We’re down to the final teams in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the Finals coming around the corner!
Want to watch NHL games for free? Ice hockey fans in Canada can watch all the NHL action with the CBC Gem player. However, if you’re in another country, you’ll need a VPN to help you access these live streams (which are geo-blocked for those outside Canada).
Here’s how you use a VPN to watch NHL games free online with the CBC:
During our testing, we were able to stream NHL games for free without signing up or creating account. If you’re prompted to do so, just keep reading on. We’ll tell you everything you need to know to watch for free from anywhere.
Pro ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in the U.S. and Canada — and the National Hockey League (NHL) is watched by many all over the globe.
There are actually a few free NHL streams floating around online. But because of distribution rights, only viewers in Canada can watch them.
The good news: with NordVPN, you can change your virtual location and live stream NHL games free from anywhere in the world. All you have to do is sign up for NordVPN, download the app, log in, and connect to a Canadian server.
Hit the button below to get NordVPN and start streaming for free right now.
How to Stream NHL for Free Online from Anywhere
If you want to watch the NHL, you can do it for free by using a VPN to connect to a free media player.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is an official NHL broadcaster in Canada, and locals can watch anything in its catalog for free as long as they have a Canadian IP address and an account on its website. To watch free NHL games and a few other limited live TV streams, you won’t even need to set up an account.
But how do you get a Canadian IP address when you’re not in Canada?
A virtual private network (VPN) masks your real IP address and tricks websites into thinking you have a different one. So when you use a VPN while visiting the CBC website, the website will read the Canadian IP address — and won’t block you from accessing its content, even if you’re on the other side of the globe.
Step-by-step guide: Use a VPN to watch NHL games for free
Here’s a quick guide based on our extensive testing.
- Download and install NordVPN. We tested NordVPN’s Canadian servers from Southeast Asia and the Netherlands and were able to open up live TV streams from the CBC Gem player. Once connected, we were able to stream uninterrupted HD video of live NHL games.
- Install the VPN on your favorite streaming device. Just take your pick of the major operating systems that it is compatible with.
- Fire up the app and log in using the credentials you created at signup.
- Connect to a server in Canada once you’ve installed the VPN software on your device. You’ll automatically get a Canadian IP address.
- Visit the CBC Gem website. Scroll down for the live coverage of upcoming NHL Games.
And that’s it! Make sure you tune in at the right time, and you’ll be able to enjoy the full game.
Creating an account:
We were able to stream NHL games for free without signing up or creating a CBC account. However, if you’re prompted to create a free account, you’ll just need to provide your name, email and a Canadian postal code. Canadian postal codes are six alphanumeric digits that can be easily found online.
How to Watch the NHL Online Worldwide
While hockey is the national winter sport of Canada, don’t underestimate its popularity around the globe. If you’re running into issues with the CBC player for any reason, we’ve rounded up a few other major ways to watch, no matter where you are.
How to Watch NHL Games in the USA
NHL games are available to stream on several paid platforms in the USA, and a few even offer free trials so you can test out their service.
If you’ve cut cable and want to watch hockey online, these platforms have you covered.
| Streaming Service | Channels | Subscription | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN+ | ESPN, ABC (simulcast) | $10/month or $100/year | ✖ |
| Sling TV (Orange package) | ESPN, TBS, TNT | $40/month | ✖ |
| YouTube TV | ESPN, ABC, TBS, TNT | $65/month | ✔ |
| Hulu+ Live | ESPN, ABC, TBS, TNT | $70/month | ✖ |
| FuboTV | ESPN, ABC | $70/month | ✔ |
Note, however, that these streams will only work for users in the United States. If you’re in a different country during the NHL season, you’ll need to use a VPN to connect to the States.
We prefer Sling TV for its access to ESPN, TBS, and TNT channels for total NHL coverage on the cheap. To get regional games, though, you’ll need YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, and may need a VPN to work around NHL blackouts. You can follow the steps below to watch NHL games from anywhere.
