The wait is over as NHL hockey is back! The 2026–27 ice hockey season officially drops the puck on Tuesday, September 29, with the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes raising their banner before hosting the Florida Panthers in the season opener.
The Hurricanes ended a 20-year Cup drought in June, beating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Now, all 32 teams begin the chase for the Stanley Cup, with the league’s first 84-game regular season running through to April 10, 2027.
Since Sportsnet+ and games on Amazon Prime are geo-restricted in Ireland, and free sites don’t hold official broadcasting rights, using a VPN is necessary.
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When & Where is The NHL 2026-27 Happening?
How to Watch NHL in Ireland on DAZN
DAZN is the official streaming home of the NHL in Ireland, where you can watch every 2026–27 regular season game (84 games/32 teams) live and on demand with NHL.TV, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final.
You can get NHL.TV starting at €22.99/mo. or €119.99 upfront for the entire season. Either buy it as a standalone or add it to your existing DAZN subscription.
Follow the steps below to watch NHL live in Ireland on DAZN:
Step 1: Go to the DAZN official website and scroll down.
Step 2: Choose NHL.TV from the list mentioned below
Step 3: Click on “Sign up now”
Step 4: Choose your preferred NHL.TV subscription plan (i.e., seasonal or monthly)
Step 5: Log in with your Email/Google account/Facebook/Apple ID
Step 6: If selected, sign up via Google account, then choose your email address
Step 7: Choose a preferred payment method, add relevant details, and purchase the NHL.TV on DAZN subscription.
Step 8: Once subscribed, enjoy watching NHL live games!
How to Watch NHL in Ireland for Free on Mobile Phones
The easiest way to stream every NHL game for free is through free sports apps such as RapidStreamz or SportzX. These apps can be sideloaded onto Android devices, Fire TV Stick, and similar devices.
You can also visit free sports streaming sites like viprow.nu/ OR vipleague.pm/ directly through your browser to watch games.
Both options offer free access to live streams. However, free streams often come with security risks and unstable links. It’s best to use a VPN for privacy protection and smoother playback.
Here’s how you can watch the NHL in Ireland for free using the Rapid Streamz mobile app:
Step 1: Subscribe to Surfshark VPN App and then connect to the any server
Step 2: Download the RapidStreamz APK on your device.
Step 3: Click Install to install the app.
Step 4: Once installed, click Open.
Step 5: Click “Accept (Ad Free)”.
Step 6: Click on “Get Started”
Step 7: Select NHL
Step 8: Enjoy free live streaming!
Other Official Ways to Watch the NHL 2026-27 in Ireland
I have listed down the best official channels & services for you to stream and get the best experience of the NHL in Ireland.
1. Sportsnet+
Sportsnet+ is the official broadcaster for the NHL in Canada, airing 1,100+ games, including all national matchups and regional showdowns of Flames, Oilers, Canucks, and Maple Leafs. Under Rogers’ new 12-year deal, national Monday Night Hockey now features on Sportsnet+ this season.
You can subscribe to Sportsnet+ with plans starting at CA$34.99/mo. for the Standard tier, or upgrade to the Premium plan for CA$44.99/mo. The Premium option unlocks every U.S. vs. U.S. matchup and all out-of-market NHL games.
However, it is exclusive to Canada. To access Sportsnet+ from Ireland, you’ll require a VPN. We recommend Surfshark.
Read more: How to Watch Sportsnet in Ireland
2. Amazon Prime
Wednesday Night Hockey is the new home of NHL on Amazon Prime Video, replacing Monday nights. It streams at least 26 national regular-season games plus select Stanley Cup Playoff series, starting September 30, but only in Canada.
A Prime Video Canada membership costs CA$9.99/month and includes every game at no extra cost.
Once subscribed, simply connect to a Canadian server using a VPN and enjoy the full NHL experience on Prime Video. Surfshark is our #1 choice
Read More: How To Watch Amazon Prime in Ireland
3. Premier Sports
You can also watch NHL 2026/27 on Premier Sports in Ireland, which serves as the official broadcast partner airing roughly 15 live games per week along with full playoff coverage.
