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Choose by which team you want to watch and where you’ll be when the game is played. NHL rights are split among local broadcasts, out-of-market coverage and national games, so one subscription may not carry every matchup you want. Start with your team’s official local broadcast listing, then check the specific game’s listing and blackout rules for your location before subscribing.
Which streaming route fits the games you want?
For the 2026-27 season in the United States, use the game’s distribution—not a service’s general NHL page—to identify where it streams. The routes below cover different parts of the schedule and can overlap.
| Route | What it covers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Local team broadcast | Your team’s games carried in its regional territory. For 2026-27, Hurricanes, Ducks, Blue Jackets, Stars, Wild and Blues games stream exclusively on Prime Video within each team’s regional territory. | Use the NHL team-by-team local broadcast listing to identify your team’s provider and territory. Prime Video’s six-team arrangement is regional, not a nationwide feed. Confirm that your location qualifies. |
| Out-of-market coverage | NHL Center Ice streamed through ESPN+, which ESPN describes as NHL Power Play with more than 1,050 out-of-market games in 2026-27. | Blackouts and other restrictions apply. ESPN says certain NHL Network regional games are unavailable through ESPN+. Check the matchup and your location. |
| National games | NHL’s guide directs ESPN+ broadcasts to ESPN+ and Hulu; TNT broadcasts to TNT, Watch TNT and HBO Max; and ESPN/ABC broadcasts to ESPN. ESPN announced 100 exclusive NHL games for 2026-27: 53 on ESPN/ABC and 47 on ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu. | Check the dated schedule for the specific game. ESPN says its app carries all matchups with ESPN Unlimited or eligible pay-TV authentication; ESPN/ABC live games require one of those access routes for streaming. |
These categories are not interchangeable: an out-of-market package is not a substitute for checking local rights, and a local subscription does not by itself establish access to every nationally distributed game. A practical watch list may therefore involve more than one route.
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- Set your location. Use the location where you will watch, since local-market eligibility and blackout status are territorial.
- Find your team’s local broadcast listing. Check the NHL’s official team-by-team information. If your team is Carolina, Anaheim, Columbus, Dallas, Minnesota or St. Louis, verify whether you are inside its Prime Video regional territory for 2026-27.
- Look up each game you care about. Check the NHL schedule or game listing for its local, out-of-market or national distribution. Do this for nationally televised games as well as regular team coverage.
- Match the game to the right service and entitlement. Confirm whether it calls for ESPN+, ESPN, Hulu, Disney+, TNT, Watch TNT, HBO Max or the local provider. Do not assume that an account for one ESPN offering includes ESPN’s linear networks.
- Check restrictions, price and device access. Review the provider’s current blackout and eligibility rules, compare its current monthly or annual price with any access you already have through a TV provider, and confirm that its app works on a device you own.
What’s the difference between ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited?
ESPN’s current plan descriptions distinguish the two by the content included. ESPN Select provides ESPN+ content; it is the relevant ESPN+ catalog route for out-of-market games, subject to NHL Power Play restrictions. ESPN Unlimited includes ESPN networks and services as well as ESPN+, making it the broader ESPN option when a game is on ESPN or ABC. ESPN also says eligible pay-TV authentication can provide access to all matchups in its app. Check the plan and game listing before choosing: having ESPN+ content does not, by itself, mean you have access to ESPN’s linear networks.
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What does the Prime Video deal cover?
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, Prime Video streams games exclusively for the Hurricanes, Ducks, Blue Jackets, Stars, Wild and Blues within each club’s regional territory. The NHL and Prime Video announced the agreement on September 2, 2026. It includes regular-season games, pregame and postgame shows, and team programming. Fans outside a team’s territory should use the out-of-market route rather than treating these streams as a nationwide team feed.
The NHL says these in-market streams are available through Prime Video on the web, smartphones, tablets, set-top boxes, game consoles and connected-TV apps. Check app availability on your existing device before buying hardware; the NHL’s compatibility information does not establish that a particular streaming device is required.
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How do blackouts and location affect what you can watch?
Blackout status depends on where you watch and which rights apply to that game. ESPN labels NHL Power Play with local-market blackouts and restrictions. Disney+ help also notes that some sports events may be subject to regional blackouts and advises viewers to check league-specific rules. Before subscribing, verify the local team listing and the service’s rules for your location; before a particular game, check its schedule entry as well.
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Build your choice around the games you actually plan to watch. List your team’s local games, any out-of-market teams you follow, and nationally distributed matchups that matter to you. Map each game to its listed route, then compare the access required with your existing subscriptions or TV-provider login. The split among local, out-of-market and national rights is why a league landing page—or the promise of a large game count—cannot by itself establish that one service covers your full watch list.
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- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
Service names, rights, prices, team territories and blackout rules can change. NHL and ESPN coverage details here reflect official information checked October 4, 2026; use the current team listing and dated game schedule as the final check for a specific matchup.
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