Quick guide: How to use a VPN to watch NHL on Sling TV
- Go with NordVPN. We’ve tested this streaming player extensively while away from the United States, and its 1,900+ high-speed servers get us our American-based sports programming every time — NHL games included.
- Connect to a server in the United States.
- Visit Sling TV.
If you’re trying to use any of the other streaming players mentioned above, just make sure to connect to a U.S. server before accessing them.
How to Watch NHL Games in the UK
NOW TV offers the Sky Sports Pass, which provides access to a wide range of sports content, including NHL games. With this pass, you can enjoy live TV streaming service with Sky Sports, ensuring you don’t miss any of the action.
NOW TV also offers flexibility in terms of subscription options. The platform operates on a streaming model, allowing you to subscribe on a monthly or 24-hour basis. This flexibility means you can choose to subscribe to the Sky Sports Pass only during the NHL season or for specific games or events, saving you money compared to a long-term contract.
- NOW Sports Month Membership: £34.99 ($44)
- NOW Sports Day Membership: £11.98 ($15)
Additionally, NOW TV provides a user-friendly streaming platform that can be accessed on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers. This allows you to watch NHL games on the go or from the comfort of your home, providing convenience and accessibility. And if you are traveling outside the UK, you can still keep up with the NHL streams via NordVPN and watch the games like you never left.
How to Watch NHL Games in Australia
Kayo Sports and Foxtel are among the best options for streaming NHL games in Australia for several reasons. Firstly, Kayo Sports offers dedicated coverage of NHL games throughout the season. This means you can access a wide range of live games, including the regular season, playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals, and on-demand replays.
- Kayo Sports: Basic $25 AUD per month ($17 USD), Premium $35 AUD per month ($23 USD)
- Foxtel: $25 AUD per month plus $29 AUD ($19 USD) Foxtel NOW Sports Pack
Similarly, Foxtel offers extensive NHL coverage through its sports packages. With Foxtel, you can subscribe to channels such as ESPN and NHL Network, which broadcast live NHL games, analysis, and other related programming. This allows you to enjoy a variety of NHL content, including regular-season matchups, playoff games, and special events.
You can also use Foxtel credentials to log in to the official ESPN app.
Prevent NHL Blackouts with a VPN
Sometimes you can’t watch a hockey game even though you’re in the U.S. and you have a subscription to a channel that broadcasts NHL games. This usually happens during a blackout, and the issue has to do with local broadcasting rights.
There are instances where the rights to a certain game are in the hands of a local television station. This happens because they want to push you to watch the hockey game on the local channel instead.
A blackout can be very annoying — but, fortunately, it can be solved with a VPN. The only thing you need to do is connect to a VPN server outside the area of this local television channel and watch local games online with your subscription.
For example, if the blackout is around New York or the Southeast, just connect to a VPN server on the west coast. The NHL website has a blackout detector, which shows you if you will be the subject of a blackout.
NHL International Broadcasters
Most NHL games are available on regional sports networks, but there are nationally-televised games that you’ll need to catch on a cable channel instead.
If you want to watch your favorite hockey games on TV, check out this list of channels that broadcast the NHL depending on which country you’re in. If you’ve already got a subscription to one of these broadcasters, you can most likely use a VPN to access it while abroad.
| Broadcast Partner | Country |
|---|---|
| ESPN, TNT, TBS, ABC | United States |
| Canal Sports+ | France and Spain |
| Viasat Hockey and Nelonen Pro sports channel | Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark |
| Premier Sports (UK) / Setanta 1 & Setanta Ireland | UK and Ireland |
| Fox Sports Middle East and OSN Sports | Middle East |
| Sport 1, Sport 1 US | Germany, Austria, Switzerland |
| Arena Sports | Serbia, Croatia |
| Sky Mexico | Mexico |
| ESPN Brazil | Brazil |
| ESPN, J-Sports | Japan |
| CCTV-5 | China |
| ASN | Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan |
| Sky Sports | New Zealand |
| Fox Sports | Australia |
Don’t see your country? Review the NHL’s full list of international broadcasters.
