Sports Streaming · Tool Face-Off

NHL.tv vs ESPN+

Quick answer

ESPN+ wins for casual fans who want more than just hockey, but NHL.tv (now folded into ESPN+/ESPN) is the go-to for die-hard puck heads who need every out-of-market game.

NHL.tv

Every out-of-market NHL game, for the obsessive hockey fan

3.7★

Our pick

ESPN+

The everything-sports streaming sidekick

4.1★

Monthly Price

~$14.99/mo (standalone or via ESPN+)

$10.99/mo

Annual Price

~$99.99/yr

$109.99/yr (ESPN+ only)

Out-of-Market NHL Games

1,000+ games/season

Select games only

Local/In-Market Games

Blacked out

NHL.tv

Ease of Use★★★½☆

Device Support★★★★☆

Blackout Policy★★☆☆☆

Value for Money★★★½☆

Streaming Quality★★★★☆

Content Depth (Hockey)★★★★★

ESPN+

Ease of Use★★★★½

Device Support★★★★★

Blackout Policy★★★☆☆

Value for Money★★★★½

Streaming Quality★★★★½

Content Depth (Hockey)★★★☆☆

Worth knowing

NHL.tv was absorbed into the ESPN+ ecosystem in 2021 when Disney/ESPN struck a massive $400M+ deal with the NHL.
ESPN+ carries over 1,000 out-of-market NHL games per season but requires NHL.tv add-on access for the full slate.
Blackout rules apply to BOTH services — if your team is playing locally, you're watching on your regional sports network or not at all.
ESPN+ also streams every UFC Fight Night and hundreds of college sports events, making it far more versatile than a hockey-only sub.
The Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+) often costs just a few dollars more than ESPN+ alone — a no-brainer for families.

NHL.tv's blackout policy is so aggressive it once blacked out a game for a fan who lived 200 miles from the nearest team's market — apparently the puck's TV rights have a longer reach than the players' sticks.

If you want

You want every single out-of-market NHL game and nothing else matters

NHL.tv's full-season access is unmatched for volume of hockey content.

→ Pick NHL.tv

If you want

You're a casual fan who also watches UFC, NFL, or college sports

ESPN+ gives you a massive multi-sport library for a lower monthly price.

→ Pick ESPN+

If you want

You have a family and want maximum value

The Disney Bundle with ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ is an absurd deal for the price.

→ Pick ESPN+