Technology

How to watch NHL live streams online for free

Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers

TL;DR: Watch NHL live streams for free on CBC Gem and Ran.de. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.


Ice hockey is a beautiful sport that combines the grace and elegance of ice skating with a level of physicality that you simply don’t see in other sports. We love the merging of elements, and so do millions of fans from all around the world.

The problem for all of these fans is finding a way to watch the NHL without spending a fortune. Streaming live sport doesn’t tend to come cheap, but there’s always a way to watch your favourite sport for free.

If you are interested in watching the NHL for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.

How to watch the NHL for free

The good news is that it is possible to stream the NHL for free. The following platforms are offering free coverage of the NHL:

  • Canada — CBC Gem (select NHL games)

  • Germany — Ran.de (select NHL games)

CBC Gem and Ran.de are geo-restricted to Canada and Germany respectively, meaning you’ll be blocked if you attempt to connect from outside these countries. Fortunately, you can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these streaming services to watch the NHL for free from anywhere in the world.

Unblock these free streaming services by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Canada or Germany

  4. Connect to CBC Gem or Ran.de

  5. Watch the NHL for free from anywhere in the world

ExpressVPN logo

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)

£82.82 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NHL live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the NHL?

There are a number of streaming-friendly VPNs, but ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming NHL games for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Canada and Germany

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

  • Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. By using the guarantee, you can watch NHL games for free. This is sneaky, but it works because ExpressVPN returns your investment without hassle.

Watch the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.

Mashable