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With the end of the 2025-26 NHL regular season, the best teams compete to win the iconic Stanley Cup trophy. There’s a lot of top players going into the playoffs — such as Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Jason Robertson, Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl, Cale Makar and others — but only one team can claim victory.
The NHL Playoffs continues until the end of the the NHL Stanley Cup Final on Sunday, June 21 — if the championship series goes seven games.
At a Glance: Watch the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Live Online
Keep reading to find out how to watch the 2026 NHL Playoffs. In the meantime, check out a complete schedule of playoff games here, or the tournament bracket here.
How to Watch 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Without Cable
While the NHL Playoffs broadcast on TV across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and truTV, games can be streamed on internet-based streaming cable services, like DirecTV, Sling and Hulu + Live TV. Postseason games are also available to livestream on platforms, such as ESPN Unlimited and HBO Max.
Ahead, find out how to watch the NHL Playoffs with and without a cable subscription.
EDitor’s Choice
DirecTV
125+ channels
Watch the 2026 NHL Playoffs with DirecTV, which carries ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and truTV, along with more than 125 other channels — such as NHL Network, CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports, NFL Network, FanDuel TV and others. Sports fans can watch NHL games for free with the cable streamer’s five-day trial. Afterwards, you can either cancel the service or keep watching, with prices starting at $59.99 for the first month of service ($94.99 per month afterward) for the entry-level “Choice” package with the streamer’s current deals.
Sling
Please note: Prices and channel availability depend on your local TV market.
Sling is one of the most affordable options for new live TV streaming subscribers who want to watch the NHL Playoffs on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and truTV with the Orange + Blue plan with prices starting at $60.99 per month. Meanwhile, NHL Network is available through Sling’s Sports Extra package for an additional $11 per month. The sports package includes NBA TV, MLB Network, ESPNU and more.
Hulu + Live TV
Comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited
To watch ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and truTV online, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV is fantastic option. The streaming service includes Disney+, ESPN Unlimited and access to more than 95 live channels — like CBS Sports Network, BET, CNN, Food Network and more — starting at $89.99 per month. In addition to live cable, Hulu + Live TV lets subscribers watch originals from Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited. It includes unlimited cloud DVR, too. Hulu also offers a three-day free trial.
ESPN Unlimited
Watch NHL games on ESPN Unlimited; plants from $29.99 per month.
ESPN Unlimited includes all of the sports network’s channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ABC on ESPN, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and others, as well as original programming, such as The Pat McAfee Show, 30 For 30, McEnroe’s Places, Man in the Arena: Tom Brady, Southern Hoops: A History of SEC Basketball, Deion’s Double Play and others. It also comes with streaming access to live sports from NBA, UFC, Formula 1, MLB and other sports leagues.
HBO Max
Sign up via Prime Video
HBO Max has the B/R Sports add-on for free, as part of its streaming service.
Available through Prime Video, HBO Max’s sports hub has access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs starting at $10.99 per month; note that a Prime Membership ($14.99 monthly or $139 annually) or Prime Video subscription ($8.99 monthly) is required.
In addition, HBO Max includes NHL on TNT, U.S. Soccer, MotoGP and other sports leagues. The service has hit movies like Sinners, One Battle After Another, Barbie, The Zone of Interest, Wonka, Avatar: The Way of Water and others, as well as award-winning series, such as The Last of Us, Hacks, The White Lotus and others.
How to Watch 2025-26 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs With Cable
NHL postseason games air across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and truTV. You can watch by tuning in through your cable TV provider, on the networks’ respective websites and mobile apps with your cable TV account login — including streaming and traditional services such as DirecTV, Sling, Verizon, Xfinity and others.
