It’s hockey time! Here’s how to stream your must-see NHL matches

Here is a 165-word summary of the news article: The 2025-26 NHL season will see a shift in how games are broadcast and streamed. ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu, and TNT will air 172 nationally televised regular-season games, with ABC's games available over the air. The Stanley Cup Final will be exclusively on ABC in even-numbered years like 2026. To follow local teams, viewers will need access to regional broadcasters. Streaming services like Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV offer varying packages with the necessary channels. ESPN+ will stream out-of-market games, with an option to bundle it with Hulu and Disney+. While the landscape is complex, cord-cutters now have more legitimate options to catch NHL action without a cable subscription. The shift towards streaming provides flexibility, though access to local team broadcasts remains a challenge. The article provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the evolving NHL broadcast ecosystem.