Best VPN for NHL.TV – 2022/2023 Season Review

Catching up with all the National Hockey League games has never been easier all thanks to the NHL.TV service, formerly known as the NHL Game Center. A subscription allows you to stay on top of all the hockey fixtures, game highlights, and important announcements regarding your favorite sport. You get to stream live matches straight to your device and enjoy the full thrill of the game. The 2022/23 season starts in October 2022 and ends in June 2023, so there’s a lot of action to catch up to. The only issue you’ll have to deal with is the fact that most of the games are blacked out in the United States. However, it’s a problem you can solve, but you’ll need to turn to a simple tool called a VPN. Which one is the best VPN for NHL? Find out in this review.

NHL.TV – Home of the National Hockey League

NHL.TV is NHL’s standalone service, which allows users to stream every game from the season. The service is available almost everywhere in the world. However, its content isn’t.

Well, such a sports streaming service is subject to blackout restrictions. As of this year, NHL’s broadcasting rights went to both ESPN and TNT. NHL.tv is not available anymore in the United States.

Back when NHL TV was operational, we got you an error to shed more light on what a blackout restriction is. Here’s what you get when a major cable provider has the rights to broadcast in a specific region:

But it’s fine. With a VPN, you can watch live matches on NHL TV even if you’re in the US. Scroll a bit further and check what you need to do.

What is VPN

A Virtual Private Network does one main thing that really helps you get access to the NHL.TV service. It allows you to have your online identity concealed, and this is done by switching off your actual IP address in favor of one that links to one of your provider’s remote private servers.

Your IP address is more like your digital fingerprint online, and it reveals things such as your location and identity to anyone who cares to check. Changing it conceals your actual location, and this allows you to access the service from wherever in the world you might be. 

Working Around NHL.TV Censorship With VPN

As long as you have a valid subscription to the NHL.TV service, you’d only need to add on a reliable VPN connection to be able to navigate through all of their blocks and stream your games from anywhere in the world.

Setting up a connection is relatively easy; all you’d need to do is follow through these simple set of instructions:

1. Look for a credible VPN provider like ExpressVPN and sign up.
2. Download the app to your Mac, PC, iOS, or Android device.
3. Establish a connection to a VPN server in foreign countries like the UK or France.
4. Log in to the NHL.TV website and subscribe.
5. Enjoy the 2022/23 season live wherever you may be.

If you ask us, we’ll say ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN providers you can look to for a connection that’s always available, but we encourage that you test out other services to spot the one that might work best for you. We’ve done a review on four below that you might consider:

Top NHL.TV VPN – Detailed Review

Virtual Private Networks are excellent tools to bypass regional restrictions and avoid blackouts. You see, a blackout restriction is a mechanism used to prevent streaming services from airing a match if a cable provider has the right to is in the territory.

With a VPN, you can subdue this issue by relocating your virtual self to an area where no official broadcaster is present. Then and only then, you can stream your NHL matches blackout-free.

With that said, here are the top VPN providers to bypass NHL.TV blackout restrictions.

1. ExpressVPN – Best Streaming VPN

ExpressVPN tops our list mainly because their service is simply the best we’ve ever come across. They offer:

• Instant help via Live Chat with their customer support team.
• A maximum of 20 minutes for an email response.
• 24/7 customer service team that is always ready to tend to your needs.

The only thing I’ve heard most subscribers worry about is the cost of the service. Granted, the annual fee is a bit steep compared to most other providers, but their 30-day money-back policy allows you to test out the service and decide whether or not you’re happy with what you’d be paying for. If it turns out to be impressive enough for you to even refer the service to a friend, both of you get a free month’s worth of service right on top of your subscription.

Compared to the other VPN providers, ExpressVPN does really well in terms of connectivity speed. You’ll get to enjoy the fastest downloads, torrenting, and live-streaming as soon as you sign up with these guys. You’ll also be able to add another device under the same account so that browsing on your phone gets to be as secure as browsing on your computer.

If you’re one looking for the best service in the market, then we can confidently say that ExpressVPN is the best option for you to consider. Their service is reliable, their customer service efficient and their speeds unbeatable.

2. BulletVPN

Third on our list is the widely popular BulletVPN service. This provider allows its subscribers to choose from three payment intervals: every month, every six months or every year. The best thing about this is that customers benefit from the flexibility offered, plus the features they get to enjoy are the same regardless of whichever package they choose.

BulletVPN has a wide server network, consisting of 150+ servers in 50+ countries. But most importantly, the service allows access to more than 11 locations in the United States, making it easier to choose a different state to bypass blackouts.

Security-wise, BulletVPN employs several security protocols. All these work together to ensure your identity remains hidden, and your personal information is kept away from anyone with malicious intentions.

If a Kill Switch was not enough to keep your browsing private, you can always rely on Bullet Shield. It’s a feature that blocks your internet access unless you’re connected to one of BulletVPN’s servers.

Like with most VPN providers, a generous 30-day money-back guarantee period is also offered so that anyone thinking of signing up with the service is able to test them out first before committing long term.

3. Surfshark

NHL TV is one of those channels that are hard to access within the United States. However, with a simple location change, you could easily watch your matches live.

Surfshark launched a couple of years ago, with a couple of goals in mind: Unrestricted internet access, extra security, and enhanced privacy. The service has more than 2000 servers across 60+ countries, including the US.

In fact, most of its servers are scattered in the United States, particularly in areas such as Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and so many more.

In other words, blackouts won’t be a problem as you can easily change your location to a region where the game is not being broadcasted on TV. Streaming requires speed, and Surfshark has exactly that.

