How to watch NHL blackout games in 2026

NHL blackouts are implemented by broadcasters who hold exclusive rights to air certain games in your area or nationwide. In short, this means that even if you have a paid ESPN+ subscription, you still won’t be able to watch all the NHL games you want. Streaming the blackout games might mean looking for a cable TV channel or subscribing to yet another streaming service.

Fortunately, there’s a simpler and often cheaper solution – using a VPN to bypass NHL blackouts. With a VPN, you can connect to a server in any US location where the game you want to watch is on ESPN. This lets you watch NHL blackout games without much additional effort.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps of using a VPN to stream blackout NHL games and share my recommendations on the best VPNs.

How to watch NHL blackout games with a VPN: quick guide

To maximize your chances to bypass, you will need a reliable VPN with plenty of stable serves in the US.

1. Select a reliable streaming VPN with plenty of US servers. I recommend NordVPN, as it offers servers in 55 US locations
2. Download and install the VPN app
3. Launch the VPN and connect to a server in a US location where the NHL game you want to stream is not blacked out
4. Head to ESPN and watch NHL games without blackouts

What are NHL blackouts, and why do they happen?

NHL blackouts are location-based restrictions that prevent you from watching certain live NHL games on streaming services or TV channels. These blackouts happen because the NHL sells regional and national broadcast rights to different providers. In turn, this gives each of them exclusive access to specific games or markets, which makes watching all NHL games a legitimate quest.

Here’s how the NHL blackouts work in real life – Dallas Stars fans in Texas may find regional games blocked on ESPN+ because those games belong to the team’s local broadcast partner. The Stars’ territory also covers Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas, so the restrictions extend well beyond Dallas. Similarly, Bruins fans in Boston face local blackouts, with the team’s territory covering most of New England. These NHL blackout rules apply to both home and away games. Nationally exclusive broadcasts can also make games unavailable on other services, which means that even a paid ESPN+ subscription won’t necessarily include every matchup.

That said, streaming services use your IP address to determine whether you are in blackout territory. And, using a VPN, you can change your IP address, making it seem as though you are located in a place where the NHL game you want to watch is not blacked out.

NHL blackout map: which teams are restricted in your area?

Each NHL team has a designated broadcast area, which may mean it can cover areas way beyond its home city or even state. For example, Seattle Kraken regional games may be blacked out on ESPN+ for viewers in Alaska, even though the team plays in Washington. The NHL blackout territories can also overlap. This means your location may be subject to restrictions for multiple teams, even if you live in a state without an NHL team.

You can use the map above to check which teams’ territories cover your area. You can also use your ZIP code to check the exact blackouts using the NHL Broadcast Area Lookup for your location. Unfortunately, nationwide broadcast restrictions apply separately from regional ones.

In addition to the NHL blackout map, I also created an in-depth table explaining each NHL team's home markets and their regional broadcast partners:

NHL team	Regional broadcast territory	Regional TV/streaming providers
Anaheim Ducks	Southern California and Hawaii	KCOP / Prime Video
Boston Bruins	New England, excluding Fairfield County, Connecticut	NESN / NESN 360
Buffalo Sabres	Western and other eligible parts of upstate New York	MSG Buffalo / DAZN
Calgary Flames	Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut	Sportsnet West / Sportsnet Flames / Sportsnet+
Carolina Hurricanes	North Carolina, South Carolina, most of Georgia, and parts of Alabama	Hurricanes Hockey Network / Prime Video
Chicago Blackhawks	Eligible areas in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin	Chicago Sports Network / CHSN app
Colorado Avalanche	Eligible areas in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, southwestern South Dakota, and Wyoming	Altitude Sports / Altitude+
Columbus Blue Jackets	Most of Ohio, plus portions of Kentucky and West Virginia; excludes Toledo/Lucas County and some eastern Ohio areas	Blue Jackets Hockey Network / Prime Video
Dallas Stars	Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas	Prime Video
Detroit Red Wings	Michigan and Lucas County, Ohio	Detroit SportsNet
Edmonton Oilers	Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut	Sportsnet West / Sportsnet Oilers / Sportsnet+
Florida Panthers	South Florida, including the Keys, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Treasure Coast, and the Fort Myers area	Scripps Sports / Panthers Plus
Los Angeles Kings	Southern California and Hawaii; eligibility elsewhere requires a ZIP check	Angels Broadcast Television / LA Kings on DAZN
Minnesota Wild	Eligible areas across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota	Wild+ / Prime Video
Montreal Canadiens	Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and eligible parts of eastern/northern Ontario	TSN2 / RDS
Nashville Predators	Eligible areas across Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia	Scripps Sports / Predators streaming app
New Jersey Devils	New Jersey/New York metro area and eligible surrounding regions	MSG Networks / DAZN
New York Islanders	Long Island/New York metro area and eligible surrounding regions	MSG Networks / DAZN
New York Rangers	New York metro area and eligible surrounding regions	MSG Networks / DAZN
Ottawa Senators	Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada	TSN5 / RDS
Philadelphia Flyers	Eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, and the surrounding areas	NBC Sports Philadelphia
Pittsburgh Penguins	Eligible areas in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, eastern Ohio, New York, and Maryland	SportsNet Pittsburgh / SNP 360
San Jose Sharks	Northern/central California and eligible parts of Oregon and Nevada	NBC Sports California
Seattle Kraken	Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and eligible parts of Idaho and Montana	Kraken Hockey Network / Prime Video
St. Louis Blues	Missouri, Iowa, most of Illinois and Indiana, and eastern Kansas	Blue Note+ / Prime Video
Tampa Bay Lightning	Eligible areas across Tampa Bay, central/northern Florida, and parts of southwestern Florida	Scripps Sports / Lightning app
Toronto Maple Leafs	Ontario, excluding the Ottawa region	TSN4 / Sportsnet Ontario / Sportsnet+
Utah Mammoth	Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming, and parts of Nevada	Scripps Sports / Utah 16 / Mammoth+
Vancouver Canucks	British Columbia and Yukon	Sportsnet Pacific / Sportsnet+
Vegas Golden Knights	Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and selected counties in California and Nebraska; excludes Utah	Scripps Sports / KnightTime+
Washington Capitals	Washington, DC, and the eligible surrounding Mid-Atlantic areas	Monumental Sports Network / Monumental+
Winnipeg Jets	Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and parts of northwestern Ontario	TSN3

