How to Watch NHL in Canada in 2026-27

You can watch the 2026-27 NHL season in Canada through a mix of Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, Prime Video, TSN, and regional team broadcasts, depending on which team you follow and whether the game is national or regional.

The biggest change this season is that Prime Video now has exclusive Wednesday Night Hockey games in Canada, while Sportsnet still carries the majority of national NHL coverage. TSN also remains important for selected regional team broadcasts.

Because NHL rights are split across several services, one subscription may not be enough if you want to watch every game from one Canadian team. The best setup depends on your team, location, and whether you only want national games or the full schedule.

How to Watch NHL in Canada: Sportsnet, Prime, TSN, Blackouts & More

There is no single service that carries every NHL game for every Canadian viewer. The right option depends on whether the game is national, regional, or exclusive to Prime Video.

For most viewers, Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ cover the largest share of national NHL games. Prime Video carries Wednesday Night Hockey, while TSN still has regional rights for certain Canadian teams.

If you only follow one team, you may not need every service. But if you want access to nearly every game across the season, you may need a combination of Sportsnet+, Prime Video, and a regional broadcaster such as TSN, depending on where you live.

Also Read: Best Sports Streaming Services in Canada

Which NHL Games Are on Sportsnet, Prime Video and TSN?

NHL rights in Canada are split across several broadcasters, which is why the 2026-27 season can feel confusing.

Sportsnet remains the main national NHL broadcaster in Canada and carries the majority of national games, including Hockey Night in Canada and many playoff matchups.

Prime Video has the exclusive Canadian rights to Wednesday Night Hockey, with selected national games available directly through Prime Video.

TSN continues to carry regional games for certain Canadian teams, depending on where you live and which team you follow.

So the easiest way to think about it is:

• Sportsnet: most national NHL coverage
• Prime Video: Wednesday Night Hockey
• TSN: selected regional team games
• Regional restrictions: may affect which games you can watch in your location

This split is also why some fans may need more than one subscription to follow every game from their team.

Do You Need Sportsnet+, Prime and TSN to Watch Every NHL Game?

Possibly, yes. If you want to watch every game from a specific Canadian team, one streaming service may not be enough.

Sportsnet+ covers a large share of national games and some regional games, Prime Video has exclusive Wednesday Night Hockey matchups, and TSN carries regional games for selected teams and markets.

The exact combination you need depends on your team and location. If you only care about national games, Sportsnet+ plus Prime may be enough. If your team also has regional games on TSN, you may need TSN as well.

Sportsnet vs Sportsnet+ for NHL

Sportsnet is the TV network, while Sportsnet+ is the standalone streaming service.

If you already get Sportsnet channels through a participating TV provider, you may be able to stream those channels using your provider login. If you do not have cable, Sportsnet+ is the easier option for watching Sportsnet’s NHL coverage online.

Sportsnet+ gives you access to national NHL games and, depending on your plan and location, some regional and out-of-market coverage. However, it does not replace Prime Video’s exclusive Wednesday games, and regional blackout rules can still apply.

How NHL Blackouts Work in Canada

NHL blackouts in Canada usually depend on where you live, which team you are trying to watch, and whether the game is classified as national or regional.

National games are generally available across Canada through services such as Sportsnet or Prime Video. Regional games are different because broadcasters may only have rights within a team’s designated viewing territory.

What Is a Regional NHL Blackout?

A regional blackout happens when a game is available only inside a specific team’s broadcast territory. If you live outside that region, the regional feed may be blocked even if you subscribe to the broadcaster carrying it.

Do Prime Video NHL Games Have Blackouts?

Prime Video’s Wednesday Night Hockey games are national broadcasts in Canada, so they are generally not subject to the same regional blackout rules as local team broadcasts.

Why Is an NHL Game Missing on Sportsnet+?

If a game is missing from Sportsnet+, it may be because another broadcaster has exclusive rights to it, such as Prime Video for Wednesday Night Hockey or TSN for certain regional games.

It can also be caused by regional restrictions tied to your location and team.

How to Avoid Missing NHL Games

Before game day, check whether the matchup is listed as national, regional, or Prime-exclusive. That makes it much easier to know whether you need Sportsnet+, Prime Video, TSN, or another regional broadcaster.

How to Watch Your Favourite Canadian NHL Team

The best way to watch NHL in Canada depends heavily on which team you follow and where you live. Some teams have regional games on TSN, others are more heavily tied to Sportsnet, and national games can also appear on Prime Video.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs fans usually need a mix of Sportsnet and TSN for regional coverage, with some national games also appearing on Prime Video.

Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens games can appear across Sportsnet, TSN/RDS, and Prime Video, depending on language, region, and whether the matchup is national or regional.

