NHL Blackouts in Canada (2026-27): How They Work, Team Regions and How to Watch

How NHL blackouts work in Canada

An NHL blackout in Canada is a regional restriction. Sportsnet+ calls regional restrictions “a mandate of the NHL”: every team has a designated broadcast region, and only viewers who live there can watch its regional games on the local sports channel or streamer. For a Canadian team, the regional games are the ones its local TSN or Sportsnet channel (or RDS, in French, for the Canadiens and Senators) carries as a regional broadcast. A regional Sportsnet channel can also carry national games: the Jets' 21 national Sportsnet games, for example, are on Sportsnet, Sportsnet West or Sportsnet One. So a regional Sportsnet channel's name on a listing doesn't make a game regional by itself: look the game up in Sportsnet+'s NHL Game Finder rather than going by the channel name.

Three things decide whether you can watch a game

1. Is it a regional game or a national one? Blackouts are about regional games. National games are broadcast nationally instead: Sportsnet's national games on any night of the week (including the national Saturday Night Hockey games), Monday Night Hockey, Prime Video's Wednesday Night Hockey and TVA Sports' French games; see national games.
2. Where you are at game time. Sportsnet+ applies the restrictions based on your location at the time of the game, through your IP address or TV subscription address, so your games change if you move between cities or provinces. TSN's FAQ gives an example: a Toronto resident can watch Leafs regional games in the Toronto broadcast region, but is blacked out for them in Vancouver.
3. What you subscribe to. Sportsnet+ Standard shows Oilers, Canucks, Flames and Maple Leafs regional games only inside each team's region. Sportsnet+ Premium adds out-of-market games, with what Sportsnet+ calls “limited blackouts.” TSN's streaming plans carry the Jets, Maple Leafs, Senators and Canadiens regional games TSN holds, and blackouts apply.

Rogers holds the national NHL rights in Canada under a 12-year deal that runs from 2026-27 through 2037-38, and the deal includes out-of-market rights to regional games. For every channel and package beyond blackouts, see how to watch the NHL in Canada.

Back to contents

NHL blackout regions: each Canadian team's broadcast area

To see which region you're in, use NHL.com's Broadcast Area Lookup: enter your postal code and it shows the team or teams whose broadcast area you're in. TSN links to the same tool as its blackout checker, and Sportsnet+'s blackout help article has a map of the Canadian teams' regions. The table below gives each Canadian team's regional channels, its region and what you can do from outside it.

Regions overlap. Saskatchewan is in the Jets', Oilers' and Flames' regions; Quebec, Atlantic Canada and, per NHL.com's lookup, eastern Ontario are in both the Senators' and the Canadiens' regions; and northwestern Ontario postal codes return both the Maple Leafs and the Jets. Manitoba, though, is Jets-only: NHL.com's lookup puts it outside the Oilers' and Flames' regions, so their regional games are out of market there.

Inside your own team's region

Sportsnet+ says Sportsnet+ Premium and NHL Centre Ice don't give you regional games that another broadcaster airs in your local market: you need that broadcaster. TSN holds regional rights to select Jets, Maple Leafs, Senators and Canadiens games, so inside the Jets', Senators' and Canadiens' regions you need TSN (or RDS in French, for the Senators and Canadiens) for their regional games. Inside the Leafs region, the 27 Leafs regional games on TSN4 stream on TSN Standard. Upcoming games and channels are on each team page, such as the Jets and Maple Leafs pages.

Back to contents

Why is the game blacked out on Sportsnet+?

Sportsnet+ answers its own question plainly: yes, NHL regional blackouts affect NHL programming on Sportsnet+. Sportsnet+ says it owns the regional rights to the Oilers, Canucks, Flames and Maple Leafs (most of the Leafs' regional games are on TSN4), and its two plans treat those teams' regional games differently.

