How to watch NHL games online in 2021

The NHL is the world’s premier professional ice hockey league. Taking place in North America, the NHL comprises 32 teams and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the US and Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded each year at the end of the season.

Unfortunately, broadcasters often block NHL streaming, depending on your location. Even if you pay for a subscription to ESPN and NHL.tv, you will still be affected by geo-restrictions. The best way to get around this issue is to use a VPN, which will enable you to change your IP address and bypass restrictions.

We’ll explain how to use a VPN to watch NHL games online in this article!

Watch the NHL online: a quick guide

To catch NHL action online, you need to follow the below steps:

1. Download a VPN with US servers. We recommend NordVPN, now 72% OFF!
2. Once installed, connect to a US server.
3. Log in to your chosen streaming service that shows NHL games.
4. Tune in to a game, kick back, and enjoy!

Visit NordVPN

Why do you need a VPN to watch the NHL online?

Geo-restrictions on NHL games mean that you can’t watch them outside of the US. This happens because broadcasters block their streams to comply with licensing laws and distribution rights. To get around this issue, the best route is to use a reliable VPN.

If you’re outside of the US and try to stream NHL, you will face an error code. A VPN will allow you to connect to a US server so that the NHL will think you’re in the states and unlock the games for you.

There are many reputable VPNs on the market, and it can be challenging to know which is best for your needs. In the next section, we’ll introduce you to three of our favorite VPN providers: NordVPN, Surfshark, and IPVanish.

Best VPNs to watch NHL online

If you’re based outside the US, we recommend that you use any of the following reputable VPN providers for streaming content online. All of which have plenty of servers in the US and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN: the best VPN for watching NHL outside the US

Visit NordVPN

A favorite here at Cybernews, NordVPN is a robust and reliable VPN option for anyone looking to watch the NHL games online. With nearly 2000 servers in the US alone, NordVPN is the largest of all major VPN providers. It is also one of the fastest options on the market - making it ideal for catching major sporting moments.

NordVPN has an excellent customer support base, and it comes with a wide range of sophisticated security benefits. You can use the VPN on up to six devices at once, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee - so you can try out the software before making any commitments.

Visit NordVPN to learn more about the features

Surfshark: the best VPN for watching NHL on a budget

Visit Surfshark

Surfshark is a popular VPN option thanks to reasonable pricing structures and high-quality features. This VPN provider has no connection limits, meaning you can use it on as many devices as you like. It also offers a range of security features, such as a kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and protection against DNS leaks.

Surfshark has over 500 servers in the US, making it an excellent option for watching the NHL games online. It comes with a 7-day free trial, alongside a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark also promises fast connection speeds, and it can unblock most mainstream streaming services.

Visit Surfshark to learn more about the features

IPVanish: the best VPN for multiple device protection

Visit IPVanish

IPVanish is a reputable VPN provider with competitive pricing and brilliant streaming speeds. The VPN offers a variety of security benefits, such as split tunneling, a kill switch, and a zero log policy. With IPVanish, you can be sure of complete anonymity whilst online.

IPVanish also has excellent 24/7 customer support, fast loading times, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If that wasn’t enough, the provider lets you connect as many devices as you want simultaneously.

Visit IPVanish to learn more about the features

Top streaming services to watch the NHL online

NHL is primarily available through the NHL.tv streaming service. Luckily, it’s possible to watch NHL games without a cable subscription on a few select streaming services. We’ve outlined them below:

If none of the mentioned streaming services are available in your country, you will need to download a VPN to access them.

How to watch NHL games on your devices

For help in choosing the best VPN for your device, check out our guides below:

PC

• VPNs for Windows
• VPNs for macOS
• VPNs for Linux

Phone

• VPNs for iOS
• VPNs for Android

Smart TV

• VPNs for Smart TV
• VPNs for IPTV

The process of watching NHL games online will differ depending on your chosen device. To help you out, we’ve compiled a few step-by-step guides for watching NHL on your PC, phone, and Smart TV. Check them out below:

Watch NHL games on your PC (Windows and Mac)

Want to catch the NHL action on your PC? Simply follow the below steps:

1. Download a reliable VPN onto your PC with US servers. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Connect to a US server.
3. Open up your streaming service of choice and search for the NHL.
4. Tune into a game, and enjoy!

Top tip: clear your cache and cookies in your browser history if you find that the stream isn’t loading.

Watch NHL games on your phone (Android or iPhone)

If you would like to watch the NHL on your Android or iPhone, just follow the steps below:

1. Find and download a reputable VPN with US servers. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Install the VPN on a laptop that can create a mobile hotspot or on your router.
3. Connect to a US server.
4. If you use an iPhone, head to the App Store and download the relevant app for your streaming service.
5. You can download the app for your chosen streaming service in the Google Play Store if you have an Android.
6. Sign in, pick a game, and enjoy!

