In recent years, watching hockey has been revolutionized with the advent of numerous streaming services promising high-quality content. These services offer a myriad of features, each vying for the attention of hockey enthusiasts globally. This comprehensive guide will explore the unique attributes, pricing, and the service excellence provided by the leading streaming platforms.
If you’re a passionate hockey fan in search of top-notch NHL live streams, we’ve got you covered. Discover the top ways for cord-cutters to live stream hockey games online, including a free streaming option, right here.
Top Hockey Streaming Services
It is widely known that there are paid premium services offering live streams of hockey games. However, these subscriptions can be quite costly. While they do offer high-quality streams without any ads, the price may be too steep for many people. Not everyone can afford to pay for an expensive subscription just to watch NHL games on weekends. That is why cheaper alternatives exist to provide a solution.
1. Hulu
Get all your hockey game action with this service. By default, you’ll get 50 hours of DVR storage with Hulu. But why settle for less when you can upgrade to our Enhanced Cloud DVR add-on? It will boost your storage limit to a generous 200 hours. And that’s not all. Consider treating yourself to our Unlimited Screens add-on. With this, you can stream from your home network to as many devices as you want. So no more fighting over the TV remote. Additionally, it seamlessly integrates with media streaming devices, including Roku. If you wish to utilize a virtual private network with your device, follow the link https://veepn.com/blog/vpn-on-roku/ to learn more about it. All this can be yours for just $14.98 per month when you bundle the Enhanced Cloud DVR and Unlimited Screens add-ons.
Unlike free streaming sites, Hulu supports 1080p live streams, giving you the best possible picture quality for viewing pleasure. You can watch Hulu + Live TV on the web or download our apps for Android and iOS mobile platforms, as well as media streaming devices. This service has 99.7 million viewers.
Pros and Cons of Hulu for Hockey Streaming
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-quality streams: Hulu offers 1080p live streams, which ensure excellent viewing quality. | Cost: Hulu’s services come with a price, and the total can add up quickly when you include add-ons like Enhanced Cloud DVR and Unlimited Screens. |
| Broad Device Compatibility: With Hulu, you can watch your favorite hockey games on multiple platforms, including web, Android, iOS, and other media streaming devices. | Geographical Limitations: Hulu’s services are primarily limited to US territories. This can be a downside for hockey fans residing outside the US. |
| Enhanced Cloud DVR: Hulu’s Enhanced Cloud DVR add-on allows for up to 200 hours of recorded content, ensuring you never miss a game. | Limited Live TV Channels: Compared to some competitors, Hulu offers fewer live TV channels. Depending on your preferences, you may miss certain hockey games. |
| Unlimited Screens Add-On: The Unlimited Screens add-on allows simultaneous streaming on multiple devices, meaning everyone in the family can watch their favorite shows or games concurrently. | No Offline Downloads for Live TV: Hulu does not allow offline downloads for Live TV. This might be a downside for those looking to catch up on games while offline. |
2. Fubo
With the Lookback feature, you can watch sports events maximum 72 hours after they aired and record up to 1000 hours. Additionally, the Startover feature allows you to start live programs from the beginning.
The International Sports Plus add-on offers an impressive lineup of channels. All this is available for just $7 a month. You can also inquire about a free trial. However, it’s important to note that TBS and TNT channels are unavailable.
FuboTV offers a range of add-ons. Using a VPN extension, you can access it from anywhere. One standout choice is the Sports Plus package, which includes NFL RedZone and 25 additional sports channels. This package is priced at $11 a month.
Pros and Cons of Fubo for Hockey Streaming
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lookback and Startover Features: With the Lookback feature, you can watch hockey games up to 72 hours after they are aired. The Startover feature allows you to start live programs from the beginning. | Limited Channels: Certain channels like TBS and TNT are not available on Fubo, which might limit the number of hockey games you can watch. |
| Large DVR Storage: Fubo offers large DVR storage of up to 1000 hours, ensuring you never miss a hockey game. | Cost: Though Fubo offers multiple features and add-ons, it can be expensive for many viewers. |
| International Sports Plus Add-On: For just $7 a month, the International Sports Plus add-on offers a variety of sports channels. | No Free Option: Unlike some other services, Fubo doesn’t offer any free streaming options. |
| VPN Compatibility: FuboTV supports VPN extensions, allowing hockey enthusiasts to access it anywhere. | Limited Offline Capabilities: Fubo doesn’t offer offline downloads for live TV, which can be a downside for viewers wanting to watch games offline. |
3. Paramount Plus
Designed specifically for NFL and PGA Tour fans, it has a free trial and offers many exciting options. When it comes to choosing a plan, the $9.99 per month ad-free option is the way to go. This upgraded plan allows you to access CBS live streaming, including local NFL games. Soccer fans won’t be disappointed, either.
But that’s not all. Besides allowing you to watch hockey online, Paramount Plus offers an extensive on-demand library of shows, including some available in stunning 4K quality. Plus, you can easily add it to services like Amazon Prime Video for even more convenience.
