How to bypass NHL blackout restrictions on ESPN+ and NHL.tv

Want to watch blackout NHL games on ESPN or NHL.tv? We explain how to use a VPN to stream games from anywhere. Learn how to use a VPN to stream NHL online during blackouts.

Blackout restrictions are a common source of frustration for paying subscribers to NHL.tv and ESPN. NHL blackouts happen due to broadcasting rights agreements and regional sports networks. Blackouts give local broadcasters exclusive rights to air home-team games and prevent those games from being aired or streamed from other sources in their local markets.

A VPN is a privacy tool that allows you to encrypt your internet data and conceal your IP address from the websites you visit. By connecting to a VPN server in a different state or province, you appear to be living elsewhere. This unlocks the NHL blackout game and lets you stream every NHL game of the season.

Not all VPNs work to watch the NHL on ESPN and NHL.tv. Some VPNs are too slow, and others have been blocked by leading streaming providers. In this guide, we explain how to use a VPN to bypass NHL blackouts, and we recommend the best VPN for NHL.

How to bypass NHL blackouts on ESPN and NHL.tv

Using a VPN to bypass NHL blackouts is easier than you might think. If you are new to the notion of VPNs, we understand that it can seem a little confusing. To help you out, we have explained the entire process below.

How to watch blackout NHL games on ESPN and NHL.tv:

1. Subscribe to a suitable VPN for NHL blackouts. We recommend NordVPN because it has fast servers in 15+ US states that are optimized for streaming multiple US streaming platforms – ESPN, NHL.tv, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and many others. Alternatively, you can opt for Surfshark which works with ESPN and NHL.tv and is cheap, while allowing for unlimited devices. Or ExpressVPN, which is an excellent all-rounder with fast servers across the US. Each comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 
2. Navigate to your preferred VPN. Our links get you a VPN subscription at the lowest possible cost thanks to our automated coupons. Subscribing for longer will also get you a bigger discount.
3. Download and install the VPN software onto your streaming device. NordVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Firestick. This lets you watch NHL blackout games on PCs, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and on Kodi.
4. Launch the VPN application and log in using the credentials you created during sign-up.
5. Connect to a server in a neighboring US state. Blackout restrictions are only enforced locally. By connecting to a server in a different state or city, you can watch the NHL on ESPN or NHL.tv without any errors. Your VPN app will have a list of servers to pick from, click the one you want.
6. Head over to your streaming provider’s website and log in to your account. You will now be able to watch the NHL game without any blackouts.

If you have any problems watching blackout games on ESPN or NHL.tv using your VPN, please clear the cookies and cache in your browser. Alternatively, log into your streaming account using an Incognito window. 

Cookies can interfere with your VPN by allowing streaming services to detect your real location. By clearing your cookies or using private browsing mode, you can bypass these conflicts and get your VPN working properly. 

Remember that each VPN we recommend has many servers across the US. You can test a few different server locations based on your current location. However, a server closer to you (in a neighboring state) should provide the fastest speeds, which is ideal for streaming hockey games.

What are NHL blackouts and why do they happen?

National broadcasters enter into licensing agreements with sports leagues such as the NHL, MLB, NBA, and NFL. These agreements enforce compulsory restrictions on where national broadcasters are permitted to broadcast games.

To protect local TV broadcasts and encourage fans to watch home games live in their local stadium, licensing agreements include blackout commitments. These contractual obligations force services like ESPN and NHL.tv to track each user who visits their website.

If you are located in a city or state where a game is happening, and the rights to broadcast that game are held by a local TV service, then you will receive an error message when you try to stream the game using your ESPN or NHL.tv account. This is commonly referred to as a blackout.

ESPN, NHL.tv, and other streaming services that broadcast sports are affected by these kinds of licensing agreements. To honor their contractual obligations, they track each user's IP address.

An IP address is a digital identifier that allows websites to determine your physical location. For instance, if you are a Canadian living in Toronto, NHL.tv will detect your Toronto IP address and block you from streaming home Maple Leaf games.

