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Hockey fans worried that they’d missed this year’s Stadium Series game can breathe a sigh of relief since this year’s match-up is just a bit later than usual, taking place on March 1. Below, we’ve put together everything you need to know about how to watch Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets, including cable and live streaming options.
Since debuting in 2014, the Stadium Series has become one of the most beloved parts of the NHL season. This year, the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets will face off at the outdoor Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State Buckeyes. The teams last played on Thursday in a match-up that Columbus won 5-2. The two teams’ 2024-2025 regular season win record was tied before the game, but the victory helped the Red Wings cross the 30-win threshold.
Last year’s Stadium Series saw the New Jersey Devils beat out the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers defeat the New York Islanders. The 2026 game will provide a showdown between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Keep reading to learn how to watch today’s game. If you’re hoping to catch even more hockey before the regular season ends, make sure to bookmark our how to watch NHL games streaming guide.
US: ESPN
The Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets game will air on ESPN in the US. The puck drops at 6 p.m. ET.
Cord-cutters have several different live streaming options for watching the game, including ESPN Plus, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo. ESPN Plus is one of the most affordable ways to watch hockey in the US since it unlocks tons of games each NHL season for just $12/month. Subscriptions also offer live streaming on select NBA, NFL, and college sporting events.
ESPN Plus is designed for sports, giving subscribers access to live MLB, NHL, NFL, soccer, golf, and UFC fights. You can pay $12 monthly or go for an annual deal, which saves you about $20 a year. There’s also a bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus, which offers an even better discount.
If you’d rather try out something that will grant access to all ESPN games and tons of other NHL-friendly networks, a live TV streaming service is the way to go. These options are a bit more expensive than something like ESPN Plus or Disney Plus, but they carry anywhere from 25 to 200+ live channels, depending on which option you sign up for. And even though they function a bit like cable, you don’t need to worry about any pesky long-term contracts and are free to cancel anytime.
Sling TV is one of the most affordable live TV streaming services out there. You’ll need to sign up for Sling’s Orange plan to unlock ESPN and 34 other popular channels, including ESPN2, TNT, and AMC. Subscriptions cost $46/month, but new users can get 50% off their first month, making it just $23 today.
You can access 35 live channels with Sling Orange, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Right now, you can get 50% off your first month before subscriptions go back to $46 a month, which you can cancel any time.
DirecTV Stream is a great option for those seeking a true cable alternative. The streamer recently launched a sports-centric package, MySports, for $70/month. This unlocks live streaming for 25+ key sports networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, TNT, and the NHL Network. All plans come with a five-day free trial.
DirecTV Stream’s MySports pack carries popular sports channels, from mainstays like ESPN to niche offerings like the ACC Network.
Fubo Essential also offers ESPN in its wide-spanning channel lineup. Subscriptions start at $85/month and unlock 150+ live channels, including several popular cable networks. New users can get up to $25 off their first month of service after a seven-day free trial.
Fubo’s most essential tier features most of the same offerings as its Pro plan (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, etc.), but it lacks regional sports networks that show NBA, NHL, and MLB games. This will remove any applicable extra RSN fees from your monthly bill.
Traveling away from home and hoping to catch the game? Hockey fans keep up with their usual apps from anywhere with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs enable people to alter their virtual location so that their go-to websites work just like they would back home. Plus, they’re instant ways to give your online privacy a boost. The services we’ve recommended require US payment methods, so this will work best for Americans who are simply traveling abroad.
Not sure where to start when it comes to VPNs? ExpressVPN is our top recommendation. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and lots of security-enhancing perks. You can read more about it in our ExpressVPN review.
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 make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.
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. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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