In the United States, NHL games are shown on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and TBS, with some games also available through ESPN+ and other streaming services. Local broadcasts and college, international, and women’s hockey have separate schedules and rights.
The right place to watch depends on the league, your location, and whether a game is nationally televised. A local game may be blocked on a streaming service that carries out-of-market matchups.
Use this guide to identify the likely channel, choose a viewing option, and check for blackouts before game time. Broadcast agreements can change, so confirm the listing for the specific matchup you want.
who shows hockey games in the United States?
For NHL games, the main national broadcasters in the United States are ESPN, ABC, TNT, and TBS. ESPN and ABC carry games under the league’s national television arrangement, while TNT and TBS show games through a separate national agreement. The schedule determines which network airs each matchup.
Those channels do not carry every NHL game. Many regular-season matchups are shown by a regional broadcaster serving the teams’ local markets. Streaming options may include ESPN+ for eligible out-of-market games, plus apps or live-TV services tied to the relevant network or local rights holder.
There is no single channel or service for every hockey game. College, international, minor-league, and women’s hockey each have their own rights arrangements. Start by identifying the league and teams, then check the game listing for the date and your location.
Where to watch NHL games
National broadcasts
Nationally televised NHL games are assigned to ESPN, ABC, TNT, or TBS. The channel can vary by game, and a team may appear on different networks throughout the season. Check the league’s schedule or the teams’ official schedule for the broadcaster listed beside that matchup.
ABC is a broadcast network, so many viewers can receive it with a compatible TV antenna, depending on local signal coverage. ESPN, TNT, and TBS are generally accessed through a participating TV provider or a live-TV streaming service that carries the channel. A subscription to a streaming platform does not automatically include every network; check its channel lineup first.
Local and regional broadcasts
Games that are not assigned to a national broadcast may air on a regional sports network or another local rights holder. A regional sports network (RSN) carries sports programming for a particular area. Which RSN serves a team depends on its broadcast agreement and the viewer’s market.
Local coverage can be available through a cable or satellite package, a live-TV streaming service, or a team-linked streaming option where one is offered. These services and their availability can change. Check the team’s official broadcast page and enter your ZIP code with the provider before paying for a plan.
ESPN+ and out-of-market games
ESPN+ carries many NHL games for viewers outside the local markets of the teams playing. These are often called out-of-market games: games that are not treated as local broadcasts where you live. ESPN+ does not mean every NHL matchup is available to every subscriber.
Local-market restrictions can prevent a game from appearing on ESPN+ in the area where a team’s local broadcast rights apply. Nationally exclusive games may also have different viewing rules. Check the event details in the app before assuming a subscription includes a particular game.
A useful distinction: a game being listed on a streaming service does not guarantee that it will play in your location. The listing, the teams involved, and your viewing market all matter.
TV, streaming, and radio options compared
Use this table as a starting point, not a promise that every game is included. Rights and availability vary by matchup, provider, and location.
| Option | What it may carry | What to check | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Selected nationally televised NHL games | Local signal reception and game schedule | Viewers who can receive the broadcast network |
| ESPN, TNT, or TBS | Selected national NHL games | Whether your TV or live-streaming provider carries the channel | Fans following nationally scheduled matchups |
| ESPN+ | Many out-of-market NHL games and selected other events | Local blackouts, event listing, and any separate access requirements | Fans watching teams outside their local market |
| Regional broadcaster or team streaming option | Many local regular-season games | Market eligibility, provider lineup, and current team rights | Fans who mainly watch a nearby team |
| Live-TV streaming service | Networks included in that service’s package | Channel lineup, location, and subscription terms | Viewers replacing or supplementing cable |
| Radio or team audio stream | Live play-by-play audio | Local station and any geographic limits | Fans who want to follow a game without video |
How to find a specific hockey game
Follow these steps before choosing a subscription. They help prevent a common mistake: paying for a service that carries hockey but not the game you want to watch.
- Identify the competition. Confirm whether it is an NHL, college, international, minor-league, or women’s game. Rights differ by competition.
- Find the exact matchup and start time. Use the team or league schedule, and note the date and time zone.
- Read the listed TV or streaming outlet. Look for the network name or service beside the game. A schedule may list more than one option.
- Check your location. If the game is on a local channel or an out-of-market service, your ZIP code can affect access.
- Confirm the provider carries that channel or event. Search its current lineup or event page instead of relying on an old package description.
- Test access before puck drop. Sign in, update the app if needed, and check that the game appears in your account.
The NHL TV schedule is useful for spotting national broadcasts, but a team’s own schedule can make local coverage easier to identify. If listings conflict, check the broadcaster’s current schedule close to game time.
