When watching NHL, it is very annoying to find a game that is locally unavailable. These so-called blackouts have to do with local broadcasting rights. Even when you have access to ESPN or NHL.TV, you can still face blackouts.
Luckily, there is a simple solution to watch blackout NHL games. With a VPN you can hop states and change your IP address. This way you will be able to watch all hockey games.
In this article, we’ll explain how to watch blackout NHL games with a VPN.
Will a VPN Let Me Watch NHL Blackout Games?
You can use a VPN to work around NHL blackouts. ESPN+ and NHL.TV use your IP address to determine whether an NHL game is available for viewing in your region. A VPN changes your IP address and makes it seem like you’re located in a different US state.
Simply connect to a VPN server outside the area that is affected by the blackout. This way you can watch the local NHL games online with your subscription without blackouts.
For example, if the blackout is around New York, you can connect to a VPN server on the West Coast. NordVPN has a lot of US servers and is one of the best VPNs for bypassing blackouts.
How to Watch NHL Blackout Games With a VPN
Follow the easy steps below to watch blackout NHL games with a VPN:
- Subscribe to a fast VPN with US servers like NordVPN.
NordVPNOur choiceDealSave big with up to 72% off a two-year subscription!
From$ 3.399.3- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
- Download and install the VPN app on your device.
- Open the VPN app and connect to a server in a different region (outside the blackout zone).
- Launch an NHL streaming service like ESPN+ and search for the NHL game you want to stream.
- Enjoy the NHL game without blackouts!
Best VPNs for NHL Compared
Below you will see a comparison of the best VPNs for NHL:
| Editor’s Pick | ||||
| VPN |  |  |  |  |
| Score | 9.3 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| Servers | 5000+ | 3000-5000 | 5000+ | Thousands |
| Connections | 10 | Unlimited | 7 | Unlimited |
| Compatibilities |        | | | |
| Price | $ 3.39 | $ 2.19 | $ 2.19 | $ 1.99 |
| Visit NordVPN | Visit Surfshark | Visit CyberGhost | Visit Private Internet Access (PIA) |
What we look for in the best VPNs for NHL
When looking for the best VPN for NHL, there are a few features to look out for:
- Server location: A good VPN for NHL needs to have multiple servers in US states to help you avoid blackouts.
- High speed: NHL VPNs need to have good speeds to allow you to stream NHL games without lag or buffering.
- Price/quality: The best VPNS for NHL that we have selected are all affordable and offer a money-back-guarantee.
- Unblocking capabilities: We have extensively tested the unblocking capabilities of the VPNs in this list.
- Easy to use: All NHL VPNs on our list have easy-to-use applications, even for beginners.
We considered all the factors above when picking our four best VPNs for watching NHL. We will discuss the best VPNs for NHL below in detail.
Best NHL VPNs for the 2024 Season
This is our list with the best NHL VPNs:
NordVPN – Best VPN to get around blackout restrictions in NHL
Why NordVPN is our #1 best NHL VPN:
- Excellent speed to watch NHL
- Large server network to hop States
- Obfuscated server to bypass VPN blocking
- 30-day money-back-guarantee
NordVPN is the best VPN to get around NHL blackouts. NordVPN is fast and has top-notch security features. NordVPN is a consistent and trustworthy streaming VPN that unblocks all the major streaming services.
This VPN works well with ESPN+ and NHL.TV. NordVPN has multiple servers across the US and Canada. During our test we had no problem finding a server for bypassing NHL blackouts.
Do you want to try the best NHL VPN? Subscribe now and get a discount of 72%.
Check out our in-depth NordVPN review for more information on our #1 pick for NHL. Use the NordVPN free trial to try this VPN 30 days risk-free.
Surfshark – Fastest VPN to prevent NHL blackouts
Why Surfshark is our #2 best NHL VPN:
- Very good speed
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back-guarantee
- Very affordable
Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs on the market. Perfect if you want to stream NHL games without lag. During our test we didn’t experience any buffering.
With 600+ servers in 25 major US cities and three Canadian cities you can easily bypass NHL blackouts in your region.
Surfshark lets you connect unlimited devices simultaneously. This makes Surfshark the perfect VPN for the whole family!
Click on the button below to try Surfshark with 86% discount.
Check out our extensive Surfshark review to discover more about this NHL VPN. Do you want to test the VPN first? Use the Surfshark free trial to test the VPN 30 days without commitment.
CyberGhost – User-friendly VPN to avoid NHL blackouts
Why CyberGhost is our #3 best NHL VPN:
- Multiple server locations in the US
- Very user friendly
- Fast connection speeds
- Specialized streaming servers
CyberGhost is another good option for streaming NHL. With fast speeds and good unblocking skills you can watch all the major streaming services.
CyberGhost offers specialized streaming servers and during our test we could easily bypass geo restrictions. We could live stream NHL games with no buffering.
