Do you hate combing through pop-up ads and malware-riddled free streaming sites? Fans of pro hockey are in luck. CBC Gem offers completely legal, free NHL streams in HD.
However, if you’re not in Canada, you’ll need a VPN to access these live streams (which are geo-blocked in all other countries). Here’s how you use a VPN to watch NHL games free online with CBC Gem:
- Get NordVPN.
- Connect to a server in Canada.
- Visit the CBC Gem website. Scroll down for their live coverage of Hockey Night in Canada. You’ll get some of the biggest hockey games the NHL has to offer most weekends.
During most of our tests, we were able to stream NHL games for free without signing up or creating an account. Still, in some cases, we were prompted to create an account. Is that the case for you? No worries. We’ll tell you everything you need to know to watch NHL for free from anywhere.
The 2023-2024 NHL season is underway, and fans are always scrambling for a great option to watch their favorite teams and players hit the ice.
There are actually free, legal NHL streams skidding around online. Because of distribution rights, only viewers in Canada can watch them, unless you use a VPN. With a VPN (virtual private network), you can change your virtual location to Canada and watch the best NHL free streams live from anywhere in the world.
You may have heard of a VPN before — or even downloaded some random free VPN from an app store. These won’t be able to handle a job like this. You’ll need a VPN with a strong network of reliable Canadian servers — NordVPN has 480+ servers across Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal — and gliding speeds that can handle HD streaming capabilities. We’ve also got an exclusive deal for NordVPN going right now.
How to Stream 2023-2024 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 some National Hockey League games, 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 makes websites think you’re somewhere else. When you use a VPN while visiting the CBC, the website will see 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 online
Here’s a quick guide based on our extensive testing:
- Download and install NordVPN. We tested NordVPN’s Canadian servers from Southeast Asia, the Netherlands, and Eastern Europe. We were able to open live TV streams from the CBC Gem player every time. Once connected, we were able to stream NHL games in HD without any interruptions.
- Connect to a server in Canada. You can get a Canadian IP address in two clicks.
- Visit the CBC Gem website and create an account. You may need to provide a Canadian postal code, which you can find on Google.
- 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.
Additionally, you can also watch the NHL for free with NHL.tv‘s Game of the Week. This is the NHL’s official streaming platform. In select regions, you can watch one game a week on the site, completely for free. Notably, the US and Canada can’t use NHL.tv. Of course, with a VPN like NordVPN connected to, for example, The Netherlands, Australia, or the United Kingdom, you can access them nonetheless.
Which free 2023-2024 NHL games can I watch?
With our method, you can watch CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. Each weekend, they play a couple of huge games, which are nationally televised on TV and streamed on CBC Gem.
Of course, they’ve also got the entire 2023-2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and Finals, which is a huge plus. Here’s a list of upcoming National Hockey League games through the end of the year.
| Date | Time (ET) | NHL Hockey Game |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023 | 7:00 PM 10:00 PM | Pittsburgh at Toronto Florida at Edmonton |
| Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 | 7:00 PM 10:00 PM | Toronto at Columbus Calgary at Los Angeles |
On top of that, technically, you can comb through free sports streaming sites and watch every NHL game imaginable.
How to Watch the NHL Online Worldwide
While hockey is the national winter sport of Canada, we shouldn’t underestimate its popularity around the globe. If you’re running into issues with the CBC player or looking for more games, we’ve rounded up a few other major ways to watch, no matter where you are.
Where to watch NHL games in the USA
NHL games are available to stream on several paid streaming services 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 games from the NHL online, these platforms have you covered.
| Streaming Service | Channels | Subscription | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN+ | ESPN+, 1,050 Out-of-Market Games on NHL Center Ice | $10.99/month | ✖ |
| Sling TV (Orange package) | ESPN, TNT | $40/month | ✖ |
| YouTube TV | ESPN, ABC, TNT | $72.99/month | ✔ |
| Hulu+ Live TV | ESPN, ABC (ESPN+ included), TNT | $76.99/month | ✖ |
| Fubo TV | ESPN, ABC | $74.99/month | ✔ |
| DirecTV Stream | ESPN, ABC, TNT | $94.98/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. Plus, it has a relatively long free trial. 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 guides below to learn how to watch NHL games on US platforms, no matter where you are.
Quick guide: How to use a VPN to watch NHL on YouTube TV
- Get NordVPN. We’ve tested this app extensively while away from the United States, and its 1,900+ high-speed US servers get us our American-based sports programming every time — hockey games included.
- Connect to a server in the United States.
- Visit YouTube TV and sign up for a free trial. You may need to provide a US-based payment method.
Quick guide: How to use a VPN to watch NHL on Fubo TV
- Subscribe to NordVPN. We’ve had success accessing Fubo TV with NordVPN in the past.
- Connect to a server in the US. NordVPN has over 1,900 options for you.
- Open Fubo TV and sign up for an account. You should get a free trial if it’s your first time subscribing.
Quick guide: How to use a VPN to watch NHL on DirecTV Stream
- Get NordVPN. We’ve tested this VPN and it had no problems unblocking DirecTV from outside the US.
- Pick a server in the United States.
- Open DirecTV and create a new account. You can get a seven-day free trial before you’re charged.
How to watch live NHL streams in the UK
NOW TV offers the Sky Sports Pass, which provides access to a wide range of sports content, including NHL games, in the United Kingdom. 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. Here’s what it’ll cost you:
- 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, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers. This allows you to watch NHL games on the go or from the comfort of your home.
Are you 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. 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.