The Best VPN Providers to Watch NHL Online
If you want to watch NHL live games with a VPN, you’ll want to pick a VPN that can handle your streaming activity. A good VPN needs to have fast, stable servers in the U.S. and/or Canada, so you can watch without worrying about lags or buffering. It will also need to successfully bypass VPN blocks to watch for free.
Your VPN provider also needs to have good security in place and be an all-around good VPN. Below you can see our top recommended VPN providers for watching the NHL.
1. NordVPN: The Best VPN for NHL
Features at a glance:
- 1,900+ servers in the US, 480+ in Canada
- Unblocks Sling TV, and CBC Gem player with blistering HD speeds
- User-friendly
- Works on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and more
NordVPN is an industry-leading VPN with enough Canadian and American servers to give you ample options to bypass geo-blocks if you want to catch the NHL for free, or while abroad. When streaming NHL games from the other side of the world, we didn’t experience a drop in quality, lags, or any buffering after the initial connection.
NordVPN works well with Sling TV and bypasses its geo-blocks in a heartbeat. We’ve also used it extensively to access players in Canada, Australia, the U.K. and elsewhere.
In terms of usability, NordVPN has a simple and straightforward user interface. Any beginner who has never used a VPN will find it easy to connect to a server and catch the upcoming Stanley Cup. For example, in our case, we fired up the NordVPN app on our Windows PC and connected to Canadian and U.S. servers in just one click.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
In our full NordVPN review, we found an average speed of 90MB/s against our base speeds of 94MB/s. Take a read-through to check out all our findings on this top VPN.
2. ExpressVPN: Premium VPN for Watching the NHL Seamlessly
Features at a glance:
- Servers in 24 US locations, 4 Canadian locations
- Unbeatable high speeds
- Unblocks Sling TV, CBC Gem player
- Works on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers and smart TVs
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN providers available, providing fast server speeds, easy-to-use apps, and advanced security features.
With a single subscription, you get access to over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, including both the U.S. and Canada. ExpressVPN’s software is also user-friendly and very easy to install. All this makes ExpressVPN a perfect VPN to watch the NHL and stream the Stanley Cup with no interruptions.
While this provider could be considered the MVP of VPNs as far as performance goes, it does come with a steeper price tag than others in that tier. If price isn’t of concern, you won’t find a better way across the ice.
- Very easy-to-use VPN
- Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e., Netflix)
- 3,000+ servers in 94 countries
We took a deep dive into this provider’s specs in our full ExpressVPN review. Give it a read if you’re still on the fence.
3. IPVanish: Fast VPN Servers for Streaming the NHL
Features at a glance:
- 1,450+ servers in the Americas
- Lightning-fast speeds, ideal for streaming
- Unlimited device connections with one subscription
- Works on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers
IPVanish has some of the fastest network of servers of all the VPN providers in the market. Moreover, their connections are always stable, and the majority of its servers are situated in the U.S. or Canada, making the VPN provider ideal for watching the upcoming Stanley Cup finals online.
IPVanish is easy to use for connecting to one of its many servers in the U.S. to bypass any geo-restrictions from abroad. In addition, this VPN is unique in that it will show you the speeds of the server you’re connected to. You can switch to a faster server if the speeds don’t meet your NHL streaming needs.
As with most VPNs, IPVanish is super cheap if you opt for a long-term plan. It will also help you access Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming platforms from outside the U.S. You can take advantage of a special offer by clicking the box below.
- Fast and stable servers
- Torrenting is possible
- The app keeps connection logs
Our IPVanish review breaks down server speeds, network, security and privacy protocols if you want to look into this VPN further.
4. CyberGhost VPN: Reliable server speeds for NHL streaming
Features at a glance:
- 1,300+ servers in the US, 300+ in Canada
- Optimized speeds for streaming
- Beginner-friendly VPN
- Supports seven devices with one subscription
- Supports Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iPhone, iPad, routers, and more
CyberGhost VPN is another fantastic option for watching your favorite NHL streams. The top-rated VPN is beginner-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. It will only take you a second or two to connect to a US server to bypass Sling TV or the CBC’s geographic blocks.