Meanwhile, in the Republic of Ireland, you can access Premier Sports with the Sky Sports Extra plan for €32/mo. Or else, you can watch the channel with the NOW TV Sports Extra plan for €17/mo.
NHL 2026-27 Schedule
Have a look at a few of the upcoming NHL 2026-27 matches scheduled in the Irish time zone (IST) and date:
| Date | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, 29 Sep | Florida Panthers @ Carolina Hurricanes | 10:00 PM |
| Wed, 30 Sep | Toronto Maple Leafs @ Montreal Canadiens | 12:00 AM |
| Wed, 30 Sep | New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins | 1:00 AM |
| Wed, 30 Sep | Edmonton Oilers @ Vancouver Canucks | 3:00 AM |
| Wed, 30 Sep | Chicago Blackhawks @ Vegas Golden Knights | 3:30 AM |
| Thu, 01 Oct | Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers | 12:30 AM |
| Thu, 01 Oct | New York Islanders @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 12:30 AM |
| Thu, 01 Oct | Los Angeles Kings @ Colorado Avalanche | 3:00 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers | 12:00 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | Columbus Blue Jackets @ Buffalo Sabres | 12:00 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | New York Rangers @ Tampa Bay Lightning | 12:00 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | Minnesota Wild @ Nashville Predators | 1:00 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | Seattle Kraken @ Calgary Flames | 2:00 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | Chicago Blackhawks @ Utah Mammoth | 2:30 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | Edmonton Oilers @ Vancouver Canucks | 3:00 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | Florida Panthers @ San Jose Sharks | 3:00 AM |
| Fri, 02 Oct | New York Rangers @ Detroit Red Wings | 11:30 PM |
| Sat, 03 Oct | Washington Capitals @ Carolina Hurricanes | 12:00 AM |
| Sat, 03 Oct | Boston Bruins @ Winnipeg Jets | 1:00 AM |
| Sat, 03 Oct | St. Louis Blues @ Dallas Stars | 2:00 AM |
| Sat, 03 Oct | Anaheim Ducks @ Vegas Golden Knights | 3:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Seattle Kraken @ Edmonton Oilers | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Utah Mammoth @ Columbus Blue Jackets | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Washington Capitals @ Tampa Bay Lightning | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Chicago Blackhawks @ Buffalo Sabres | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | New Jersey Devils @ New York Islanders | 12:30 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Dallas Stars @ Nashville Predators | 1:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Boston Bruins @ Minnesota Wild | 1:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | St. Louis Blues @ Colorado Avalanche | 2:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Los Angeles Kings @ San Jose Sharks | 3:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Calgary Flames @ Vancouver Canucks | 3:00 AM |
| Sun, 04 Oct | Winnipeg Jets @ Detroit Red Wings | 6:00 PM |
| Mon, 05 Oct | Utah Mammoth @ New York Rangers | 11:00 PM |
| Tue, 06 Oct | Calgary Flames @ Seattle Kraken | 1:00 AM |
| Tue, 06 Oct | Florida Panthers @ Anaheim Ducks | 1:00 AM |
| Tue, 06 Oct | Vegas Golden Knights @ Vancouver Canucks | 2:00 AM |
| Tue, 06 Oct | Philadelphia Flyers @ Tampa Bay Lightning | 12:00 AM |
| Tue, 06 Oct | Winnipeg Jets @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 12:30 AM |
| Tue, 06 Oct | Ottawa Senators @ Boston Bruins | 12:30 AM |
| Tue, 06 Oct | San Jose Sharks @ Dallas Stars | 1:00 AM |
| Wed, 07 Oct | Carolina Hurricanes @ Montreal Canadiens | 12:00 AM |
| Wed, 07 Oct | Nashville Predators @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 12:00 AM |
| Wed, 07 Oct | Pittsburgh Penguins @ Washington Capitals | 12:30 AM |
| Sat, 10 Oct | Minnesota Wild @ Florida Panthers | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, 11 Oct | New York Rangers @ New Jersey Devils | 12:00 AM |
| Tue, 13 Oct | Frozen Frenzy (All 32 Teams in action) | Staggered from 11:00 PM |
| Wed, 14 Oct | Colorado Avalanche @ Vegas Golden Knights | 3:00 AM |
| Fri, 16 Oct | Tampa Bay Lightning @ Florida Panthers | 12:00 AM |
| Sat, 17 Oct | Carolina Hurricanes @ Winnipeg Jets | 8:00 PM |
| Sat, 17 Oct | Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames | 3:00 AM |
| Sun, 18 Oct | Toronto Maple Leafs @ Detroit Red Wings | 11:00 PM |
Top 3 Teams to Watch in the NHL 2026-27
The chase for the Stanley Cup starts now, and these three teams are worth following from opening night.
