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As of February 2026, the NHL is in a high-stakes transition period. Following a 19-day break for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, the league has just resumed regular-season play as of Feb 25.
However, this excitement is often met with the frustration of NHL blackout games. These restrictions occur because regional sports networks hold exclusive rights to broadcast a team’s games within their “home territory“.
If you live within a team’s designated region, National streaming platforms block your feed to protect the local broadcaster’s exclusive audience.
You can watch blackout NHL games in Canada on Sportsnet+ and NHL.TV. I have also added some free streaming options for your convenience, so scroll down the blog!
Unfortunately, NHL.TV is geo-restricted in Canada, and a free option is an unofficial way to watch NHL. Therefore, I recommend using a reliable VPN to bypass the geo-blocks and hide your streaming activity.
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What Are NHL Blackout Games?
NHL blackout games are live broadcasts restricted in certain areas due to local television rights. These rules ensure that regional networks, like Sportsnet West or TSN4, have exclusive rights to games within a team’s home territory.
A classic example occurs when the Toronto Maple Leaf’s play a regional game on TSN4 in Ontario. For a fan in Vancouver or Calgary, face blackout on their standard TV because it is “out-of-market.”
Simultaneously, the game is blacked out on national streaming platforms for Toronto fans to force them toward the local broadcaster.
How to Unlock Blackout NHL Games in Canada
Sportsnet+ is the official streaming home of the NHL in Canada. The platform offers 1,100 NHL games, including national broadcasts, out-of-market and blackout games, regional matches, and additional US vs US matchups.
However, when it comes to blackout NHL games, your access depends on the plan you choose. Sportsnet+ offers two subscription tiers, i.e., Standard and Premium, but only the Premium plan unlocks blackout games.
The Premium subscription is available for $42.99 per month, offering broader access and fewer blackout restrictions across Canada.
Here is how you can watch blackout NHL games in Canada:
Step 1: Go to the Sportsnet+ website and click on “Subscribe” to create a new account
Step 2: Choose Premium subscription plan to watch Blackout NHL Games
Step 3: Enter your Email
Step 4: Verify your account via email or phone number
Step 5: Enter a 6-digit verification code
Step 6: Create a new password
Step 7: Enter your personal and card details along with postal code (e.g., M5V 2T6) to complete the purchase.
Step 8: Enjoy watching live NHL games resuming from February 25!
Note: If you are still facing blackouts, you may try connecting to different city’s server of a premium VPN, like Surfshark VPN App.
Free Method to Unlock Blackout NHL Games in Canada
The best way to watch the NHL Blackout games live for free is by sideloading popular sports apps such as RapidStreamz, SportzX, or RBTV33 on your devices.
Alternatively, you can also try free sports websites like livesport24.watch/ OR viprow.nu by entering their URLs directly in your browser to stream live NHL games.
Since these streams are from outside the blackout zone, you can stream every match live without any restrictions.
However, free streaming sources often come with unstable links and security risks. Therefore, always use a VPN to watch safely and without interruptions.
Here’s how you can watch blackout NHL games in Canada live for free on Rapid Streamz:
Step 1: Subscribe to Surfshark VPN App and then connect to the US server
Step 2: Download the RapidStreamz APK
Step 3: Click Install
Step 4: Open the app
Step 5: Click “Accept (Ad Free)”.
Step 6: Click on “Get Started”
Step 7: Select Hockey (NHL)
Step 8: Start Streaming!
Unlock Blackout NHL Games in Canada on NHL.TV
DAZN is the official streaming home of the NHL worldwide. You can watch 1,300 NHL live and on demand games with NHL.TV, including the blackout games, Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final.
Subscription to NHL.TV starts at €22.99/mo. or €119.99 upfront for the entire season. You can buy it standalone or add it to an existing DAZN subscription.
However, NHL.TV via DAZN is officially unavailable in the US and Canada. To bypass these regional restrictions and access blackout games, simply use a premium VPN, and connect to the UK or Ireland’s server. We recommend Surfshark.
2026 Blackout Games Lineup
In Canada, NHL broadcasting rights are divided by region. Here are some of the NHL teams with their local broadcasters within their home territory (click here to check blackout line up):
| Team | Local Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Anaheim Ducks | KCOP, Victory+ |
| Boston Bruins | NESN |
| Buffalo Sabres | MSG Buffalo |
| Calgary Flames | Sportsnet West / Sportsnet Flames |
| Carolina Hurricanes | FanDuel Sports Network South |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Chicago Sports Network |
| Colorado Avalanche | Altitude Sports |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio |
| Dallas Stars | Victory+ |
| Detroit Red Wings | FanDuel Sports Network Detroit |
| Edmonton Oilers | Sportsnet West / Sportsnet Oilers |
| Florida Panthers | Scripps Sports |
| Los Angeles Kings | FanDuel Sports Network West |
| Minnesota Wild | FanDuel Sports Network North |
| Montreal Canadiens | TSN2, RDS |
| Nashville Predators | FanDuel Sports Network South |
| New Jersey Devils | MSG Networks |
| New York Islanders | MSG Networks |
| New York Rangers | MSG Networks |
| Ottawa Senators | TSN5, RDS |
| Philadelphia Flyers | NBC Sports Philadelphia |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | SportsNet Pittsburgh |
| San Jose Sharks | NBC Sports California |
Other Sports to Watch in Canada
Here are some other exciting sports that you can watch in Canada.
FAQs
1. Why are NHL games blacked out in my area?
Blackouts occur because regional networks hold exclusive rights to broadcast a team’s games within their “home territory.” To protect these local TV contracts, national streaming services block the live feed for viewers located inside that region.
2. Are Stanley Cup Playoff games blacked out?
No, there are no blackouts during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
3. Which NHL games are never blacked out?
National broadcasts are available to everyone in Canada regardless of their location. This includes Hockey Night in Canada on Saturdays, Sunday Showdown, and the new Monday Night Hockey on Prime Video.
End Note
The 2025-26 NHL regular season is currently on the Olympic break, resuming on Feb 25. While the race to the Stanley Cup Playoffs heats up through June, you may still encounter frustrating blackouts on select games due to regional broadcasting rights.
To watch blackout NHL games in Canada, your best official options are Sportsnet+ Premium and NHL.TV. There are also several free streaming methods mentioned in this blog for those looking for community-driven workarounds.
However, to ensure a smooth and secure experience across any platform, I recommend using Surfshark to mask your location and protect your streaming activity.
