Hockey is surging in popularity, thanks to the HBO Max sensation “Heated Rivalry.” But watching real games from the comfort of home can be surprisingly complicated, for lifelong fans and recent converts alike.
Catching on-the-ice action isn’t always as simple as flicking on the TV to basic cable. Some games require an upgraded TV package or streaming subscription to watch.
Our guide can help you find hockey games on-screen.
NHL games are spread across a handful of networks and services, thanks to a complicated web of league broadcast agreements. Whether you’re following one team or several, you’ll probably need to cobble together multiple options to catch every puck drop.
Where an NHL matchup is shown depends on whether the game is broadcast nationally or regionally.
Where to watch nationally televised games: ESPN+ (streamed in ESPN+ and Hulu), TNT (streamed in Watch TNT and HBO Max), ESPN (streamed in the ESPN app) or ABC (streamed in the ESPN app).
So, what’s the best way to watch hockey?
That depends on how much time and money you want to spend. If you’ll only tune in every once in a while, start small. Puck lovers can mix and match services to get more.
An antenna may work for some: You might get access to ABC, and possibly a regional broadcast channel, over the air with an indoor or outdoor TV antenna. All you’ll pay is the price of the hardware.
Tack on for more: Adding a Standard HBO Max plan will get you the TNT games, too, for $18.49 per month.
ESPN+, plus a live TV streaming service, gets you the most for more: Avid hockey fans may want to pair ESPN+ with a robust cable package or live TV streaming service — such as YouTube TV or FuboTV — to round out the coverage. Live TV streaming services basically cost as much as cable nowadays, but typically include ABC, ESPN and TNT, all in one app.
How to watch hockey during the Olympics
The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics feature more than 100 events across eight sports and 16 disciplines. That’s a lot of competition to wade through. How can you make sure you don’t miss out on ice hockey? Cord-cutters can rely on Peacock (or an antenna).
Hockey takes place from Feb. 5 to 22, according to the official Olympics website. Here’s where to watch:
A TV antenna that picks up NBC is one of the cheapest ways to watch Olympic hockey. The cheapest full-coverage option is a Peacock Premium plan for $10.99 per month.
Hoping to catch some USA vs. Canada hockey games? The women’s teams face off in a preliminary round at 2:10 p.m. Eastern time Feb. 10 on USA Network and available streaming services. More matchups between the top two contenders are expected as the competition progresses.
(Lead photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images News via Getty Images)