Here’s how much Kayo Sports’s different subscriptions will cost you:
- One: $25 AUD per month ($17 USD)
- Basic: $30 AUD per month ($20 USD)
- Premium: $35 AUD per month ($23 USD)
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.
In terms of price, Foxtel will cost you $77 AUD per month ($50 USD) on the cheapest bundle that includes sports (although they often run discounts).
Remember that, if you’ve got a Foxtel or Kayo Sports subscription, you can still watch NHL abroad if you use NordVPN to get an Australian IP address.
Prevent NHL blackouts with a VPN
You may not be able to watch a hockey game even when you’re in the U.S. and you have a subscription to a channel that broadcasts NHL games. This usually happens because of a blackout, which has to do with local broadcasting rights.
Sometimes, 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. As a result, national broadcasters restrict that game from people in the region.
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. This will allow you to 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 (NordVPN has some excellent options in LA, for example). The NHL website has a blackout detector, which shows you if you will be the subject of a blackout once you fill in your Zip.
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 for NHL needs to have fast, stable servers in the U.S. and Canada, so you can watch without worrying about lags or buffering. It will also need to successfully bypass VPN blocks, so you can watch for free.
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 YouTube 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 we tested streaming free NHL games from the other side of the world, we didn’t experience a drop in quality, lag, or any buffering after the initial connection.
NordVPN works well with YouTube 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 Stanley Cup or any other NHL events on their devices. 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. Best of all, you can get it for 69% off with our link.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Take a read-through of our full NordVPN review to check out all our findings regarding this top VPN.
2. ExpressVPN: Premium VPN for watching the NHL seamlessly
Features at a glance:
- Servers in 24 US locations, four Canadian locations
- Impressive high speeds
- Unblocks YouTube TV and CBC Gem player
- Works on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and smart TVs
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming, providing fast server speeds, easy-to-use apps, and advanced security features. Whether you want to tune into a Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, or Ottawa Senators game, you’ll get full access to NHL live streams with ExpressVPN.
With a single subscription, you can connect to thousands of servers in 105 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 events like 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 NordVPN. If price isn’t of concern, it’s a solid pick. Plus, our link will get you an exclusive 49% discount.
- Very easy-to-use VPN
- Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e., Netflix)
- Thousands of servers in 105 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 server networks of all the VPN providers. 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 anything from the Global Series to the Stanley Cup finals online.
IPVanish is easy to use. You can connect to one of its many servers in the U.S. in mere seconds, so you can bypass any geo-restrictions while 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.
On top of that, 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. Plus, you can get it right now for 77% off with our link 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.
Why Use a VPN to Watch NHL Games?
The biggest perk of a VPN is that it lets you watch the NHL for free on CBC Gem. However, apart from bypassing geographical restrictions, VPNs also protect your privacy and anonymize your online activity. If you use a VPN, hackers, governments, and companies will have a much harder time seeing what you do online and tracing 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 your data is safer.
How We Chose the Best VPN for the NHL
You can’t watch the NHL with just any VPN out there. You need a reliable pick with good servers in Canada that won’t let you down on game night. We tested dozens of VPNs and used these criteria to pick our recommendation:
- Server network in North America, especially Canada: The only free option to watch most of the NHL requires a Canadian IP address, so we prioritized VPNs with strong coverage in the country.
- Speed: You don’t want to miss any “pucket” of data while watching the NHL. We tested all the VPNs we recommend and had great speeds while using all of them.
- Unblocking capabilities: Not all VPNs are equally good at getting around geo-restrictions. We only recommended apps with a solid track record of unblocking streaming platforms that were successful in our own NHL streaming tests, too.
- Price: Not all the VPNs we recommend are cheap, but they all offer a great price-value ratio.
2023-2024 NHL Schedule
Are you curious about the matches coming in 2024, like the Stanley Cup and the All-Star Weekend? Here’s a schedule of the big NHL events of the season.
| Key Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Season Ends | Thursday, April 18, 2024 |
| Winter Classic | Monday, January 1, 2024 |
| All-Star Game | Saturday, February 3, 2024 |
| Stanley Cup Playoffs | TBD, April 2024 |
| Stanley Cup Finals | TBD June 2024 |
Watch Other Sports for Free With a VPN
Once your much-anticipated NHL stream is over, you can use your VPN to watch more sports for free. We’ve compiled a number of guides detailing how to watch top international sports for free.
You can use a VPN to watch:
In all of these instances, NordVPN provides the perfect solution.
A Quick Wrap-Up: Watch NHL Games Online From Anywhere
While there are many options for streaming NHL games online, we recommend 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.
If you want to watch the NHL for free, too, get NordVPN. It’s fast, easy to use, and it has great coverage in Canada. Plus, you can currently get a 69% discount if you sign up now.
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.
Yes, you can stream NHL games online on several platforms, such as the CBC Gem, ESPN+, YouTubeTV, and SlingTV. However, if you are outside of the United States or Canada, you’ll need a VPN to access these NHL live streams.
To watch hockey games for free, you can use a VPN to access CBC Gem. For online streaming, you can also watch NHL 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 and ESPN+ will have 1,050 out-of-market games and over 100 exclusive games during the regular season.
NHL.tv offers some free games to watch every week. However, those free games aren’t available to watch everywhere in the world. In March 2021, NHL announced a contract with ESPN that allows ESPN+ to stream 1,050 out-of-market games and 100 regular season exclusive games. This eliminated the need for NHL.tv, so it no longer exists in the US, Canada, and other regions. If you want to watch the free NHL.tv matches in those countries anyway, you’ll need a VPN, like NordVPN.