CyberGhost has fantastic speeds for streaming. Its cutting-edge encryption for protecting you online won’t slow down your connection too much that it affects your NHL streams. However, sometimes you may experience speed drops leading to lags during NHL live streams. In this case, try switching servers or using NordVPN for its consistently high speeds.
CyberGhost can be super affordable if you go for a long-term subscription. You can also opt for a 45-day money-back guarantee trial to fully test out the VPN before committing. Take advantage of our exclusive deal through the box below.
- Very user-friendly
- High quality for a low price
- Torrents and Netflix possible
Take a look at our CyberGhost review for a more in-depth look at this top provider.
Watch Other Sports for Free With a VPN
Once the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals are over, your free sports viewing doesn’t have to stop. We’ve compiled a number of guides detailing how to watch top international sports for free.
You can use a VPN to watch:
- F1: Watch every Formula 1 Grand Prix of the season for free using NordVPN. You’ll need a VPN with a server in Luxembourg to hunt down our favorite free F1 streams.
- MotoGP: Watch all MotoGP races for free with a VPN. You’ll need a VPN with ace servers in Austria or Germany to get to these free streams.
- Champions League soccer: There are free streams in Austria and Ireland that you can use to watch UEFA Champions League soccer for free. While they won’t have every matchup, they do offer complete playoff and final coverage.
Why Use a VPN to Watch NHL Games?
Using a VPN to unblock free international streams that would otherwise be unavailable is obviously a perk. However, apart from bypassing geographical restrictions, VPNs also protect your privacy and anonymize your online activity. No hacker, government, or company can see what you do online or trace it back to you. Plus, with its unblocking capabilities, more websites become available to you.
When you access the internet with a VPN, you connect to a server of your choice — and you can often pick a server in your own country for optimum performance. All your data traffic is rerouted through this server. Moreover, everything is encrypted, so nobody can hack into what you are doing.
Because you connect to the internet through this external server, you take on the IP address of that server. Your own IP address will stay hidden, which anonymizes all your online actions. Thus, with a VPN, you’ll be able to stream NHL live games online that are aired in another country.
2022-2023 NHL Playoff and Finals Schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 Start | Monday, April 17, 2023 |
| Stanley Cup Finals | Saturday, June 3, 2023 |
A Quick Wrap-Up: Watch NHL Games Online From Anywhere
While there are many options for streaming NHL games online, at VPNOverview, we’ve come to prefer Canada’s free live stream from the CBC Gem player. When we tested it abroad with NordVPN, we were able to access the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs with just a click. Though we were able to create CBC accounts, in this case, we could also stream without even logging in.
This is why our final recommendation is to follow these three steps:
- Get NordVPN.
- Connect to a server in Canada.
- Navigate to the CBC Gem player.
Now you’re ready to hit the ice. It doesn’t get any easier than that.
Want to know more about streaming NHL games online this season? Read some of the most commonly asked questions and get your questions answered fast.
You can stream NHL games online on several platforms, such as the CBC, ESPN+, YouTubeTV, and SlingTV. However, if you are outside of the United States or Canada, you’ll need a VPN to access NHL live streams. We’ve broken down exactly how to do this in our full NHL streaming guide.
To watch hockey games for free, you can use a VPN to access the Canadian Broadcasting Channel website. For online streaming, you can also watch on FuboTV, YouTube TV, or Hulu+ Live — these streaming services offer free trials you can use to watch NHL for free. For more options, check out our best free sports streams list.
ESPN+ will have 1,000 out-of-market games and 75 exclusive games during the regular season. There are 1,312 games scheduled (82 for each team), so while many regular season games will be available to stream, not all will be on ESPN+. You’ll also need TNT and TBS.
In March 2021, NHL announced a contract with ESPN that allows ESPN+ to stream 1,000 out-of-market games and 75 regular season exclusive games. This eliminated the need for NHL.tv, so it no longer exists. You can watch NHL games online on ESPN+ or streaming providers that offer ESPN, ABC, TNT, and TBS.
