Thankfully, a VPN can make ensure you don’t miss a single second of the action. Here’s how a VPN can help you unblock websites and stream the game: Fans will be thrilled to learn that the NHL plans to return to a full 82-game regular season, spanning from October 2021 to April 2022. Last year, each team only played 56 regular-season games due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The NHL has also added a new team to the mix, the Seattle Kraken, expanding the league to 32 teams. The Kraken will compete in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Ice hockey fans can watch the new team in action in the second game of the opening night, as the Seattle Kraken will be welcomed into the league by the Vegas Golden Knights on October 12th at 10:00 pm (EST).
How to Livestream the 2021-22 NHL Season Opener
For the first time since 2004, ESPN is the home of the NHL. In fact, ESPN has exclusive rights over the opening night games in the U.S., as well as out-of-market games. ESPN+ gives fans access to over 1000 out-of-market games and 75 exclusive games. A monthly subscription will cost users $6.99 a month, whereas a one-time yearly subscription costs $69.99. Fans in Canada can stream the NHL season opener on the Sportsnet NOW streaming platform. The service is priced at $11.95 per month or $119.55 for the year.
List of channels and websites that broadcast the NHL
Brazil: ESPN BR Canada: CBC, Sportsnet, and NHL Live France: Canal+ Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: Sport 1 The Netherlands: Fox Sports Scandinavia, the Baltic States, and parts of Eastern Europe: Viasat Sport United Kingdom: Premier Sports United States: ESPN, ABC, TBS, TNT, HBO Max, NHL Network
How to Watch the NHL Season Opener when Abroad
Ice hockey fans outside of North America who are eager to watch the NHL 2021-22 Season Opener might face some trouble streaming the game. NHL broadcasters apply geo-restrictions to prevent people from streaming games outside of North America. For fans based outside of the U.S. or Canada, this means you might be geo-blocked even if you are an ESPN+ subscriber. Thankfully, a VPN can help you overcome this restriction and seamlessly stream the NHL opening game! It does so by changing your IP address and routing your internet activity through a server in a different country. That way, even if you are traveling or live outside North America, you can use a VPN to easily access high-quality streams in the U.S. or Canada. Below is an easy guide on how to set up a VPN and watch the NHL 2021-22 season opener.
Easy guide on how to watch the NHL Season Opener: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Can I use a free VPN to stream the NHL Season Opener?
A question that may come to mind is: can I use a free VPN instead? Many of you may have come across free VPN providers. They claim to offer the functionality of a paid VPN without the cost. It’s clear why this would seem appealing. Unfortunately, when it comes to streaming sports content, free VPNs are not a great choice. Here’s why they aren’t ideal for an event like the NHL Season Opener: These are the key reasons why we don’t recommend using a free VPN to watch the NHL Season Opener. However, if you would still like to use one, you can check out our rankings of the best truly free VPNs in 2021 to decide which one is most suitable for you. If you’re only looking to get a VPN to stream the NHL Season Opener, you should consider using NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee to get a free trial of their service. This way you can cancel your subscription after the event without losing any money.
Journey to the Stanley Cup Begins Now
The opening night kicks off what promises to be an exciting season of ice hockey. According to the NHL power rankings, the defending champs Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche are the teams to look out for. In fact, the Colorado Avalanche is the early season betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup! Fans will also be eager to see how Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers perform this season. McDavid had an otherworldly 2020-21 season, where he put up 105 points in 56 games and clearly established himself as the best player in the world. Many believe McDavid can hit 150 points this time around, as long as he can stay healthy. The NHL playoffs are scheduled to begin on 2nd May 2022, with the Stanley Cup expected to be awarded in June 2022.