How To Watch 2023-24 NHL Season: TV Channels, Streaming Info, Schedule

By Angela Tricarico
Published Oct. 10, 2023, 12:00 p.m. ET
All the products and services on this page were chosen by a Decider editor, but we may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission on some items if you decide to buy.

More On:

hockey

The quest for the Stanley Cup begins again tonight as the 2023-2024 NHL season opens.

Last season ended with a major win for the recent expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, who played the Florida Panthers.

But with a new season comes 82 new games per team, and 82 more chances to work toward making their mark on NHL history and having their names stamped into the Stanley Cup.

There are two kinds of NHL games: in-market and out of market.

In-market games are ones for your local teams. If you can watch the game on a local cable network, it’s in-market. For example, those living in New York are considered in-market for the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils.

Out of market games are everything else. Say you live in Chicago, but you want to tune into an Anaheim game — that game is out of market. They’re actually the easier of the two kinds of games to watch if you don’t have cable.

Below, we’ve outlined everything you need to know to watch the NHL this season.

How to Watch the NHL on TV:

Trevor Zegras #46 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal with Jamie Drysdale #34, to tie the game 1-1
Photo: Harry How/Getty Images

In addition to whatever local channel carries your favorite team (be it a Bally Sports regional affiliate, MSG, NESN, or others), NHL games will occasionally air nationally on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NHL Network.

The NHL Schedule on ESPN offers a comprehensive look at where every game of the season is airing. If the TV channel says “NHLPP|ESPN+” (as most do), that means it’ll be airing on the local channels for both teams (in addition to ESPN+, but more on that later).

To watch any of the national games, just click over to the respective channel at puck drop.

How to Stream NHL Games Online:

The most convenient way to stream NHL games for your favorite team if you don’t have cable is with a subscription to the DIRECTV Stream live TV streaming service, since it’s the only service that includes access to local sports channels.

The Choice plan ($100/month) on DIRECTV Stream is the one that you’ll need to subscribe to if you want to watch your favorite local team live. It also carries ABC, ESPN, and TNT, but you’ll need to upgrade your plan further for NHL Network.

directv stream

You can also get some of the channels on the following live TV streaming services:

ABCESPNTNTNHL Network
Sling TV Orange and Blue
($60/month)		✔✔✔✔
(in Sports Extra add-on)
Hulu + Live TV
($77/month)		✔✔XX
fuboTV
($75/month)		✔✔X✔

Max has also recently introduced a way to watch select NHL games on their service thanks to a new partnership with Bleacher Report Live — any NHL game airing on TNT is included.

Now through February 29, the BR Live add-on will come free with a Max subscription; after that, you’ll have to pay an additional $10/month to watch live sports.

max on Prime Video
Max
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) skates with the puck during a preseason game
Photo: Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Can I Watch Out of Market NHL Games?

Yes! Somehow, this is the most straightforward of the bunch. It’s easier (and cheaper) to watch out of market games without cable than it is to watch your local teams.

Every out of market game that isn’t being aired nationally (e.g. on ESPN, etc.) is available to stream on ESPN+. ESPN+ costs $10/month on its own, but can also be subscribed to as part of the Disney Bundle with Disney+ and Hulu.

If you’re a Disney Bundle subscriber, you can also watch these games on Hulu.

ESPN+ will air over 1,000 games during the regular season.

espn+

Can I Stream NHL Games for Free?

fuboTV is the only service carrying NHL games that offers a free trial.

NHL Schedule and Key Dates:

Mika Zibanejad #93 and Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers reach for a loose puck during the first period of a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Photo: Ben Jackson/NHLI via Getty Images

In addition to opening day, which is today, October 10, here are some key dates on the NHL schedule. A full schedule for the season can be found here.

  • Oct. 29 — Stadium Series: Calgary vs. Edmonton at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium
  • Nov. 16 — NHL Global Series, Sweden: Detroit vs. Ottawa at Avicii Arena
  • Nov. 17 — NHL Global Series, Sweden: Toronto vs. Detroit at Avicii Arena
  • Nov. 18 — NHL Global Series, Sweden: Minnesota vs. Ottawa at Avicii Arena
  • Nov. 19 — NHL Global Series, Sweden: Toronto vs. Minnesota at Avicii Arena
  • Jan. 1 — Winter Classic: Vegas vs. Seattle at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park
  • Feb. 2 — All Star Skills Competition at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena
  • Feb. 3 — All Star Game at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena
  • Feb. 17 — Stadium Series: Philadelphia vs. New Jersey at MetLife Stadium
  • Feb. 18 — Stadium Series: New Jersey vs. New York Rangers at MetLife Stadium
  • Mar. 8 — NHL Trade Deadline
  • Apr. 18 — Regular Season Ends (6 games)
  • Apr. 22 — Playoffs Begin

For more content, check out the Decider Shopping section.