When we tested the provider’s servers, we noticed that the speed drop the encryption causes is barely there. Also, Surfshark offers Smart DNS to ensure seamless streaming on any device you might be operating. To know more, check the following pros and cons:

4. Unlocator

Unlocator was originally created for streaming purposes back in 2013. It was a Smart DNS provider dedicated to unblocking geo-restricted content and bypassing blackouts no matter what channel it is.

Now, the provider has also become a Virtual Private Network, adding more options for customers to choose from. With its VPN features, users can change their IP address and location to wherever a game is not being broadcasted.

When NHL is concerned, Unlocator has only 3 server locations in the US, which might pale in comparison to what the others offer. However, with its Smart DNS server, bypassing blackouts is guaranteed.

Speeds are good, especially while we were using the nearby servers. We had a few inconsistencies with the distant ones, but after some trial and error, Unlocator managed to maintain excellent speeds.

Privacy and security are in good hands with Unlocator. It has a kill switch and a backup feature that works along with it. It’s called Unlocator Shield – a technology that doesn’t allow users to connect to the internet unless they do so using Unlocator’s service.

Finally, Unlocator allows its customers to purchase its Smart DNS service individually, unlike the others. This helps those who are not looking for extra security in getting the best price possible. And with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day refund policy after that, new customers have more than enough time to evaluate the service.

5. NordVPN

NordVPN is another excellent way to access NHL.TV content no matter where you are. The service can easily mask your whereabouts and relocate you wherever you want courtesy of their large server network.

This VPN provider has more than 5000 servers in 60 countries, which is great for bypassing regional restrictions. If you’re looking for a state in the US that’s not showing the game, you’ll find that NordVPN has 1800+ servers in the country. That will get you NHL.TV without any sort of hindrance.

That’s not all. NordVPN also excels in the security department, providing great features. First, you have a strong 256-bit AES encryption, SHA256 authentication, and a bunch of security protocols.

Second, you have CyberSec, a technology that blocks any kind of malware, virus, or malicious software. And finally, you have Double Hop VPN, which reroutes your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one. That means your data gets encrypted not once, but twice. 

As for privacy, NordVPN has a strict no-logging policy. None of your data or browsing activities get stored. In case you don’t find their service to be fit, you can always ask for a refund within 30 days of purchase.

6. IPVanish

It’s over 1000 servers scattered across more than 60 countries make IPVanish one of the most reliable services in the market. Their approach towards offering exactly what customers would need has won them a legion of followers who are more than glad to pay for the annual subscription so that they’re covered throughout the year.

With the option of having up to 10 devices connected under the same account, IPVanish users can secure their Internet connection across their mobile, TV, and even gaming consoles with a VPN encryption. This comes with an unlimited bandwidth that you can test out in the 7-day refund period that they offer for their potential new customers.

If you run into any problems while setting up your connection, you can always contact their reliable customer support. This is the only setback we’ve come across with IPVanish. If they sound like your type of provider, head on to their website here and try out their 7-day service with a full refund option.

Using Smart DNS Proxies to Bypass NHL.TV Blocking Restrictions

Smart DNS is another completely different tool you can use to work around any geo-restrictions that might prevent you from streaming your hockey games. As long as you’re able to live with the fact that Smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your traffic or hide your IP address, you’ll be able to enjoy your games stress-free. Here’s what you should know:

• Smart DNS will also allow you to get to stream from NFL Game Pass, NBA League Pass and MLB.tv aside from NHL.tv.
• The service is compatible with a wide range of devices from your iPad, PS4, PS3, iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, Apple TV, Wii, Android & Amazon Fire Stick.
• Smart DNS doesn’t work well with DNS hijacking or transparent proxies.
• You won’t be able to alter your location.
• You’ll only access a limited number of blocked websites.

If a Smart DNS service sounds like a great option for you, we’d recommend trying out Unlocator. They’ll offer a free 7 day trial period just for you to see how you like it.

A Kodi User? That’s Perfect

If you don’t know this yet, NHL.TV has an official add-on for Kodi. So, if you prefer the platform for streaming your content, you should learn how to install the NHL.TV Kodi add-on. Let me show you how to do so:

1. First, launch your Kodi app.
2. On the left of your screen, click on Kodi add-ons.
3. You’ll see a Package Icon instead of your Settings, tap that.
4. Now, select “Install from Repository”.
5. Next, choose “Kodi Add-on Repository”.
6. You’ll find a list of add-ons now. Navigate to “N” and click on NHL.TV.
7. On the next page, hit Install.
8. Wait for the download to finish. A notification will pop up on the top right of your screen.
9. Go back to your Home Screen, click on Add-ons, and you’ll see NHL.TV all ready to be used.
10. Finally, log in with your credentials and stream the 2019/20 NHL season anywhere.

NHL.TV Compatible Devices

Just like you can watch every match on NHL.TV, you also get to stream it on almost every device out there. Here’s a list of compatible streaming platforms:

NHL 2022/23 – The Teams

The 106th season of NHL is on its way in 2022. But before the exciting season starts, let’s check out the teams:

Best VPN for NHL.TV – Bottom Line

Most subscribers find themselves torn between choosing either a VPN service or a Smart DNS proxy to work around those NHL.TV restrictions. Despite a VPN service being the better option, the deciding factor should be whether or not you’d like to keep your connection private. 

Let us know what you decide and we’ll be glad to assist you with the setup process. Do so by leaving us a comment in the section below.