Guides
Best Ways to Watch NHL Games Without Cable in Canada
Hockey is the number one reason Canadians hesitate to drop cable. The good news: in 2026 there are several ways to watch the NHL without cable, and most fans can cover their team for a fraction of a cable bill. Here is how the options fit together.
Who shows NHL games in Canada
National NHL rights in Canada belong to Rogers, which airs games on Sportsnet and sublicenses Saturday night games to CBC for Hockey Night in Canada. Regional games for Canadian teams are split between Sportsnet and TSN depending on the team, and French-language broadcasts air on TVA Sports and RDS. Amazon Prime Video has streamed a weekly national Monday game in Canada since the 2024–25 season. This patchwork is why watching hockey without cable takes a little planning.
Option 1: Sportsnet+
Rogers’ streaming service carries Sportsnet’s national and regional NHL games. Higher tiers add out-of-market games. It is the core option for most fans who want the NHL without cable, but regional blackout rules apply, so check which tier covers your team where you live.
Option 2: TSN+ (or TSN Direct)
Some Canadian teams’ regional games air on TSN. If your team is one of them, you will need TSN’s streaming product as well. Check your team’s broadcast schedule before subscribing.
Option 3: CBC Gem and an antenna for Hockey Night in Canada
Saturday night games on CBC are available free over the air with a digital antenna in most cities, and CBC Gem streams them online. For a lot of casual fans, Saturday night alone is enough.
Option 4: Prime Video for Monday games
If you already pay for Amazon Prime, the Monday night national game is included in Canada at no extra cost.
Option 5: French broadcasts
TVA Sports and RDS carry French-language NHL coverage, and both offer streaming options. That matters for bilingual households in Ottawa and eastern Ontario. Our French channels guide covers the wider French line-up.
Option 6: An IPTV line-up with sports channels
An IPTV service replaces cable with a full live line-up in one app, which often includes Canadian sports channels alongside news, US networks, and international TV. If you are considering IPTV to watch the NHL without cable, ask the provider for the current sports channel list first. With iptvvpro you can ask on WhatsApp before ordering. Read our note on whether IPTV is legal in Canada too.
Comparing the options
| Option | Covers | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sportsnet+ | National + Sportsnet regional games | Monthly subscription, tiered |
| TSN+ | TSN regional games | Monthly subscription |
| Antenna + CBC Gem | Hockey Night in Canada (Saturday) | Free after the antenna |
| Prime Video | Monday national game | Included with Prime |
| IPTV | Full live line-up in one app | iptvvpro: €45 per year |
Prices change every season, so check the current rates before you sign up.
Avoiding lag and buffering on game night
Game nights are when home networks are busiest: everyone streams at 7 p.m., and the neighbours are doing the same. To keep the third period smooth:
- Wire the TV. An Ethernet cable to your streaming device beats any Wi-Fi.
- Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi if a cable is not possible, and keep the device close to the router.
- Pause big downloads, such as game updates and cloud backups, during the game.
- Restart the device before puck drop to clear its memory.
- Turn on frame-rate matching on Apple TV or Android TV for smoother motion.
If the picture still stutters, our buffering guide walks through every fix.
A note on spoilers
Streams can run 20–60 seconds behind the live broadcast. If you follow the game on your phone or in a group chat, turn off score notifications or you will hear the goal before you see it.
Which setup is right for you?
- Casual fan: antenna for Saturday night plus Prime on Mondays.
- One-team fan: Sportsnet+ or TSN+, depending on your team’s regional carrier.
- Whole-household TV replacement: an IPTV line-up with sports, news, and everything else in one app.
Whichever way you go, you can watch the NHL without cable for far less than a full sports package. When you are ready, the iptvvpro plans start at €45 for a year.