How to watch blackout NHL games on ESPN+

The NHL 2025-26 preseason games will stream on ESPN+ and NHL.tv, but local team matches will be blacked out for US and Canada fans. That’s because Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) hold the broadcasting rights, forcing the streaming services to block your local team’s matches for you.

The simplest way to bypass NHL geo-restrictions is to use a VPN. A VPN changes your IP address, making it look like you’re watching from another location. This way, you can stream your local team’s matches on ESPN+ and NHL.tv without interruptions.

Continue reading to learn how to watch blackout NHL games on ESPN+ and NHL.tv from anywhere. I’ll show you the detailed steps on how to set up a VPN for geo-block bypassing and the best VPNs for it.

Why are NHL games blacked out on ESPN+?

NHL games are blacked out on ESPN+ as different regional broadcasting companies have exclusive rights to air certain games. This means that even such a good game as the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Maple Leafs would be restricted to residents living in these particular states.

However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to see the game ever. Once 48 hours after the live game passes, you can see your favorite teams play even on ESPN+ or NHL.tv.

If you don’t want to wait to watch your NHL team play, you can get a subscription to a regional sports broadcaster. They usually cost above $10 per month, for example, Fubo's regional sports fee can cost up to $16.99/month.

But the cheapest way to bypass NHL blackouts is to use a sports streaming VPN with servers in the US and Canada to spoof your IP location.

Bypass the NHL blackouts with NordVPN

NordVPN is a VPN that 100% bypasses the NHL blackouts on ESPN+. The provider ensures lightning-fast speeds and full-HD video quality together with servers in 21 US cities.

9.7/10 

1

• Super-fast connection speeds
• Top-notch security features
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Get NordVPN

If you live in the US and you want to know if a local game is blacked out in your area, you can use NHL’s zip code lookup tool. International fans won’t be able to view a game on ESPN if it airs on an NHL partner network in their area.

Best VPNs to bypass NHL blackouts

I researched and tested dozens of reputable VPNs to find out which work best for bypassing NHL blackouts. My research process included evaluating each VPN’s US and Canadian server locations, testing their speeds, and reviewing their security features. Here are my hand-picked options for NHL blackout bypassing:

1. 1. NordVPN – best VPN to bypass NHL blackouts in 2025
2. 2. Surfshark – VPN for bypassing NHL blackouts on unlimited devices
3. 3. ExpressVPN – secure VPN to bypass NHL blackouts

 

After weeks of testing the services, NordVPN proved to be the top VPN for NHL game streaming on both ESPN+ and NHL.tv. Additionally, it was one of the fastest VPNs available that still ensured affordable pricing. However, VPNs like Surfshark and ExpressVPN also stood out due to their high performance results and effortless streaming service restriction bypassing.

Let’s review my findings in more detail.

1. NordVPN – best VPN to stream blackout NHL games overall

NordVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit NordVPN

Pros & cons

• Effortlessly unblocked blacked out NHL games
• Servers in 21 US and 3 Canada cities
• 92% average speed retention rates
• 3-day free trial

• Free trial is available through Android devices only

NordVPN is the best VPN service for bypassing NHL blackouts. During my tests, I connected to one of the 21 US server locations and could instantly access both ESPN+ and NHL.tv. Throughout the 40-minute streaming test, I saw no disconnects.

As for the performance, NordVPN didn’t lag either when using its proprietary NordLynx protocol. I noted the performance and found that the VPN retained an average of around 92% initial connection speeds.

NordVPN has apps for some smart TVs, including Android TV, so you can easily stream blackout NHL games on your TV too. But if your TV doesn’t have a VPN app, you can set it up on your router.

You can get NordVPN’s yearly package with a 30-day money-back guarantee starting from $2.91/month. It has a free 3-day trial version that you can obtain via Android devices.

Get to know more details from our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – affordable VPN for NHL blackout games

Surfshark

1

9.6

/10

Visit Surfshark

Pros & cons

• Allows unlimited parallel connections
• Has servers in 24 US and 3 Canadian locations
• Excellent price-to-quality ratio

• Many security features come for an extra charge

Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs that you can use for bypassing NHL blackouts. It allows unlimited simultaneous connections on one account and has servers in 24 US and 3 Canadian locations.

When I tested Surfshark with ESPN+, I found that it had no trouble accessing the streaming platform. I could instantly watch matches that otherwise wouldn’t be available.

I took the time to put Surfshark’s performance to a test. While I found that it’s not as fast as NordVPN, it still showed amazing results – an average of 88% speed retention rates. Safe to say, I didn’t experience any lagging.

Surfshark’s yearly package is available from $1.99/month and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. There’s also a 7-day free trial that you can get on Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS.

