How To Watch Chicago Blackhawks Games

Watching the Chicago Blackhawks hockey games has never been easier. In the 2021 NHL season, there are several different cord-cutting options available to watch Chicago Blackhawks games without cable. In this review, we will cover several different available methods such as AT&T TV, AT&T TV NOW, ESPN+, fuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, NHL.TV, and Sling TV.

Watch Chicago Blackhawks Live Without Cable

The Chicago Blackhawks will play a shortened 56 game season in the 2021 NHL season. To live stream the Chicago Blackhawks without cable you will need a streaming service that carries NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Network. Due to carriage disputes in the industry, it is very important to check which services carry these channels because many of them have changed their channel offerings. However, there are still options available to stream the game legally and in high definition quality.

Here is the list of the channels required to watch Blackhawks hockey games and the different services that offer them.

Channels
NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑

*Information provided for the Chicago, IL cord-cutters.

Chicago Blackhawks TV Schedule 2021 Season

Opponent	Time & Date	Channel
@ Tampa Bay Lightning	Wed, Jan 13 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
@ Tampa Bay Lightning	Fri, Jan 15 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Florida Panthers	Sun, Jan 17 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Florida Panthers	Tue, Jan 19 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Detroit Red Wings	Fri, Jan 22 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Detroit Red Wings	Sun, Jan 24 11:30 AM	NBC	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
@ Nashville Predators	Tue, Jan 26 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Nashville Predators	Wed, Jan 27 6:30 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
Columbus Blue Jackets	Fri, Jan 29 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Columbus Blue Jackets	Sun, Jan 31 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Carolina Hurricanes	Tue, Feb 2 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Carolina Hurricanes	Thu, Feb 4 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Dallas Stars	Sun, Feb 7 2:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Dallas Stars	Tue, Feb 9 7:30 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Columbus Blue Jackets	Thu, Feb 11 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Columbus Blue Jackets	Sat, Feb 13 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Detroit Red Wings	Mon, Feb 15 6:30 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Detroit Red Wings	Wed, Feb 17 6:30 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
@ Carolina Hurricanes	Fri, Feb 19 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Carolina Hurricanes	Sat, Feb 20 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Columbus Blue Jackets	Tue, Feb 23 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Columbus Blue Jackets	Thu, Feb 25 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Detroit Red Wings	Sat, Feb 27 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Detroit Red Wings	Sun, Feb 28 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
Tampa Bay Lightning	Thu, Mar 4 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Tampa Bay Lightning	Fri, Mar 5 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Tampa Bay Lightning	Sun, Mar 7 1:30 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
@ Dallas Stars	Tue, Mar 9 7:30 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
@ Dallas Stars	Thu, Mar 11 7:30 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Florida Panthers	Sat, Mar 13 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Florida Panthers	Mon, Mar 15 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Tampa Bay Lightning	Thu, Mar 18 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Tampa Bay Lightning	Sat, Mar 20 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Florida Panthers	Tue, Mar 23 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Florida Panthers	Thu, Mar 25 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Nashville Predators	Sat, Mar 27 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Nashville Predators	Sun, Mar 28 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
Carolina Hurricanes	Tue, Mar 30 6:30 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
Carolina Hurricanes	Thu, Apr 1 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Nashville Predators	Sat, Apr 3 2:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Nashville Predators	Sun, Apr 4 4:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Dallas Stars	Tue, Apr 6 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Dallas Stars	Thu, Apr 8 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Columbus Blue Jackets	Sat, Apr 10 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Columbus Blue Jackets	Mon, Apr 12 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Detroit Red Wings	Thu, Apr 15 6:30 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Detroit Red Wings	Sat, Apr 17 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Nashville Predators	Wed, Apr 21 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Network	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑	☑
Nashville Predators	Fri, Apr 23 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Tampa Bay Lightning	Tue, Apr 27 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Florida Panthers	Thu, Apr 29 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Florida Panthers	Sat, May 1 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Carolina Hurricanes	Mon, May 3 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
@ Carolina Hurricanes	Tue, May 4 6:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Dallas Stars	Thu, May 6 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑
Dallas Stars	Sat, May 8 7:00 PM	NBC Sports Chicago	☑	☑	☑	☑	☐	☑

*All times are EST and subject to change.
**Availability based on in-market location.

Watch Blackhawks Games With AT&T TV and AT&T TV NOW

The best option for watching Blackhawks games is AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now. Currently, AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now offers regional sports networks for all 24 US-based NHL teams, except the Philadelphia Flyers, including Fox Sports RSNs, NBC Sports RSNs, and AT&T Sports RSNs. However, if your team is available on another streaming platform, then this service may not be the best available option.

AT&T TV is a hybrid service that mixes traditional cable TV with streaming TV and AT&T TV NOW is a traditional streaming platform. NOW was formerly DIRECTV NOW but is now under the AT&T brand. Both services essentially offer the same channel packs and plans.

These channels are available on the Max package which is available for $80/month. The Max package has 60+ channels including BET, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Fox Sports, TBS, TNT, and many more. Like the other streaming options, there are no installation costs or hidden fees.

Check to see if there are any special offerings to AT&T Unlimited and internet customers. AT&T regularly offers free VISA rewards gift cards for their regular service. Also included are 500 hours of cloud-based DVR storage and 3 simultaneous streams.

Stream Chicago Blackhawks NHL Games With fuboTV

fuboTV is also one of our top choices for streaming Blackhawks games. This service also offers channels for other teams and national broadcasts. Most notably, this live streaming service gives subscribers access to most of the TV networks that carry NHL games such as NBC Sports Network, NBC, and MSG, MSG+, and NESN. FOX Sports Regional Networks are no longer available due to carriage disputes. Additionally, this service does not require a contract nor does it have any installation costs.