Avoid NHL blackouts with NordVPN

Where to watch NHL games in 2026

In the US, ESPN+ carries the most regular-season NHL games, including around 1,050 out-of-market matchups and 47 exclusives for the 2026/27 season. The ESPN Select package includes all of these games, while ESPN Unlimited also adds matchups available on ESPN and ABC. TNT-exclusive games are available via HBO Max, but local blackouts still apply to out-of-market games.

In Canada, Sportsnet+ Premium broadcasts national and out-of-market games, and Prime Video has exclusive Wednesday night games and selected playoff series.

If you’re not located in the US or Canada, you can subscribe to NHL.TV on DAZN, where it is supported. This subscription unlocks broadcasts of every regular-season game, the playoffs, and the Stanley Cup. However, NHL.TV on DAZN may still have blackouts.

Streaming service	Availability	Monthly price	Annual or seasonal price	Live NHL coverage
ESPN Select (ESPN+)	US	$13.99	$139.99/year	1,050+ out-of-market games and 47 streaming exclusives; local blackouts apply
ESPN Unlimited	US	$31.99	$319.99/year	Everything in Select, plus ESPN/ABC games and their playoff coverage; excludes TNT games
HBO Max Standard	US	$18.49	$184.99/year	TNT Sports games, selected playoff rounds, and the 2027 Stanley Cup Final
Sportsnet+ Premium	Canada	CA $44.99	CA $344.99/year	Sportsnet national games, eligible regional broadcasts, and out-of-market games; regional blackouts apply
Prime Video	Canada	CA $9.99	CA $99/year	Exclusive Wednesday national games and selected playoff series
NHL.TV on DAZN	Supported international countries; unavailable in the US and Canada	Varies by country and plan	Varies by country and plan	Every regular-season game, playoffs, and Stanley Cup Final; applicable blackouts may restrict live viewing

If you want to avoid NHL blackouts on ESPN+ or access NHL.TV on DAZN from the US or Canada, a VPN can be very helpful. All you have to do is connect to a VPN server in the right location, and stream NHL games that were previously blacked out in your location.

Stream NHL games with NordVPN

How can a VPN help with NHL blackouts?

As you connect to a VPN server, the connection encrypts your network traffic and changes your IP address at the same time. This simple action makes it look as though you are actually located where the server is. So, if a streaming service blacks out an NHL game because you are inside a team’s broadcast territory, connecting to a server outside that region may bypass the blackout.

From what I found, connecting to a US server outside both participating teams’ home territories usually works best for bypassing NHL blackouts on ESPN+. If you connect outside your team’s home market area, it may not work if the other team is also labeled as local in the location where you are connected.

That said, although a VPN is hugely useful in bypassing geo-restrictions and NHL blackouts, you will still need to make sure you have a streaming service subscription that actually covers the game.

Best VPNs for watching NHL blackout games

Not all VPNs are suitable for bypassing NHL blackouts. To find VPNs that actually work, I looked for services with plenty of US servers, good location coverage, fast connection speeds for smooth livestreams, and reliable geo-blocking bypass capabilities. After testing several providers, I found the top 3 best VPNs for watching NHL blackout games:

1. NordVPN – the best overall VPN for watching NHL blackout games with fast servers in 55 US locations
2. Surfshark – fast and affordable VPN to bypass NHL blackouts with unlimited device connections
3. Proton VPN – privacy-first VPN to stream NHL games with plenty of servers in the US

How to watch NHL blackout games with a VPN: step by step

Using a VPN to watch blackout NHL games on ESPN+ or to access NHL.TV from the US or Canada is probably the most straightforward solution. All you have to do is connect to a server in the correct location and stream NHL games as you normally would. For a more detailed explanation, follow my guide below.

