How to bypass NHL blackouts on ESPN+ and NHL.tv

Are you a die-hard NHL fan hoping to catch all the action on ESPN+ or NHL.tv? The frustration of encountering regional blackouts preventing you from streaming your favorite local team’s matches is all too familiar. But don’t worry. We’ve researched and tested to find the ultimate solution that allows you to watch NHL games on ESPN+ from anywhere.

Before we delve into the solution, let’s grasp why NHL blackouts exist and why they are implemented. NHL blackouts are designed to restrict certain broadcasts in specific regions, safeguarding the rights of local broadcasters and cable providers. As a result, subscribers in the US and Canada often need help with trying to access games airing within their state or featuring their beloved local team.

Thankfully, there’s a foolproof method to overcome these vexing blackouts – Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). By utilizing the right VPN, you can cleverly disguise your location and regain unrestricted access to your desired games, no matter where you are in the world.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the simple steps to set up your VPN, ensuring you never miss a game again. From choosing the ideal VPN provider to configuring your device, we’ve got you covered. Ready to wave goodbye to blackouts and unlock the full potential of ESPN+ or NHL.tv?

How to bypass NHL blackouts: a quick guide

The simplest way to beat NHL.tv and ESPN+ blackouts is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Here’s a quick guide to unblocking NHL games with a VPN:

1. Start by signing up for a suitable VPN. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Install the VPN software, making sure to get the right app for your operating system, and log in.
3. Connect to one of your VPN’s servers in the required location. For instance, if the Dallas Stars were playing the Toronto Maple Leafs, you could use a US or Canadian server based anywhere other than Toronto or Texas (due to team-specific blackouts).
4. Log in to your ESPN+ or NHL.tv account. You should find that you can now access games that were previously subject to a blackout.

What is a regional blackout, and why are they used?

Regional blackouts are a strict form of geo-blocking. Simply, in addition to stopping users from overseas from watching anything, NHL blackouts also prevent some games from being viewed online in specific states. But why is this? After all, haven’t ESPN+ and NHL.tv subscribers already paid to watch?

The problem is that the NHL often sells its games’ local broadcast rights to local networks. There are other factors, such as whether a team is playing at home or away. For example, if you live in Toronto, you’ll only be able to watch the Maple Leafs play on the regional broadcast network. For the Maple Leafs, it’s Sportsnet Ontario, but each team has a different local broadcaster.

So how can NHL.tv or ESPN tell where you’re located? There are three main ways: firstly, you’ll be asked to enter your ZIP code when registering. This is the most basic form of geo-location tracking and can be easily bypassed, which is why most services combine this approach with IP-based geolocation: using your IP address to see roughly where you’re located.

Finally, there’s location-based tracking. This is the preferred method for mobile devices since it’s slightly more difficult to spoof your GPS location than to change your IP address. You can, of course, turn GPS off. However, some services just won’t let you watch anything without it.

How to bypass regional NHL blackouts

Getting around regional blackouts is done slightly differently on desktop and mobile devices, and we cover both here. Take a look below to find out how you can watch every NHL fixture from anywhere in the world.

Bypassing NHL blackouts on a PC or Mac

On PC or Mac computers, you can unblock blacked-out NHL matches the same way you’d unblock any other geo-blocked service. Just connect to one of your VPN’s servers in a location where the match you’d like to watch isn’t subject to a blackout, then visit the NHL.tv or ESPN+ site and log in. The NHL even has a handy tool you can use to find out which teams have blackouts in your region.

You should find that your content loads almost instantly, but if not, don’t panic. Often, once a website has found that you’re not in the correct region, they’ll store this information in your browser and automatically prevent access, even if you’re actually in the appropriate location. To bypass this, try clearing your browser’s cache and deleting your cookies. You can also force a hard refresh by holding the CTRL key (Shift on Mac) and clicking the refresh button.

Bypassing NHL blackouts on Android or iOS

Bypassing the blackouts on mobile devices is a little trickier due to your device’s geolocation services. We recommend trying to bypass ESPN and NHL.tv restrictions using your phone’s web browser and a VPN and avoiding the apps altogether. To watch via either service’s app, you’ll have to turn on location services. This presents a real problem since there’s no easy way to spoof your phone’s GPS location.