CyberGhost offers more than 2000 US servers. This makes CyberGhost an excellent VPN for bypassing NHL blackouts. CyberGhost is also very cheap and proves that a premium VPN doesn’t have to break the bank.
For more details, have a look at our extensive CyberGhost review. You can use the CyberGhost Free trial to test this VPN 45-days risk-free.
PIA – Secure VPN to watch NHL without blackouts
Why PIA is our #4 best NHL VPN:
- Excellent security
- Streaming-optimized servers in every US state
- 30-day money-back-guarantee
PIA is another great option to stream hockey without blackouts. PIA has servers in every US state, making it easy to get around NHL blackouts.
PIA puts your privacy first and offers excellent encryption. PIA also offers fast speeds. We could live stream NHL games without buffering and lag thanks to PIA’s fast 10-Gbps servers.
On top of that, PIA is very affordable.
Check out our extensive PIA review to read more.
Why are NHL Games Blacked Out?
NHL games are blacked out due to agreements with regional broadcasters. The blackouts apply to broadcasts that have been sold per league, regionally or team agreement.
These regional blackouts are determined based on your physical location. Streaming services like ESPN+ and NHL.TV use your IP address to determine whether you’re able to view an NHL game in your region.
When you get blocked from live streaming a local NHL game you get the message: “This game is blacked out in your area” or “This broadcast is not available in your current location”. You can easily circumvent these blackouts by using a VPN.
NHL Blackout Workarounds for Your Devices
Below we will explain how you can watch blackout NHL games on different devices. We will highlight the detailed steps for each device.
How to watch blackout NHL games on desktop and laptop (PC and Mac)
If you want to watch blackout NHL games on your PC or laptop, you should install the VPN app for Mac or Windows:
- Subscribe to a fast VPN like NordVPN that works well to avoid NHL Blackouts.
- Look for a “download” option on the official VPN website (all the VPNs in our list have apps for desktop and laptop that work to watch NHL on Windows or Mac).
- Connect to a VPN server in the state where the NHL game is available.
- Stream the NHL game without blackouts!
How to watch blackout NHL games on mobile and tablet (Android, iPhone and iPad)
To watch de NHL games on mobile devices, you need to download the VPN app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS).
Bypassing blackouts on mobile and tablet can be more challenging because of the built-in geolocation features in your mobile or tablet.
We advise watching your account through your phone’s web browser instead of watching via the official ESPN or NHL.TV apps. These apps often use location services. Even if you use a VPN, this can still reveal your location.
Using a web browser in incognito mode can help bypass your phone’s GPS features.
What to Do When ESPN+ / NHL.TV is Not Working With Your VPN
If the NHL game is still not availlable when using a VPN on ESPN+ or NHL.TV, then you can try the options below:
- Switch to a different US server (outside the blackout zone), you might have to try a few.
- Make sure your VPN is up to date.
- Restart the VPN app and the streaming device.
- Change your VPN protocol: you can switch protocols in the “settings” or “options” tab depending on the VPN you’re using.
NHL Blackout Map: Which NHL Games Have Blackouts?
It can be difficult to know upfront if a game is blacked out. If the local broadcaster is going to be showing the game on TV, then the NHL game will probably have blackouts.
On the NHL website, there used to be an NHL blackout map and tool for checking which NHL games are blacked out, but this NHL Blackout Map and tool have now been removed.
If you want to avoid NHL blackouts, then we recommend getting a VPN in advance of the NHL game or at the beginning of the NHL season. This way you are prepared for NHL blackouts and you can bypass them easily.
Where Can I Watch NHL Games?
Below you’ll find an overview of the different streaming services that air NHL Games:
- ESPN+ (US)
- NHL Live
- Star+ (Latin America)
- YouTube TV (US)
- Hulu + Live TV (US)
- Premier Sports (UK)
- Sling TV (US)
- Fubo TV (US, Spain, Canada)
Conclusion
NHL Blackouts can be frustrating. Fortunately, you can easily solve these blackouts by selecting a premium VPN like NordVPN. This VPN is fast, secure, and has multiple US servers. Simply connect to another server to avoid blackouts and enjoy the hockey game.
DEAL: Subscribe now and get 72% discount!
Are you done watching NHL? You can use a VPN to watch more free sport streaming sites:
Do you want more information on how to watch blackout NHL Games? Check out the frequently asked questions below to get the answers.
You can use a good VPN like NordVPN to change your IP address. You can make it seem that you are in a different state. This way you can bypass NHL blackouts.
ESPN+ blocks telecasts that have been sold locally per league or regionally. Due to broadcasting rights ESPN+ blacks out NHL games in regions where the games are being broadcast on local television.
Use a VPN to get around this blackouts and connect to a VPN server in another state.
Some NHL games are blacked out because they are sold to regional broadcasters. Due to broadcasting rights only regional broadcasters have the right to show a specific NHL game.
