Stanley Cup Playoffs starts on Saturday (April 19) with the top 16 teams in the pro hockey league, including the Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and others, all competing to hoist the legendary Stanley Cup at the end of the season.

The playoffs games air live across ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, ABC and NHL Network. If you’re a hockey fan, there are plenty of affordable streaming options that offer NHL coverage live and on demand. Check out the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule here.

Keep reading for details on ways to watch and stream the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs live without cable.

Can you watch ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, ABC and NHL Network without cable? Yes! You can stream those channels and more on DirecTV, Sling TV, and others.

Want to stream the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs live? No cable necessary! We’ve rounded up a handful of streaming options that are perfect for hockey lovers on a budget.

DirecTV offers a free trial for five days, while you can stream packages with loads of channels, on-demand streaming, DVR and more. Join DirecTV and get instant access to ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, ABC and NHL Network, as well as FS1, TBS, TLC, HGTV, Bravo, MTV, BET, Fox, NBC and CBS and other channels.

DirecTV’s other plans come with more channels, including free Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz and Cinemax (when you subscribe to the Premier Plan).

In addition, you can also stream the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs live on SlingTV and Hulu + Live TV.

Starting at $33, SlingTV Orange + Blue is discounted for the first month of service, which means you can stream the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and ABC. It also features other sporting events, movies, news, TV series and more without breaking the bank. Please note that channel availability and price depends on your local TV market.

For NHL Network, you can sign up for the Sling Sports Extra add-on for even more sports networks. The extra plan starts at an addition $11 per month.

The subscription gives you access to dozens of channels, such as TBS, BET, CNN, Cartoon Network, Bravo, AMC, A&E, TLC and other more, including local stations such as Fox and NBC in select regions. Learn more about Sling TV here.

Can you live stream the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs internationally? Use ExpressVPN or NordVPN to access select channels and streaming platforms from outside of the U.S.

It’s likely there will be a number of celebrities and famous recording artists in attendance during the NHL Playoffs, such as Capitals fans Wale, Lil’ Wayne and Wolf Blitzer; Golden Knights fans Lil’ Jon, Wayne Newton and Gordon Ramsay; Maple Leafs fans Justin Bieber, Keanu Reeves, Mike Myers and Shawn Mendes; and others. Tune in to the games to find out who’s in the arena.

And if you want to watch playoff games in person, there’s still time to score last-minute tickets to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats. Pricing and availability may vary.

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