While there are several apps that allow you to do this, you should note that these require a rooted or jailbroken device. Further, there’s no guarantee that these apps are safe to use; usually, if a free app claims to allow you to “hack” services, it’s just going to infect your system with malware. If spoofing your GPS is something you’re interested in, we’d recommend doing thorough research on any app you install and making yourself aware of the risks involved before you begin.

Best VPNs for streaming blacked-out NHL games

Here’s a summary of the best VPNs for streaming geo-restricted NHL games anywhere:

1. NordVPN: Our first choice for beating regional NHL restrictions. Very fast, with impeccable streaming ability and 24/7 customer support. Doesn’t compromise on security either. Almost 2,000 servers in the US alone and a 30-day money-back guarantee. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for ESPN+ and NHL.tv.
2. Surfshark: A great low-cost option for streaming NHL fixtures in places where they aren’t normally available. Fantastic speeds, no connection limit, and a first-class security toolkit. Also boasts a proven no-logs policy.
3. IPVanish: This easy-to-use VPN works with most sports streaming platforms, including NHL TV, and provides some of the fastest speeds we’ve seen. No connection or bandwidth limits, no logs, and no hassle.
4. ExpressVPN: Delivers impressive performance and strong security while allowing users to watch NHL games from anywhere. Strict no-logs policy, around-the-clock support, and servers in over a dozen US locations.
5. CyberGhost: High-speed VPN with servers specifically designed for accessing US streaming platforms abroad. Great for novices and experienced users alike.
   
6. PrivateVPN: No-logs provider that’s fast enough for 4K live streaming. Won’t be stopped by most online limitations. Good set of privacy features built-in.
7. PureVPN: Simple, straightforward VPN with great streaming capabilities. Perfect for accessing blacked-out NHL, NFL, and MLB matches. No logs.
8. ProtonVPN: Boasts speed, security, and the ability to unblock NHL fixtures from almost anywhere. Doesn’t keep tabs on your activities, though you can’t stream on the free plan.

Beating NHL blackouts with a free VPN

Using a free VPN might seem like an easy way to stay safe online and stream the NHL abroad, but these services have several major disadvantages. To begin with,  they usually have more users than their networks can support. This causes long loading times, choppy video, and sporadic disconnection — three things that you don’t want when watching sports live. Further, NHL.tv and ESPN+ both have strong geo-restriction measures built-in, so there’s no guarantee that a free VPN would even work.

Also, it’s worth considering how free VPNs pay for their networks without charging the user directly. You might assume it’s just by inserting ads into the sites you visit, but some go even further. By storing tracking cookies on your device, they can monitor which websites you like and how often you visit. This information is valuable, and once there’s enough of it, free VPNs can sell it to third parties without your knowledge. VPNs are designed to stop people from seeing your online activities, but free VPNs don’t necessarily do this: they merely decide for you who gets to see your personal information.

Even using a free VPN is a risky prospect. According to a survey of almost 300 free VPN apps for Android, over 38% included malware, 18% did not use encryption, and shockingly, over 80% were vulnerable to IPv6 leaks. You might think that using a well-known service would lower the risk, but even Hola, a major free VPN provider, has a history of shady business dealings; in 2015, it was caught selling idle user bandwidth to help run a botnet. To keep yourself and your personal information safe, we recommend using a reputable zero-logsVPN with a clear and demonstrable commitment to protecting its customers’ privacy.

NHL 2024/25 schedule

The NHL’s 2024/25 regular season begins on October 4 and runs until April 17. There have been a couple of changes to the format over the last few years, but this time, every team will play 82 matches, meaning fans have plenty of fixtures to look forward to before the Stanley Cup begins in June.

The New York Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy with 114 points, having a record of 55 wins, 23 losses, and 4 losses. The top scorer was Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay Lightning while the season MVP was Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado Avalanche. Florida Panthers emerged as the Stanley Cup champions, defeating Emonton Oilers.

There are 1,312 games in the 2024/25 regular NHL season. However, as many of these matches begin simultaneously, it pays to know which you want to watch in advance. While there are too many fixtures to list here, you can plan ahead by consulting the full 2024/25 NHL schedule.

Bypassing NHL blackouts: FAQs