Step 1. Get a reliable VPN

Not all VPNs work for bypassing NHL blackouts. I recommend looking for a VPN with plenty of US servers and locations, fast connection speed for lag-free streaming, and strong security features to bypass geo-restrictions.

Based on my experience, NordVPN is the best VPN overall for streaming blackout NHL games. Using it, I could easily watch the games I wanted on ESPN+ and access NHL.TV from the US and Canada.

Step 2. Download and install the VPN

Once you select your VPN provider, download the correct app for your device directly from the official website or a trusted app store. Then install the app by following the on-screen instructions and granting all permissions if prompted.

I always recommend downloading VPN apps directly from the official provider website, such as www.nordvpn.com, or reliable app stores. This way, you won’t accidentally download a corrupt or malicious app.

Step 3. Connect to a VPN server

Launch your VPN app and connect to a US server to change your IP address and stream NHL blackout games in your area.

Choosing the correct server location is key to bypassing regional NHL blackouts. For example, try a server in New York for a Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche game, Miami for a Seattle Kraken vs Boston Bruins matchup, or Los Angeles for a Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets game.

Step 4. Head to ESPN and start streaming

With your VPN connected, head to ESPN, log in to your account, and start streaming the previously blacked-out NHL games in your area.

Alternatively, you can use your VPN to access the NHL.TV games on DAZN from Canada and the US. In this case, you will need to connect to a server in a country where the service is available, such as Ireland, the UK, or Germany.

Forget NHL blackouts with NordVPN

NHL games still blacked out with a VPN: quick fixes

If NHL games are still blacked out with a VPN, the common issues include using the wrong server, a streaming service detecting VPN usage, or outdated browsing data that exposes your location. Here are the quick fixes you can try:

• Wrong server choice. If you’re currently connected to a server in your team's home market, you will need to reconnect to a different one in a location where the NHL blackouts do not apply.
• Old browsing data is exposing your location. Close the streaming app, clear its cache, or try a private browser window, then reopen the service with your VPN connected.
• Your real IP address is leaking. Enable your VPN’s leak protection and check that your public IP matches the selected server location. To diagnose leaks, you can use ipleak.net or dnsleaktest.com tools.
• Your device’s location reveals where you are. Mobile apps may check your GPS alongside your IP address. Try streaming through a desktop browser instead, or use an additional GPS spoofing app if that is not an option.
• The NHL game isn’t included in your subscription. Check the game’s broadcaster and use the service carrying it. A VPN cannot unlock coverage your plan doesn’t include.
• The VPN connection dropped. Reconnect before reloading the stream and enable the kill switch to prevent your real IP from being exposed if it happens again.

If none of the quick fixes solve the problem, contact your VPN provider’s customer support. The agents may recommend a server that’s better for bypassing NHL blackouts or a specific set of settings you could try.

How to watch NHL blackout games without a VPN

If you don’t want to use a VPN for streaming sports, you can watch an NHL game blocked on ESPN+ through the broadcaster that holds the rights in your area. Here are my tips on watching NHL blackout games without a VPN:

• Use your team’s local streaming service. Options include NESN 360 for Bruins games, KnightTime+ for Golden Knights games, and Mammoth+ for Utah games. You must be within the service’s eligible territory.
• Check local TV coverage. Some teams offer regional games for free over the air. An antenna may let you watch without another streaming subscription.
• Switch to the national broadcaster. If a game is exclusive to ESPN, ABC, TNT, or NHL Network, use a subscription or TV package that includes coverage of those networks.
• Watch a replay. If you don’t need to watch live, your service may offer the full game after the blackout period ends.

Is it legal to use a VPN to watch NHL blackout games?

Using a VPN is perfectly legal in the US, Canada, and most other countries. In fact, it’s a hugely popular tool for enhancing your online security and privacy. However, using a VPN to bypass NHL blackouts on ESPN+ or NHL.TV on DAZN may violate the terms and conditions of those services.

If ESPN or DAZN detects you are using a VPN, they may block your stream or simply display the NHL game you want to access as still blacked out. The platforms can also restrict, suspend, or terminate your account. However, that’s not an automatic outcome every time a VPN is detected.

If you want consistent access to NHL blackout games on ESPN+, I recommend using only a trusted VPN service with strong security features to reduce the risk of detection. For example, ESPN+ and DAZN did not detect that I was using NordVPN.

Avoid NHL blackouts with NordVPN

Final thoughts

Even if you have an ESPN+ subscription, it does not mean you can stream every NHL game in the 2026/27 season. That’s because NHL games are subject to regional blackouts, making them unavailable on streaming services in their home markets. In those areas, only specific broadcasters hold the rights to stream blacked-out games.

If you want a quick solution to stream blackout NHL games on ESPN+ or access them on NHL.TV on DAZN, using a VPN might be the best option. With a VPN, you can change your virtual location to an area where the game you want to watch is available on ESPN+ and stream it without blackouts. In my experience, NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming blackout NHL games, thanks to its fast servers across 55 US locations and robust security features that help bypass restrictions.

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