Currently, fuboTV offers regional sports networks for 9 NHL teams. These teams include Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, and Washington Capitals. fuboTV is the least expensive option for MSG, MSG+, and NESN.

Another top reason to get fuboTV is that it offers NHL Network which typically airs ~100 NHL games every season. Only Sling TV and fuboTV offer NHL Network.

fuboTV offers the following packages: Family ($64.99/month) and Elite ($79.99/month) plans. The fubo Family package contains 111 channels; 3 screens at once, and 250 hours of cloud DVR and the Elite package has 157 channels, 5 screens at once, 1000 hours of cloud DVR, and fubo Extra.

Cord-cutters interested in this service can sign-up by going through our link and starting a 7-day free trial. Please read our comprehensive fuboTV review for more details about this service.

Steam Live Blackhawks Games With Hulu With Live TV

Hulu With Live TV was once one of the top options available for NHL games; however, Hulu now only offers availability to watch 4 NHL teams. These NHL teams are Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, and the Washington Capitals. Much like other streaming platforms Fox Sports RSNs are no longer available due to carriage disputes with Sinclair.

With that said Hulu does carry NBC Sports Network which does air several Chicago Blackhawks games this season.

Hulu only offers one live streaming TV package which is priced at $54.99/month. In addition to sports, Hulu + Live TV contains over 65 channels. Other popular channels offered by this service include Animal Planet, FX, National Geographic, History, USA, local channels, and more.

Watch Live Chicago Blackhawks Games With Sling TV

Sling TV is no longer a great option for NHL games due to the loss of regional sports networks. However, just like Hulu, Sling TV does carry NBC Sports Network. Unlike cable or satellite TV, the service does not require a contract nor does it have any installation costs.

Currently, Sling TV offers regional sports networks for 2 NHL teams. The two teams available are the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals. Sling TV is one of two streaming services that offer NHL Network, so if you are looking for some Blackhawks games and national coverage of the week’s top matchups then this might be for you.

Sling TV offers the Sling Orange and Sling Blue plans. Both streaming plans cost $30/month or you can get Orange + Blue for $40/month. Most NHL fans are going to want the Blue plan. For an extra $10 you can sign-up for the Sports Extra add-on to get NHL Network. Sports Extra gives subscribers access to even more sports such as football, baseball, and basketball.

Please read our comprehensive Sling TV review for more details.

Stream NHL.TV With ESPN+

ESPN+ is a direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International group in partnership with ESPN. The service is a great way to watch Blackhawks games this season. ESPN+ is the exclusive home to Quest For The Stanley Cup and the nightly NHL highlights and discussion program, In The Crease.

Additionally, ESPN+ offers more than 180 regular-season NHL games as part of its regular subscription which costs $5.99/month or $59.99/annual. If you subscribe to Disney+ and/or Hulu you can bundle ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu together for just $12.99/month. You can bundle these services together by going to the ESPN+ website.

Fans will also be able to purchase and watch the entire NHL.TV package as part of ESPN+ for an additional price of $24.99/month or $99.99/annually. You can also purchase a single team pass for $84.99/annually.

NHL.TV is a standalone streaming service that lets you live stream every out-of-market NHL game. One of the major features is it allows you to watch up to four games at once, all season long. Additionally, you can choose not only from extra camera angles (two over-the-goal cameras, a zipline aerial cam, and the first-person ref cam) but also which audio hear: the television broadcast or the play-by-play for the team you’re cheering for. That’s in addition to an on-demand library of previous games and DVR capabilities that allow you to save, pause, and rewind as needed. Plus, it streams in 60 frames per second.

ESPN+ also offers live and on-demand coverage of MLB, MLS, UFC, college football, and several other popular sports. Watch ESPN’s original content such as Peyton’s Places, 30 For 30, E:60, and more. Read our comprehensive ESPN+ review.

How To Stream Chicago Blackhawks Games Out-of-Market

NHL is one of those sports that has a lot of blackout restrictions, especially for hockey cord-cutters. The good news is there is a way around these blackout restrictions for most of the services covered in this guide. The best way to do this is to pair NHL.TV with a VPN such as ExpressVPN.

Services like NHL.TV will blackout your local team. However, there is good news and that news is VPNs or Virtual Private Networks. VPNs help protect your streaming data and viewing habits by encrypting it. Today’s VPNs are fast and inexpensive.

A VPN allows you to “mask” your IP address by connecting to a server in another location. If your local hockey team has blackouts then you simply connect to a different region that is able to show your team. You may also use a VPN to access RSNs in different geographical regions.

Our top-rated VPN is ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is a fast, reliable, and inexpensive option to pair with your favorite streaming service. Plans begin as low as $8.32/month. We love ExpressVPN because it has the necessary speed required to route streaming video with little to no loss in quality. You can try ExpressVPN free for 30-days.

Please Note: Using a VPN may be against your streaming service’s user agreement and you should proceed with caution.

Illegal Streams of Chicago Blackhawks Games

It is our policy to never recommend any illegal streams of NHL games or anything else. Many illegal “free” streams put you at considerable risk to acquire viruses and dangerous malware. Most illegal streams are terrible quality and frequently go dark in the middle of a game. Do you want to risk missing the game’s biggest moment because a stream went down? We do not believe it is worth the risk by any means just to save a few bucks.

2021 NHL Team Guide For Watching Games Online