The quest for the Stanley Cup is officially under way. While the Tampa Bay Lightning is heavily favorited going into the 2019 playoffs, the President Trophy-winning team rarely wins it all. Could this year be different? Can the Washington Capitals rally once more? Or will this be the year the Las Vegas Golden Knights break through? Whether you’re a casual fan or don’t want to miss a single second of the action, here’s everything you need to know to live stream the 2019 NHL playoffs, including the playoff bracket and TV schedule.
NHL playoffs live stream: How to watch the 2019 games for free
There are five channels you’ll need to watch the 2019 NHL playoffs: NBC, NBCSN, USA, CNBC, and NHL Network. Only one service checks all of those boxes—Sling TV—but you can probably do without NHL Network. The specialty channel is only confirmed for one game at the moment (tonight’s St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets matchup). All of the services below will allow you to stream the vast majority of NHL playoff games, including the Stanley Cup finals, and all of them offer a one-week trial, so you can start streaming for free.
1) Sling TV
- Cost: $25-$40 per month (40% off first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Watch: Is Sling TV Worth it?
Sling TV is the most well-known and budget-friendly live TV streaming service, and it offers everything you need to watch the 2019 NHL playoffs in their entirety. Sling TV offers three different channel packages: Sling Orange ($25 per month), which includes a block of ESPN channels; Sling Blue (also $25 per month), which includes local channels you’ll need like NBC (but not ESPN); and Sling Orange + Blue ($40 per month), which combines the two packages. Notably, Sling TV is the only service on this list that offers NHL Network. To include it in your package, you’ll need either the Sling Orange Sports Extra Pack ($5 per month) or the Sling Blue Sports Extra ($10 per month). Either way, you’ll also get Pac-12 Network, NBA TV, and the Golf Channel, but the Sling Blue version also comes with NFL RedZone. Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels and our Sling TV review.
2) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $44.95 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
You won’t be able to watch NHL Network with Hulu with Live TV, but Hulu with Live TV covers all of the other essentials for the 2019 NHL playoffs. The services offers more than 60 channels, including ESPN, NBC, NBCSN, and a ton of other sports options for your buck, including FS1, Big Ten Network, and CBS Sports Network. What sets Hulu apart from the competition, however, is its on-demand offerings. Your subscription unlocks Hulu’s full catalog, so when you’re not streaming NHL games, you can watch Hulu originals, anime, movies, and documentaries, or catch up on your favorite TV shows.
3) FuboTV
- Cost: $44.99 for the first month, $54.99 per month thereafter
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
While FuboTV may not be a great option for the regular NHL season—it’s lacking ESPN and NHL Network—it will get you through the playoffs. If you’re a sports fan, it’s certainly worth considering. FuboTV boasts a great collection of specialty sports channels (NBA TV, NFL Network, Big Ten Network, beIN Sports) along with most of your cable essentials. The service also offers three-day replay for games and 30 hours’ worth of cloud DVR. (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
4) YouTube TV
- Cost: $49.99 per month
- Devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS, and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
- Channels included: NBC, NBCSN, NBC Sports, NESN, and ESPN
YouTube TV strikes a perfect balance between sports (MLB Network, NBA TV, a whole suite of ESPN channels), news (CNN, MSNBC, BBC World News), and entertainment (AMC, HGTV, TBS). There are a couple of drawbacks: You can’t add HBO or stream using Amazon Fire devices, and aside from Telemundo and NBC Universo, it’s lacking in Spanish channels. But you can create up to six accounts with each subscription, and each of those receives unlimited cloud DVR. That alone makes the service with considering. (You can find the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
2019 NHL playoff bracket
2019 NHL playoffs schedule
Here’s the complete NHL playoffs TV schedule as things stand right now. We’ll update this post as more information becomes available and as the playoffs advance. All times ET.
Wednesday, April 10
7pm, Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning | USA
7:30pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at N.Y. Islanders | NBCSN
8pm, St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets | NHL Network
9:30pm, Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators | USA
10:30pm, Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks | NBCSN
Thursday, April 11
7pm, Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins | NBCSN
7:30pm, Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals | USA
10pm, Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames | NBCSN
Friday, April 12
7pm, Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning | CNBC
7:30pm, Pittsburgh Penguins at N.Y. Islanders | NBCSN
9:30pm, St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets | CNBC
10:30pm, Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks | NBCSN
Saturday, April 13
6pm, Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators | CNBC
8pm, Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins | NBC
10:30pm, Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames | NBCSN
Sunday, April 14
12pm, N.Y. Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBC
3pm, Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals | NBC
7pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets | NBCSN
7:30pm, Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues | CNBC
10pm, San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights | NBCSN
Monday, April 15
7pm, Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs | NBCSN
7pm, Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes | CNBC
9:30pm, Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars | NBCSN
10pm, Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche | CNBC
Tuesday, April 16
7pm, Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets | CNBC
7:30pm, N.Y. Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins | NBCSN
9:30pm, Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues, 9:30pm | CNBC
10:30pm, San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights | NBCSN
Wednesday, April 17
7pm, Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs | NBCSN
8pm, Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars | USA
10pm, Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche | NBCSN
Thursday, April 18
7pm, Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes | TBA
Pittsburgh Penguins at N.Y. Islanders**
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets**
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks**
Friday, April 19
Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning**
Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins**
Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames**
Saturday, April 20
Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals**
N.Y. Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins**
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators**
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues**
Sunday, April 21
Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets**
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs**
Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche**
San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights**
Monday, April 22
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes**
Pittsburgh Penguins at N.Y. Islanders**
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars**
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets**
Tuesday, April 23
Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning**
Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins**
Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames**
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks**
Wednesday, April 24
Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals**
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators**
** if necessary
The Daily Dot may receive a payment in connection with purchases of products or services featured in this article. Click here to learn more.