|
Carolina Hurricanes The defending Stanley Cup champions won their second title in franchise history, finishing the 2026 playoffs with a 16–3 record before beating Vegas in six games. They raise the banner on opening night against Florida. |
|
Vegas Golden Knights Last season’s Western Conference champions and Stanley Cup runners-up, led by Mitch Marner, who topped the 2026 playoff scoring charts. They also return to the spotlight in the Stadium Series against Dallas on February 20. |
|
Florida Panthers The back-to-back champions of 2024 and 2025 open the season in Raleigh against the team that ended their run, looking to bounce back and get a shot at a third Cup in four years. |
NHL 2026-27 Teams
Here’s a list of NHL teams organised by conference and division:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Florida Panthers
- Detroit Red Wings
- Buffalo Sabres
- Boston Bruins
- Ottawa Senators
- Montreal Canadiens
Metropolitan Division
- Washington Capitals
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New York Rangers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Philadelphia Flyers
- New York Islanders
- New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
Central Division
- Colorado Avalanche
- St. Louis Blues
- Minnesota Wild
- Utah Mammoth
- Nashville Predators
- Winnipeg Jets
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
- Vancouver Canucks
- Anaheim Ducks
- San Jose Sharks
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Seattle Kraken
- Edmonton Oilers
- Los Angeles Kings
- Calgary Flames
Other Sports/Tournaments/Leagues to Watch in Ireland
Here’s a list of other sports and leagues to watch in Ireland:
- Watch Formula 1 in Ireland
- Watch the FA Cup in Ireland
- Watch the NBA in Ireland
- Watch EPL in Ireland
FAQs – NHL
1. Will the NHL 2026–27 season feature international games?
Yes, the NHL Global Series returns with Carolina and Seattle playing games in Helsinki, Finland on November 12 and 14. You can watch all international matchups in Ireland live on DAZN.
2. What are “U.S. vs. U.S.” and “Canada vs. Canada” NHL matchups?
U.S. vs. U.S. matchups feature two American teams, like the Chicago Blackhawks vs. New York Rangers. Meanwhile Canada vs. Canada games showcase all-Canadian battles, such as Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens.
3. Which team won the Stanley Cup last season?
The Carolina Hurricanes are the defending Stanley Cup champions, beating the Vegas Golden Knights four games to two in the 2026 Final for their first Cup since 2006.
4. What are the major events this NHL season?
Key events include the Heritage Classic in Winnipeg (Jets vs. Canadiens, Oct 25), the Winter Classic in Salt Lake City (Utah Mammoth vs. Colorado Avalanche, Dec 31), the Stadium Series in Dallas (Stars vs. Golden Knights, Feb 20), and the return of All-Star Weekend hosted by the Islanders on Feb 5–6.
5. Why is the 2026–27 NHL season 84 games long?
Under the league’s new CBA, the regular season expanded from 82 to 84 games so teams can play more divisional opponents. That is also why the season now starts in late September and runs until April 10, 2027.
Conclusion
The NHL returns for the 2026–27 season with the Hurricanes defending their crown, running from September 29, 2026, to the Stanley Cup Final in June 2027.
You can watch the NHL in Ireland on DAZN’s NHL.TV, or on premium services such as Sportsnet+, Amazon Prime, and Hulu+ Live TV, or explore the free streaming methods mentioned in this blog.
However, you will need a VPN to unblock every platform except DAZN in Ireland. Surfshark is our #1 choice