The same is true across the US and Canada, where local games are subjected to blackout restrictions to compel you to watch them on local TV.

This is where a VPN can protect you against blackouts. You can use the VPN recommended in this guide to obtain an IP address in a neighboring state. This prevents your streaming provider from knowing your location and enables you to watch NHL blackout games without encountering any errors. As such, you'll be able to keep up with your favorite team from anywhere. 

A VPN allows you to watch your streaming accounts while traveling abroad, which is perfect if you're going on vacation and want to access ESPN, NHL.tv, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, or any other region-locked streaming services from the US or Canada.

How to bypass NHL blackouts in Canada or the US

Bypassing NHL blackouts is pretty straightforward in both the US and Canada as long as you get a reliable VPN. 

If you see the error message below when you visit NHL.tv, then subscribe to one of our VPN recommendations to regain access to the stream.

“Your selection is not currently available in NHL.TV due to local or national blackout restrictions. The full-length replay will be made available after 48 hours.” 

By connecting to a VPN server in a different state or province, you cause NHL.tv, ESPN, and other networks to detect an IP address in a valid location for the game you want to watch. This removes the error message and lets you watch every NHL game of the season.

It is worth noting that bypassing NHL regional blackouts must be handled slightly differently on mobile devices and PCs. Below, we will explain the differences to make things as easy as possible.

How to bypass NHL blackouts on a PC or Mac

If you want to watch the local NHL game on your PC or laptop then you will be able to do so by installing the VPN app for Mac or Windows. All our recommendations have apps for PCs that work to watch NHL on Windows or Mac, and some even have you covered on Linux too.

Once you have subscribed to the VPN that interests you, all you must do is log in to the website and download the VPN applications for Mac or Windows. The app will only take a few seconds to download. Once you have installed it, launch the app and select a server in a neighboring state or province. 

Now open your browser and head over to your streaming provider’s website. Log in to your account and stream the game that you want to watch. The blackout will have been removed thanks to the IP address provided by your VPN.

How to bypass NHL blackouts on Android or iOS

Circumventing blackouts on mobile devices can be more challenging for hockey fans due to the built-in geolocation features in your device. To bypass the restrictions imposed by ESPN and NHL.tv, we recommend watching your account through your phone's web browser rather than relying on the official ESPN or NHL.tv apps.

Many of these apps use location services, which can inadvertently reveal your actual location and impede the effectiveness of your VPN. Using a web browser, especially in incognito mode to bypass any tracking cookies, can simplify the process and help you evade your phone's GPS features.

Be cautious when considering GPS spoofing apps. Most of these apps require a rooted (for Android) or jailbroken (for iOS) device to actually trick other apps, which can introduce security risks. If you're contemplating GPS spoofing, thorough research into any app you plan to install is highly recommended.

For a smoother and more secure experience, we suggest sticking to the use of a private browser, such as MoreLogin, which helps prevent fingerprinting, in conjunction with a VPN. This combination should let you stream NHL content with the least amount of hassle.

Can I use a free VPN to watch NHL blackout games?

Sadly, no. Streaming services like ESPN, NHL.tv, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, Prime Video, HBO Max, etc, know that consumers try to bypass region blocks by using a VPN. As a result, streaming services have started cracking down on VPNs by blocking as many IPs as possible.

These blocks have led to a shortage of VPNs that work to unblock blackout games (and US streaming in general, while on vacation, at work, etc). You may be able to find a reliable free VPN plan that has servers in the US (such as AtlasVPN or ProtonVPN) but these services will not work to watch NHL regional games.

Reliable VPNs that have a free plan understand that sports fans will pay to watch streaming content via their favorite platforms, and although they are generous enough to offer a basic free plan, they want users to upgrade. This is why trustworthy free VPNs keep access to ESPN, NHL.tv, Netflix, etc, available exclusively on their premium plans.

Free VPN plans are usually very sluggish compared to paid services due to server congestion and bandwidth limits. This makes free VPNs unsuitable for watching videos online due to slow internet speeds. This is the case no matter your internet connection speeds. 