Western Canadian Teams

For the Oilers, Canucks, and Flames, Sportsnet remains the main broadcaster, while selected national games can appear on Prime Video.

Jets and Senators

The Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators still rely heavily on TSN for regional coverage, with Sportsnet and Prime handling selected national games.

The key point is that following one team for the entire season may still require more than one service.

NHL on Prime Wednesday Night Hockey Schedule 2026-27

Prime Video is carrying 27 national NHL regular-season games in Canada during the 2026-27 season under Wednesday Night Hockey. The package started on September 30 with the New York Islanders visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs.

All Wednesday Night Hockey games are available exclusively on Prime Video in Canada, in both English and French, at no extra cost beyond an active Prime membership.

Which Canadian Teams Appear Most on Prime?

The Montreal Canadiens have seven Prime games, while the Toronto Maple Leafs have six. Calgary, Winnipeg, and Ottawa each appear four times, Edmonton has three games, and Vancouver has two.

Are There All-Canadian Games on Prime?

Yes. The 2026-27 Prime schedule includes five all-Canadian matchups, including rivalry games such as Edmonton vs Calgary.

How Long Will Wednesday Night Hockey Stay on Prime?

This is not a one-season experiment. Prime Video has the exclusive Canadian rights to Wednesday Night Hockey through the 2037-38 NHL season under its long-term agreement with Rogers and the NHL.

Does Prime Video Have Stanley Cup Playoff Games in Canada?

Yes. Prime Video’s NHL deal in Canada now extends beyond the regular-season Wednesday Night Hockey package.

Starting with the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Prime Video will carry two First Round series and one Second Round series in Canada each season. Those series will be exclusive to Prime Video nationally, while Sportsnet will continue to carry the rest of the playoff schedule.

How Many Playoff Series Are on Prime Video?

Prime gets:

• 2 First Round series
• 1 Second Round series

That means Prime will carry three complete playoff series each year during the early rounds.

Will the Stanley Cup Final Be on Prime?

No. The Stanley Cup Final remains with Sportsnet and CBC in Canada, not Prime Video.
Do You Need a Separate NHL Subscription?

No. The Prime playoff games are included with an active Amazon Prime membership in Canada. You do not need NHL Centre Ice or another NHL-specific add-on just for those Prime-exclusive series.

Can You Watch NHL for Free in Canada?

For the 2026-27 NHL season, there is no longer a broad free CBC/CBC Gem route for regular-season NHL games. Sportsnet and CBC ended their NHL broadcast partnership, with Saturday national games moving fully to Sportsnet.

That means most NHL streaming in Canada now requires access to Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, Prime Video, TSN, or another regional broadcaster, depending on the matchup.

Can You Watch NHL Free on CBC Gem?

Not as part of the regular 2026-27 NHL package. CBC Gem should no longer be presented as a standard free option for Hockey Night in Canada this season.

Are Prime Video NHL Games Free?

Not completely. Wednesday Night Hockey is included with Amazon Prime, so there is no extra NHL charge, but you still need an active Prime membership.

Can You Use a Free Trial?

Potentially. Eligible new Amazon Prime subscribers may be able to use a Prime free trial to watch included Wednesday Night Hockey games during the trial period. Trial eligibility depends on the account and current promotion.

Is There Any Completely Free Legal NHL Stream in Canada?

There is no consistent free service carrying the full NHL season in Canada. Free access may occasionally come through promotional offers or limited broadcaster previews, but these should be treated as temporary rather than a reliable season-long option.

Best NHL Streaming Option in Canada

For most cord-cutters, the best setup depends on how much NHL coverage you want and which team you follow.

If you mainly want national games, Sportsnet+ plus Prime Video will cover a large share of the season. If your team also has regional games on TSN, you may need TSN as well.

Best for National NHL Coverage

Sportsnet+ is the strongest standalone option for broad national NHL coverage in Canada.

Best for Wednesday Night Hockey

Prime Video is required for the exclusive Wednesday Night Hockey package.

Best for Selected Regional Team Games

TSN remains important for regional coverage of teams such as the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Jets, and Senators, depending on your location.

Cheapest Setup for Casual Fans

If you do not need every game, the cheapest approach is to combine free CBC broadcasts with whichever paid service carries the games you care about most. This avoids paying for every NHL platform at once

Conclusion

Watching the 2026-27 NHL season in Canada is more complicated than using a single streaming service. Sportsnet remains the main home for national coverage, Prime Video now has exclusive Wednesday Night Hockey games, and TSN is still important for selected regional broadcasts.

If you only follow one team, you may not need every service. For broader coverage, Sportsnet+ and Prime Video will handle a large share of the season, with TSN added where regional rights require it.