Pros and Cons of Paramount Plus for Hockey Streaming
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Variety of Content: Besides hockey, Paramount Plus offers a variety of other sports, including NFL and PGA Tour games. It’s an excellent choice for multi-sport fans. | Limited to CBS: Live sports streaming on Paramount Plus is limited to what is broadcast on CBS. This might limit the availability of some hockey games. |
| Large On-Demand Library: Paramount Plus boasts an extensive on-demand library, allowing users to watch shows and movies beyond just sports content. | No Free Option: Paramount Plus does not offer a free streaming option, which may be a barrier for some viewers. |
| High-Definition Content: Some content is available in stunning 4K quality, ensuring a great viewing experience. | Cost: At $9.99 per month for the ad-free option, Paramount Plus is more expensive than some other streaming services. |
| Integration with Other Services: Paramount Plus can be added to other services like Amazon Prime Video for increased convenience and easy access. | Geographical Limitations: The service might not be available or might have limited content in some regions, which can be a downside for hockey fans outside the US. |
4. Sling
It allows viewers to tailor their streaming packages to their preferences. However, it needs more local channel coverage. CBS affiliates and local ABC channels are unavailable on Sling TV, although FOX and NBC affiliates can be accessed in most major markets. Nevertheless, Sling TV’s offerings may be well-suited for hockey enthusiasts who prioritize a personalized plan.
Sling TV has two distinct packages: Blue and Orange. The latter starts at $40 per month, while the former begins at $45 per month. You can access it using a free VPN extension for Firefox and other browsers. By bundling both plans together, you can enjoy a combined subscription priced at $60 per month, granting you access to 48 channels. With the Sling Blue and Orange plan, you’ll gain access to popular media such as ESPN, Fox, NFL Network, TNT, and others. Additionally, Sling TV frequently offers introductory promotions, including free trials and discounted subscriptions.
Pros and Cons of Sling for Hockey Streaming
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Customizable Packages: Sling offers flexible streaming packages, allowing hockey fans to tailor their subscriptions to their preferences. | Limited Local Channel Coverage: Local channel coverage is limited on Sling TV, with CBS affiliates and local ABC channels unavailable. This could reduce the number of hockey games you can watch. |
| Access to Popular Channels: With Sling’s Blue and Orange plans, you can access popular channels like ESPN, FOX, NFL Network, and TNT. | No Free Option: Sling does not offer a free streaming option, which may deter some viewers. |
| Promotional Offers: Sling frequently offers promotional deals, including free trials and discounted subscriptions, providing good value for money. | Cost: With individual plans starting at $40 and $45, and a combined subscription at $60 per month, Sling can be pretty pricey for some viewers. |
| VPN Compatibility: Like Fubo, Sling also supports VPN extensions, enabling access from anywhere in the world. | Geographical Limitations: While VPN use is supported, Sling’s service and content may not be fully available or limited in some regions, which can be a downside for hockey fans outside the US. |
5. Direct TV
With it, you can utilize unique viewing features like Lookback, allowing you to watch NHL games up to 72 hours later, and Rewind, which lets you start live streams from the beginning. With unlimited DVR storage, you can keep your recordings for nine months. This groundbreaking update brings DirecTV Stream on par with its competitors and is a game-changer for sports viewers. Use a VPN extension to access it. You can enjoy the convenience of 20 concurrent streams at home and three simultaneous streams per account while on the go.
Pros and Cons of DirecTV for Hockey Streaming
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unique Viewing Features: DirecTV offers special features like Lookback, allowing you to watch NHL games up to 72 hours after they’ve aired, and Rewind, which lets you start live streams from the beginning. | No Free Option: Like other services, DirecTV does not offer a free streaming option, which may deter some viewers. |
| Unlimited DVR Storage: With unlimited DVR storage, you never have to worry about running out of space. Plus, your recordings are kept for a remarkable nine months. | Cost: DirecTV can be expensive, especially for viewers who only want to watch hockey games. |
| Concurrent Streaming: DirecTV allows up to 20 concurrent streams at home and three simultaneous streams per account while on the go. This means you can watch your favorite hockey games on multiple devices simultaneously. | Geographical Limitations: While VPN use is supported, DirecTV’s service and content may not be fully available or may be limited in some regions, which can be a downside for hockey fans outside the US. |
| VPN Compatibility: DirecTV supports VPN extensions, enabling you to access its content anywhere. | Limited Local Channel Coverage: Local channel availability might vary on DirecTV, which could limit the number of hockey games you can watch. |
How to Maximize Your Hockey Content
Utilizing each streaming service to its fullest regarding hockey content requires a keen understanding of its features and offerings. For Fubo and DirecTV, make the most out of the DVR functionalities. Record all the games you wish to watch and enjoy them at your leisure. For Paramount Plus, integrate with other services like Amazon Prime to explore more hockey content that might be available there.
Sling allows for customized packages, so ensure that your package includes all the channels that frequently broadcast hockey games. Take advantage of the Lookback and Rewind features on DirecTV to never miss a moment of the game, even if you can’t watch it live. A VPN can be a useful tool to overcome regional restrictions and enhance your access to a wider selection of hockey games.
Conclusion
Each streaming service offers a unique set of features, advantages, and disadvantages for hockey enthusiasts. FuboTV, Paramount Plus, Sling, and DirecTV all provide diverse hockey content and additional benefits such as DVR functionalities, customizable packages, and unique viewing features.
However, choosing the best service ultimately depends on your specific needs, preferences, and budget. Geographical location can also influence the decision due to potential restrictions on specific content. Remember to take full advantage of these services’ features and promotional offers to maximize your hockey watching experience. With some research and consideration, you can find the ideal service for you and never miss a moment of action on the ice.