Besides these performance issues, we urge you to remember that the vast majority of free VPNs available in app stores are unreliable, and untrusted for gaining online privacy. Free VPN providers have outdated encryption (or sometimes no encryption at all), suffer from app and server vulnerabilities, have leaks, and have even been found to hide spyware in their apps. This makes using most free VPNs extremely risky. If you plan to use a free VPN, then please stick to our secure recommendations. Most quality VPNs will expect a fee to access any regional broadcasters.

Bypassing NHL blackouts: FAQs

Is it legal to watch NHL blackout games with a VPN?

A VPN is a privacy service designed to give you online protection against data theft and tracking, and, in the US and Canada, you are well within your rights to use this tool to protect your data.

That said, using a VPN to bypass blackout restrictions may be a violation of the terms of service (ToS) of the streaming platform you use. The terms for services like NHL.tv or ESPN+ usually mention that circumvention blocks are against their rules.

Despite this, the likelihood of facing any consequences for using a VPN is extremely low. Using a VPN could theoretically result in the suspension or termination of your accounts. Such account actions are rare and not a primary focus for streaming services; they want you to keep paying your bill each month.

Services like ESPN and NHL.tv primarily focus on blocking VPNs themselves, rather than penalizing individual users. It is important to remember that suspending user accounts simply for using a VPN is extremely hard to justify because VPNs can be used for legitimate security purposes, or to regain access to services within the permitted region – to unblock the stream for a game at work, for example.

Rules on VPN use can vary around the world. Be sure to do your own research and check local laws in the county where you live. Nothing in this guide should be taken as legal advice.

How does a VPN work to bypass blackout games?

Major streaming services heavily rely on IP address checks to ascertain the geographic location of their users. This method is employed to ensure that viewers outside of the licensed broadcast region are restricted from accessing the content.

When sporting events are licensed to local TV broadcasts, national streaming platforms employ IP checks to block access for users within the local vicinity of the game. This forces those viewers to either watch the game on local TV or attend it in person.

VPNs offer a reliable solution for overcoming this problem. They redirect all your internet traffic through a server located in a different state (US) or province (Canada). This successfully spoofs your IP address location, allowing you to log in and stream your account as if it were a standard, non-blackout game.

Will a VPN cause buffering during NHL games?

Many VPNs have slow servers that are unreliable for streaming live sports. The VPNs recommended in this guide were tested using a dedicated speed test server located in Ohio. We tested each VPN to ensure it has fast protocols and servers that are optimized for streaming in HD. This ensures that our recommendations not only work to access blackout games but to do so without buffering or a loss of picture quality. 

A VPN cannot speed up your internet. The maximum speed of your internet is controlled by your ISP and the connection you pay for. If you pay for slow internet, a VPN could cause your internet to slow even further, which could cause buffering issues. This will not be an issue when you have a decent home broadband setup, but could become an issue if you are trying to stream on a public WiFi hotspot for example.

If you want to check how a VPN performs with your particular setup, you can easily do so by making use of the money-back guarantee offered by our recommendations. That way you can stream a blackout game risk-free, and check that your internet is fast enough for streaming games while connected to the VPN. 

You can get better speeds by connecting to a VPN server that is closer. For this reason, we recommend connecting to a server in a neighboring state where the game is available. In addition, we recommend speedy VPN protocols such as WireGuard. In the case of NordVPN, its proprietary protocol NordLynx is specifically designed to give you the fastest speeds for streaming).

How do I know if an NHL game will be blacked out?

It can be hard to know ahead of time whether a game is going to be subjected to a blackout. If you know that a local broadcaster is going to be showing the game on the TV, then it will probably be blacked out online.

You used to be able to check for blackout games by entering your ZIP code into the NHL’s blackout detector tool. However, this tool has now been removed from the NHL website.

We recommend that you protect yourself by getting a VPN subscription in advance of any local games, preferably at the beginning of the season. That way, you will be prepared for the worst throughout the season.