Top tip: ensure that the location of your app store matches the country that your VPN is connected to. You can check this in your phone settings.

Watch NHL games on your Smart TV

Want to catch the NHL on your Smart TV? Check out our instructions here:

1. Download and install a VPN with US servers. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Connect your VPN to a US server.
3. Download the app for your streaming service of choice on your Smart TV.
4. Sign in, search for a game, and enjoy.

Top tip: many smart TVs will let you download a VPN app directly. You can give this a shot before following the steps we outlined above.

How to watch NHL on your streaming device

There are many ways to watch NHL online. If you’re outside the US, you will need a VPN to connect to a US server and unlock the content on your chosen streaming service. If you want to catch the action on your Roku, Kodi, Apple TV, or Firestick, we have the instructions set out below.

Looking to find the best VPN for your streaming device? Check out our handy guides below:

Streaming

• VPNs for Kodi
• VPNs for Firestick
• VPNs for Roku
• VPNs for Apple TV
• VPNs for Chromecast

Browsers

• VPNs for Firefox
• VPNs for Chrome

How to stream NHL on Roku

While installing a VPN directly onto your Roku device is not always possible, you can install it on your router instead. We’ll show you how below:

1. Find a VPN with US servers that is also compatible with router installation. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Install your VPN on your router.
3. Connect to a US server.
4. Switch on your Roku device and select the fuboTV, AT&TV, NHL.tv, or Sling TV app (all of which are available for free on Roku).
5. Stream NHL, and enjoy uninterrupted entertainment!

How to stream NHL on Kodi

Much like on a Roku device, the best way to stream NHL on Kodi is to connect a VPN to your router. Follow these simple steps:

1. Install a VPN with US servers on your router. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Connect to a server in the US.
3. Pick a streaming service that shows NHL.
4. Sit back, and enjoy the action!

How to stream NHL on Apple TV

Streaming NHL games on your Apple TV is pretty straightforward. Check out the step-by-step guide below to find out how:

1. Download a VPN with plenty of US servers. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Launch the VPN, and connect to a server in the US.
3. Head to the App Store on your TV and find the app for your chosen streaming service.
4. Search for NHL games, kick back, and enjoy.

How to stream NHL on Firestick

If you’re looking to stream NHL games on your Firestick, you simply need to follow the process outlined here:

1. Download a VPN with US servers. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Connect to a server in the US.
3. Head to the dashboard on your Firestick and find the app for your chosen streaming service.
4. Download the app on your device and tune into the NHL action!

How to watch the NHL from anywhere

A VPN makes it easy to watch the NHL from anywhere in the world. Wherever you are, be it the UK, Australia, Canada, or any other country - all you need to do is follow these four steps:

1. Download a VPN on your computer or your router. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Open the VPN app on your device.
3. Connect to a server in the US.
4. Open up the app or website for your chosen streaming site, and tune into the NHL action.

Top tip: the process will vary slightly depending on your chosen device. Check out earlier sections in this article to discover how to watch the NHL from anywhere on your specific streaming device.

How to watch the NHL for free online

If you want to watch the NHL for free online, your best option is to find a streaming platform with a free trial. Some sites that show NHL and have a free trial include fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV.

You will also need to use a VPN to connect to a US server if you’re outside the US. The VPN providers mentioned in this article (NordVPN, Surfshark, and IPVanish) all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can use them for free for a whole month.

Alternatively, you could try using a freemium. This is a free version of a paid VPN. Generally, these are safe to use - though they will likely have data caps and limited features which may interfere with your stream.

Another option is to use a free VPN provider such as ProtonVPN or Atlas VPN. However, free providers are not as secure as paid alternatives, as they tend to lack security features and often profit from tracked ads or from selling your data.

All you need to know about the NHL

The 2021-22 NHL season is set to kick-off for its 105th season on October 12th. After Tampa Bay took home the Stanley Cup this year, The Avalanche is the predicted champions for the next season.

We’ve put together a schedule for the first few games below:

For all the latest news and scheduling, you can head over to the NHL official website here. You can also follow their Twitter and Facebook for more live updates.

How to watch NHL games online: an overview

Geo-blocking makes it hard to access the NHL games when outside of the US. To get around this dilemma, you can use a VPN to bypass restrictions and change your location. This will make it appear as though you are in the US, so your chosen streaming service will unlock the NHL games for you.

How have you got on with using a VPN? We really appreciate your feedback - so please drop us a comment below!

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