The Stanley Cup Playoffs are back on ESPN. The Worldwide Leader is airing half of the first round and second round games, and one conference final series. The other games are on TNT. If you don’t have cable, it’s not a big deal because several streaming platforms give you access to ESPN. In this article, we’ll show you where to find the games, and how CyberGhost VPN helps you access NHL live streams when you’re traveling abroad.
Quick Guide – How to Watch NHL Playoffs on ESPN with CyberGhost VPN
- Get CyberGhost VPN – it’s fast and easy!
- Connect to a streaming-optimed server for ESPN or another streaming service.
- Watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN
Why You Need a VPN to Watch the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN
ESPN and the streaming services that include ESPN are only available in the US, which can be frustrating if you’re traveling abroad at any point during the NHL playoffs. A VPN lets you change your virtual location back to the US so you can regain access and watch the playoffs.
If your office or school blocks streaming services, you could miss important playoffs matches. A VPN encrypts your connection, hiding your activity from the network. This allows you to bypass firewalls and stream sports on your terms.
VPN encryption also hides your activity from your ISP, meaning it can’t decide to throttle your speeds whenever it detects your connection to a streaming service.
How to Watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN
If you have a cable TV provider, you can log in and watch the games through the ESPN app on most streaming devices. Without cable, you need a live TV streaming service that carries ESPN.
Live Stream the NHL Stanley Cup on Sling TV
Sling TV is able to charge less money than other streaming services because it doesn’t offer as many channels as other streaming options. That doesn’t really matter when it comes to watching the NHL playoffs. Sling’s Orange plan has both ESPN and TNT, so you get access to every NHL playoff game.
Watch the NHL Playoffs on ESPN with Fubo
Fubo carries ESPN and many of the regional sports channels that carry local games, making it a good choice for NHL fans. It also offers cloud-based DVR for recording those playoff games that you can’t watch live. The main downside with Fubo is that it doesn’t have TNT, so you’ll miss out on half the playoff games.
Live Stream the NHL Playoffs on YouTube TV
The YouTube TV base plan includes ESPN, giving you access to select playoffs games. You also get unlimited DVR and a Multiview feature to watch up to 4 games at once. New subscribers get a 7-day free trial.
Stream the NHL Playoffs Live on Hulu
Hulu + Live TV comes with over 90 channels, including ESPN and TNT. If you’re the type of person that loses track of time, set a reminder on Hulu and it will alert you 10 minutes before face-off. There’s also a DVR so you can watch the games over and over.
NHL Playoffs on ESPN: What’s On?
ESPN shares the NHL Playoff rights with Turner Sports. This means half the games in the first and second round are on ESPN, plus one complete round of the Conference Finals.
You can stream the Stanley Cup FInals on the ESPN app or via a streaming service that carries ESPN3, but if you’re watching on network TV, only ABC is showing the games.
NHL Playoff on ESPN: First Round
| Date and Time (ET) | Matchup Time | Game | Channel |
| Sunday, April 21 – 12:30 p.m. | Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers | Game 1 | ESPN |
| Sunday, April 21 – 3:00 p.m. | Washington Capitals at New York Rangers | Game 1 | ESPN |
| Sunday, April 21 – 7:00 p.m. | Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets | Game 1 | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, April 21 – 10:00 p.m. | Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks | Game 1 | ESPN |
| Monday, April 22 – 7:00 p.m. | Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins | Game 2 | ESPN |
| Monday, April 22 – 7:30 p.m. | New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes | Game 2 | ESPN2 |
| Monday, April 22 – 9:30 p.m. | Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars | Game 1 | ESPN |
| Monday, April 22 – 10:00 p.m. | Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers | Game 1 | ESPN2 |
| Tuesday, April 23 – 7:00 p.m. | Washington Capitals at New York Rangers | Game 2 | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 23 – 7:30 p.m. | Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers | Game 2 | ESPN2 |
| Tuesday, April 23 – 9:30 p.m. | Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets | Game 2 | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 23 – 10:00 p.m. | Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks | Game 2 | ESPN2 |
| Wednesday, April 24 – 7:00 p.m. | Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs | Game 3 | ESPN |
| Wednesday, April 24 – 9:30 p.m. | Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars | Game 2 | ESPN |
| Thursday, April 25 – 7:30 P.M. | Carolina Hurricanes at New York Islanders | Game 3 | ESPN2 |
Can I Watch the NHL Playoffs on ESPN+?
ESPN+ shows live NHL streams all season, but it’s not a good solution for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Just because games are broadcast on ESPN does not mean they’re available on ESPN+. Some games may be simulcast on the platform, but the schedule has not yet been released.
Why CyberGhost Is the Best VPN for Streaming Sports
Cyberghost VPN’s global network is designed with streaming in mind. We have streaming-optimized servers for popular platforms, including ESPN, Sling, Fubo, and many more. Our engineers monitor these servers closely to make sure you can always access the platforms.
Streaming sports live requires a fast VPN if you want to avoid buffering and lag, and CyberGhost VPN doesn’t disappoint. Our network consistently delivers lightning-fast connection speeds that can handle UHD streaming with ease.
We have easy-to-use VPN apps for major devices so you can stream sports at home, at the office, or on the move. Take advantage of our 45-day money-back guarantee and try it for yourself.
Can I Use a VPN to Unblock ESPN from Outside the US?
Some ESPN viewers connect to a VPN server in the US to watch the NHL playoffs from a different country, but this is against our terms of service and is not acceptable.
CyberGhost is a privacy-forward no-logs VPN, meaning we can’t view your online activity and we never share your browsing data. While we don’t know what you’re doing online, you should always comply with ESPN’s terms of use, our terms of service, and any applicable law, including copyright
FAQ
Yes. If you have a cable subscription, you can watch the NHL Playoffs on ESPN via the WatchESPN app. If you don’t have cable, you can access ESPN via Sling TV, Fubo, Hulu, and YouTube TV.
You don’t need ESPN+ to watch the NHL. The Stanley Cup Playoffs and Finals are split between ESPN and TNT. You can watch every game through Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Hulu+ Live TV. These platforms are only available in the US, but if you’re traveling abroad during the NHL playoffs, you can connect to one of our streaming-optimized servers to access them.
If you can’t access ESPN or your streaming service while traveling, CyberGhost VPN is the simple solution. Our streaming-optimized servers for ESPN, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu, and other platforms let you access your streaming accounts as if you’re still at home.
A VPN is an essential tool if you’re trying to watch the NHL playoffs while traveling abroad. Most streaming platforms showing the NHL are only available in the US, but you can use a VPN to change your virtual location back to your home country to access your usual services.
If you want to watch the playoffs on restricted networks at school or the office, VPN encryption stops the network from detecting your activity, letting you bypass streaming blocks.
CyberGhost VPN has dedicated streaming-optimized servers for ESPN+. Our engineers test it regularly to make sure you can always access the platform. Our high-speed server network gives you an ultra-fast connection so you can stream smoothly in HD. You can try it risk-free with our 45-day money-back guarantee.
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