The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs are well underway. Over the course of two months, we’ll see 16 teams whittled down to just two as this playoff tournament concludes with the Stanley Cup Finals in June. It was the Winnipeg Jets who won the Presidents Trophy’ with the most points for the 2024-25 NHL season. The Toronto Maple Leafs extended the longest active playoff streak to nine years. Both teams progressed to the second round.
We’re about to explain how to watch the whole event live online. Online streams of the much-anticipated event will be available in the US, Canada, and abroad, although you may need a VPN to access every Stanley Cup playoff game this year.
Important note: This guide only recommends official sources for the Stanley Cup playoffs. NHL is popular in the US, Canada, and elsewhere, but the event is primarily offered through pay-TV services and networks. As a result, many hockey fans may try to stream through unlicensed sources. However, several legitimate services exist that allow for free streaming, and in HD. Unofficial sources may risk your privacy and security. As such, we recommend using a VPN to protect your data and to use only official streaming sites for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
All of the services listed below are region-locked. You’ll need a VPN to access the Stanley Cup playoff streams on your usual services while abroad.
How to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs with a VPN
There will be streams available for the 2025 NHL playoffs from multiple countries and TV networks. To get unrestricted access to these streams, follow the steps below.
Here’s how to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs online from anywhere:
- Sign up for a VPN service provider. We recommend NordVPN but a few other services we trust include Surfshark and IPVanish.
- Next, download the VPN app to your preferred streaming devices. Make sure to check that there’s an app available for those devices. NordVPN has apps for most systems, including Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV.
- Connect to a server where your streams are available. For example, if you want the free streaming option, you’ll need to connect to a Canada-based VPN server.
- Lastly, open your streaming option and view the Stanley Cup playoffs live online.
- Note that if your stream is still region-locked, you should clear your cookies and refresh your browser. You may also need to try more than one server.
We recommend testing a stream with your VPN prior to the event. This will give you time to test different VPNs and VPN servers and to switch to a different streaming service if necessary.
WANT TO TRY THE TOP VPN RISK FREE?
NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for the Stanley Cup with no restrictions for a month—great if you want to stream the playoffs and final while traveling abroad.
There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
How to watch the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs free in Canada
If you’re in Canada, you can watch the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs free through the CBC website or app. Additionally, French-language coverage will be available on TVA, with users able to sign in using their cable provider details (or paying CAD $24.99 for a one-month subscription). It’s also possible to stream in English via Sportsnet+ (also $24.99 per month).
If you’re currently traveling outside Canada, you can still access the CBC’s free streams of the NHL playoffs by using a VPN to get a Canadian IP address. If you’re still on the fence about which VPN to choose, we recommend NordVPN because of its large number of servers in key locations worldwide and its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not a fan of the service or only need it for the Stanley Cup, you can cancel after the event is over for a full refund.
Where else can I stream the Stanley Cup playoffs online?
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs are broadcast in multiple locations worldwide. Most options involve pay-TV channels and services, so your best option, if you want to reduce costs, is to use CBC with a VPN. However, there are some other potentially low-cost options for hockey fans.
Watch the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs in the US
As the NHL is a US-based league, it should come as no surprise that sports fans in the US have multiple options to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs. If you have a cable TV subscription that includes ABC, you’ll be able to stream every game live online at no added cost. Simply sign in online using your cable TV credentials and you’ll be good to go.
It’s also possible to watch ABC without cable via FuboTV (USD $84.99/month), Hulu with Live TV ($82.99/month), Sling TV ($49.99/month but only $23 for your first month), and YouTube TV ($82.99/month). With the exception of Sling, all of these TV streaming services include free trials.
Sling TV is clearly the most affordable option for watching ABC cable-free but a Hulu + Live TV subscription also includes ESPN+ which is the other way you can watch.
An even cheaper way to watch is with an ESPN+ subscription which costs USD $11.99 a month. If you’re already subscribed to one of the above services but are traveling outside the US, you can connect to a US VPN server and log in as normal.
Watch the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs in Europe
If you’re a hockey fan in Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK, France, or really, most places outside of North America, your best bet is NHL.tv. This costs around GBP £14.99 or EUR €15 per month, but it’s possible prices vary based on your location. Unfortunately, there’s no free trial included.
Other locations
Some regions (such as Australia, the Nordics, and South America) have different broadcasters. For an up to date list of who’s showing the Stanley Cup in your country, check out the NHL website.
2025 Stanley Cup playoffs FAQs
Find some quick answers to common questions about the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs right here.
Is it legal to stream the Stanley Cup playoffs outside the US?
Yes, it’s legal to stream The Stanley Cup Finals with a VPN. If you’re trying to access a particularly streaming service from a country in which it’s not available, it may go against that platform’s Terms of Service. However, that doesn’t make it illegal.
In fact, VPNs are legal in most countries. There are only a handful of countries in which you may face legal consequences for using a VPN. This includes China and Russia, both of which have taken steps to block the use of specific VPN providers.
What day is the Stanley Cup 2025?
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs started on April 19 and run until June, concluding with the Stanley Cup Finals. The series is expected to end no later than June 23, so we can expect the Stanley Cup Finals to start sometime in early June.
What teams are in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs?
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs feature the following teams:
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Ottawa Senators
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Florida Panthers
- Washington Capitals
- Montreal Canadiens
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New Jersey Devils
- Winnipeg Jets
- St. Louis Blues
- Dallas Stars
- Colorado Avalance
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Minnesota Wild
- Los Angeles Kings
- Edmonton Oilers
With the first round having already been played, only the Maple Leafs, Panthers, Capitals, Hurricanes, Jets, Stars, Knights, and Oilers progressed to the second round.
Can I use a free VPN to watch the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs?
No, free VPNs don’t work at all well with the streaming platforms covered in this post. They offer limited server locations and their IP addresses are shared by many users and quickly blacklisted as a result.
Besides, free VPNs usually limit your data and speed which makes them a terrible choice for streaming. Free VPNs typically make money by logging and selling user data or by spamming you with ads. It’s not exactly ideal.
