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The 2026-27 NHL season opened on September 29, and the way to watch it on a phone changed more this year than in a long time. In the US, national games are split between ESPN and TNT, and many local channels left cable for free over-the-air TV or team apps. In Canada, it is the first season of the new Rogers deal: CBC no longer shows NHL games, and Prime Video moved its night to Wednesday.
This guide puts it in one place: where each game airs, which app you need on your phone, what is truly free and how blackouts work.
The short answer
| Where you live | National games | Your local team |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ESPN app (ESPN and ABC games, plus streaming-only games) and HBO Max (TNT games) | Regional channel, over-the-air station or team app (see the team finder below) |
| Canada | Sportsnet+ (Saturday Night Hockey and more), Prime Video (Wednesday Night Hockey), TVA Sports in French | Sportsnet+, TSN+ or RDS, depending on the team |
Which option fits you
- You live near your team (US): start with the local channel or team app from the finder below. Add the ESPN app and HBO Max only if you also want the national games.
- You live far from your team (US): NHL Power Play in the ESPN app is built for you. Your team will not be blacked out where you live, because you are outside its market.
- You just want the big games: ABC Saturdays with an antenna, plus HBO Max for the TNT schedule and the Stanley Cup Final.
- You live in Canada: Sportsnet+ covers most national games, Prime Video adds Wednesdays, and TSN+ or RDS cover the regional games of the Jets, Senators, Canadiens and part of the Maple Leafs schedule.
Find your team
Choose your team below to see its local channel, the app that streams it in your area and where the national games are. Each team has its own deal, so this is the fastest way to know what you need.
What is actually free
Most NHL games on a phone need a subscription or a TV provider login. There are real free options, though, and they are bigger this season than before:
- ABC with an antenna (US): 16 Saturday games from January 16, 2027, plus the All-Star Game on February 6 and the Stadium Series on February 20.
- Local over-the-air stations (US): Vegas, Nashville, Tampa Bay, Florida, Utah, Seattle, Anaheim and Dallas air many or most of their local games on free broadcast TV, and Colorado, Carolina and Detroit air some. You need an antenna for the TV; on the phone, the team app or a paid streaming option is usually the way.
- Free trials: Prime Video offers a 30-day trial to new members, and the Blue Jackets team package on Prime Video has a 7-day trial. Both ask for a card, so mark the end date.
- The NHL app: free live scores, alerts, stats and highlight videos. It does not stream live games.
- In Canada, there is no national NHL game on free TV this season. CBC and Citytv are out.
Be careful with sites and apps that promise every game for free. They are not licensed, and many of them push malware or ask for card details.