Why a game may be blacked out
A blackout is a viewing restriction based on broadcast rights and location. It does not necessarily mean the game has been canceled or that the streaming app is broken. A local rights holder may have exclusive permission to show the game in a particular market.
Blackouts can affect an out-of-market package when the matchup is considered local to your area. National exclusivity can also affect where a game is shown. The exact rule depends on the competition, the broadcast agreement, and the service’s terms.
Before subscribing, use the service’s location checker and review its blackout information. If you are traveling, access may differ from what you see at home. Avoid assuming that a VPN or a change in account settings will make a restricted game available; services may block access under their terms.
Who shows college, international, and women’s hockey?
College hockey
College hockey appears across a mix of national sports networks, conference channels, streaming services, and school platforms. The exact outlet depends on the teams, conference, and tournament. A nationally prominent matchup may be carried by a broad sports network, while another game may only be available through a school or conference service.
Check both schools’ schedules and the conference tournament page. If a game is part of an NCAA championship event, use the event’s official schedule to find its assigned broadcaster. Do not assume that a regular-season channel carries the postseason game.
International hockey
World championships, Olympic tournaments, and other national-team competitions have event-specific broadcast rights. Coverage can change by country and by tournament. In the United States, check the event organizer’s schedule and the broadcaster’s listing for the current edition.
For viewers outside the United States, the rights holder may be different. A U.S. channel or streaming subscription may not include a broadcast in another country, even when the game itself is the same.
Women’s hockey
Women’s professional and national-team games are shown through a range of broadcast and streaming partners. The outlet depends on the league or event, and some games may be available free through an official online channel while others require a subscription or air on a sports network.
Check the league’s official schedule first, then follow the broadcast link for the individual game. This is especially helpful for games with changing start times or event-specific coverage arrangements.
What to know before choosing a hockey streaming service
Start with the games you watch most, not the number of sports listed in a service’s advertisement. A service with a large channel bundle may still lack your team’s regional broadcaster, while a narrower option may carry the games you follow.
- Check local access. Confirm whether your team’s games are available in your ZIP code.
- Compare the actual channels. Look for ESPN, ABC, TNT, TBS, and the relevant regional outlet when those networks matter to your schedule.
- Review blackouts and exclusions. Read the service’s rules for local and nationally exclusive games.
- Check supported devices. Make sure the app works on your television, streaming device, phone, or computer.
- Consider audio as a backup. Radio broadcasts can keep you up to date if video access is unavailable.
A live hockey stream can also differ in delay from a cable broadcast. If you follow live scores or chat with other fans, notifications may arrive before the video feed. Turn off score alerts if you want to avoid learning the result before a play appears on screen.
Common mistakes hockey viewers can avoid
Assuming one subscription includes every game
No single U.S. TV channel or streaming service carries every hockey game across every league. National rights, local rights, and event-specific deals divide coverage among different outlets. Verify the individual matchup rather than choosing a service based on a general claim that it has hockey.
Confusing local games with out-of-market games
Out-of-market packages are designed for games outside a viewer’s local broadcast area. They may not solve access to a nearby team’s game. If your main goal is watching the local club, check its regional broadcaster first.
Checking only the team name, not the date
A team can appear on different networks during the season. The regular schedule, a rescheduled game, and a playoff matchup may each have different listings. Confirm the date and time as well as the teams.
Waiting until the opening faceoff to troubleshoot
App updates, password issues, device limits, and location checks can take time to resolve. Sign in early and open the event page before the game begins. This small step is especially useful for a one-off stream or a nationally televised matchup.
Where to check listings outside the United States
Broadcast rights are country-specific. Canadian viewers, for example, should check current listings from the national and regional sports broadcasters serving their area, as well as the league’s official schedule. A service available in the United States may not carry the same games in Canada.
For any country, use this order: check the league or tournament schedule, look for the listed broadcaster in your region, and confirm the event is included in your provider’s package. This avoids relying on an old rights announcement or a channel lineup from another market.
For games that are hard to find on television, an official league or team site may list an audio broadcast, live updates, or a legitimate streaming link. Those options are not always video, but they can help you follow the action when a full broadcast is unavailable.
The answer to who shows hockey games depends on the league, matchup, and your location. In the United States, NHL coverage is split among national networks, local broadcasters, and streaming services, while other competitions have separate arrangements.
Before subscribing, look up the exact game and confirm the channel, location rules, and blackout status. Checking the listing ahead of puck drop is the simplest way to avoid paying for access that does not include the game you want.