will last until at least Wednesday, May 29, but it could extend as far as Tuesday, June 4, if the Oilers vs. Stars pairing is forced to Game 7. Subscribing to both Max and ESPN+ will cover you for this round, but we’ll also recommend a live TV streaming package if you’re looking for another alternative.
If you’re a cord-cutter who still wants to tune in live, we’ve got you covered. We’ll recommend a couple of helpful live TV packages as a streaming alternative to cable and tell you what channel every game streams on.
The NHL Playoffs will air across the ESPN and Turner Network family of channels, meaning you’ll need access to ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, and truTV to catch all games of the tournament. Occasionally, games will also air on ABC. If you don’t have cable, you can try out a live TV package like Sling TV to access all the games.
For Sling TV, you’ll need to go with the Sling Orange plan to get access to ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and TBS (most truTV hockey games are simulcast on TBS or TNT, so it should be fine if you’re missing the channel). Sling plans start at $40 a month. If you want to access the rare ABC game through Sling, you’ll need to add on the Blue plan as well. Sling Blue + Orange costs $55 a month, but you should double-check the channel listings by inputting your zip code to ensure that ABC is available in your area since local channel availability often varies from region to region.
For just the essentials without any extra fluff, Sling TV is the streaming service you’re looking for. It’s more customizable than other plans, with three options you can choose from, so you pay for only what you need. New members get their first month for $20 off.
If you don’t mind missing the ESPN games, you can catch all of the TNT, TBS, and truTV games live with a subscription to Max. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 a month and have live sports options thanks to the service’s B/R Sports Add-on. The add-on is currently free with subscriptions, but it will eventually cost an additional $9.99 monthly.
Formerly HBO Max, now just Max, this streaming service is the US home of premium content from HBO and Warner Bros. Since the rebranding, it’s now also the home of Discovery content for reality, food, true crime, and more. Prices start at $10 a month for ad-supported, $16 for ad-free, and $20 if you want to view in 4K.
Games that air on ESPN will also be available to live stream through ESPN+. Oftentimes, ESPN and ESPN+ are not simulcast, but there will be an exception for the NHL Playoffs. You can also catch NHL Playoffs games that air on ABC through ESPN+. Subscriptions start at $10.99 a month. Our ESPN+ guide provides a comprehensive explainer of the streaming service. If you combine ESPN+ and Max, you can catch every Round 3 game for $20.98 a month.
ESPN Plus is a sports subscription service that includes live sports, exclusive video content, and written analysis from ESPN. You can pay monthly or go for an annual deal for $110, which saves you about $22 a year. There’s also a triple bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus, which offers an even better discount.
For hockey fans traveling outside the US during the NHL Playoffs, you can keep up with the aforementioned subscriptions using a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are easy ways to alter your device’s virtual location (plus, they’re handy ways to boost your internet privacy). This recommendation is mainly for Americans who are just abroad at the moment and looking to use their existing subscriptions, as the live TV services we’ve highlighted today require US forms of payment.
Interested in trying out a VPN? Our go-to suggestion is ExpressVPN, a straightforward VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want to learn more, take a look at our ExpressVPN review and keep reading to see how to use it.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that makes it exceptional. Better yet, you can save up to 49% and get an extra three months for free today.
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Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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