Find our other insights in a Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN – secure VPN for blackout NHL game streaming

ExpressVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit ExpressVPN

Pros & cons

• Bypasses ESPN+ geo-blocks without issues
• Servers in 24 US and 3 Canada locations
• An average of 88% speed retention rates

• Location-specific server count isn’t disclosed

ExpressVPN is another reliable and secure VPN for bypassing NHL blackouts. I used one of the servers in 24 US locations to bypass ESPN blackouts. I experienced no disconnects whatsoever and could successfully watch blackout games.

As for my speed tests, I found that ExpressVPN is super fast. I experienced no buffering while streaming matches, and the speed retention rates were 89% on average.

ExpressVPN’s yearly package comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and you can get it from $3.49/month. A free 7-day trial version is available on both Android and iOS.

Read our detailed ExpressVPN review to learn more.

How to get around NHL blackout restrictions on your device

You can get around NHL blackout restrictions on any of your devices when using a VPN to connect to a server where matches aren’t restricted. Let’s take a look at how to use a VPN to bypass ESPN+ blackouts on PCs, smartphones, and smart TVs.

Bypass NHL blackouts on PC (Windows, macOS)

Bypassing NHL blackouts on a PC using a VPN is easy. You first have to use the NHL's zip code lookup tool to see which area is eligible to live-stream your preferred match on ESPN+.

Once you’ve found a location, follow the steps below to connect to a VPN server:

1. Pick a VPN with servers in both the US and Canada. I recommend NordVPN.
2. Download and install the VPN on your Windows or Mac computer.
3. Connect to a server in the location where your team’s game isn’t blacked out. If you’re in Florida, to watch the Panthers play, you’d need to connect to a server in Louisiana, Texas, or another state.
4. Sign in to your ESPN+ account and start streaming the game.

Bypass NHL blackouts on mobile (Android and iOS)

Bypassing NHL blackouts on smartphones can be a bit trickier because the ESPN app or site can find out about your location through your GPS or location services. Here’s how to avoid geo-restrictions:

1. Choose a VPN. My top suggestion is NordVPN, now 79% off.
2. Download and install the VPN through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
3. Connect to a server outside your local state. If you’re in Boston and want to watch the Bruins play, choose a server in Illinois or anywhere close to Massachusetts.
4. Open the ESPN+ app or the ESPN+ website.
5. If you’re on iOS, disable location services and don’t give the app permission to track you.
6. Start watching your team’s matches.

Bypass NHL blackouts on smart TVs and streaming devices

If you want to stream games on smart TVs, like Android TV, you can download the VPN app straight onto the device from its app store. However, not all streaming devices and smart TVs support native VPN apps. So, you’ll need to set up your VPN on a router.

Follow the steps below to bypass NHL blackouts on any device:

1. Get a VPN that works with routers. My top pick is NordVPN.
2. Download and install a VPN on your computer.
3. Set up a VPN on a router. Please note that NordVPN only works with routers that support the OpenVPN client.
4. Connect your non-VPN device to an encrypted connection.
5. Connect to a VPN server outside your state to see blackout games.
6. Launch ESPN+ and start watching your team play.

Can I get around NHL blackouts with a free VPN?

Yes, you can use a free VPN to get around NHL blackouts but it’s unlikely to work. That’s because there are limited servers available and they’re usually overcrowded, resulting in low speeds. Unreputable services may even sell your personal data to third parties for profit.

Alternatively, you can explore freemium VPNs, which are free versions of premium VPNs that are completely safe to use. However, they still are limited in servers, so you’re unlikely to have a smooth streaming experience for NHL games.

Your best bet at unblocking blackout NHL games is to use a premium VPN with a free trial, like NordVPN. It comes with a free 3-day trial on Android, which you can use on other devices after initial set up. Plus, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee on top of it, resulting in 33 days of free service.

ESPN+ not working with VPN?

If you’re unable to watch an NHL game even after connecting to a VPN, then try these steps below:

• Clear the browser’s cache and cookies. Your browser’s history may be revealing your actual location and interfering with the VPN connection.
• Reconnect to a VPN. It’s possible that ESPN+ has detected the VPN activity and blocked the IP address given by a certain server. Changing a VPN server can help.
• Check for IP leaks. On Google or another search engine, type in “What’s my IP” and see if your IP address is different from the original one. If it’s not, enable the IP/DNS leak protection in the VPN app.
• Get a better VPN. If you have downloaded a VPN before checking recommendations, it’s possible that your current provider isn’t capable enough to bypass NHL blackouts. In this case, I suggest you try NordVPN which 100% works with NHL blackout games.

Final thoughts

ESPN+ applies geo-blocks to certain NHL games that were bought by regional broadcasters. As a result, people across the US and Canada can’t watch their local teams play. However, with a streaming VPN, you can easily access blackout NHL 2025-26 season games from your own home.

During my tests, I found that NordVPN was the best to bypass NHL blackouts on ESPN+. The provider has servers in 21 US and 3 Canada cities, successfully unblocks ESPN+ and NHL.tv, and offers excellent speeds.