Why a game can be blacked out on Sportsnet+

• You're on Standard and outside the team's region. Sportsnet+'s terms say that to avoid being blacked out of Oilers, Canucks, Flames and Leafs regional games on Standard, you must reside within that team's broadcast region.
• Another broadcaster has the game in your market. Sportsnet+ says Premium and NHL Centre Ice don't include regional games another broadcaster airs where you are, such as the Jets' TSN3 games inside the Jets region.
• The game is on more than one network. Sportsnet+'s plan terms say: “All Sportsnet exclusive games are available on Sportsnet+ PREMIUM. If a game is on more than one network, the game is subject to regional blackouts.”
• Your location is being read wrong. Sportsnet+ says your IP address may be mapped to a different location; see how to fix a wrong blackout.
• You're outside Canada. Sportsnet+ streams only while you're physically in Canada.

Before you blame a blackout, check the game itself in Sportsnet+'s NHL Game Finder, which looks up whether a game is available to you based on your location and plan. Monday Night Hockey (in English, Sportsnet+ exclusive content, not on Sportsnet's regular TV channels) and Wednesday Night Hockey (on Prime Video, not Sportsnet+) can look “missing” for reasons that aren't blackouts, covered under national games.

Back to contents

Blackouts on TSN Standard and TSN Premium

TSN's NHL games are regional. TSN holds regional rights to select Jets, Maple Leafs, Senators and Canadiens regular-season games, and TSN airs them only within each team's NHL-defined broadcast region: 27 Leafs games on TSN4, 50 Canadiens games on TSN2, 50 Senators games on TSN5 and 50 Jets games on TSN3 in 2026-27. TSN's FAQ is direct about what a blackout message means: if you get one during a Jets, Leafs, Senators or Canadiens game on TSN, you're outside that team's territory. It also covers blackouts applied incorrectly, for example when your location is being read wrong: see how to fix a wrong blackout.

• TSN Standard, $24.99/month (as of October 2026, plus tax), streams TSN1–5, including those regional games, with blackouts.
• TSN Premium, $29.99/month (as of October 2026, plus tax), adds NFL RedZone, more NFL and NBA games, PGA Tour Live, every LaLiga match and other extras. TSN's list of Premium extras has no NHL games, so it doesn't change any NHL blackout.
• TSN+ is no longer sold separately: it was folded into TSN Premium in August 2026.
• Outside a team's region, Sportsnet+'s NHL Game Finder lists TSN's regional Jets, Canadiens, Senators and Maple Leafs broadcasts as available on Sportsnet+ Premium (not Standard).
• Outside Canada, TSN can't be streamed at all.

Comparing the two networks for your team? See Sportsnet vs TSN, or Sportsnet+ vs TSN+ for the streaming plans.

Back to contents

National games: Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and the playoffs

Regional blackouts are about regional games. National games are sold in national packages, and Sportsnet says its national schedule for 2026-27 has 550+ games, 35% more than last season, with 150 regional blackouts lifted. Not every national game is on a branded night: Sportsnet also carries Canadian teams' games nationally on other nights of the week. Here is what you need for each.

Missing Monday Night Hockey or a Wednesday game? It's on a different service

In English, Monday Night Hockey is Sportsnet+ exclusive content: it isn't on Sportsnet's regular TV channels, which is why it can look like a blackout. Rogers and Shaw TV customers with Sportsnet in their plan get it at no extra cost, on three dedicated channels for Rogers Xfinity TV and in an app for other Rogers and Shaw plans. Bell, Telus, Cogeco and SaskTel customers with Sportsnet need Sportsnet+ or the Sportsnet+ TV Provider Add-on, $12.99/month (as of October 2026, plus tax). In French, TVA Sports carries some Monday games. Not every Monday game is Monday Night Hockey: some Canadian teams' Monday games are regional games on TSN, and they follow the regional rules.

Wednesday Night Hockey is on Prime Video, included with Amazon Prime at $9.99/month (as of October 2026, plus tax), and NHL schedule data lists Prime Video as the only Canadian broadcaster for all 27 of its games. Canadian teams' other Wednesday games aren't part of the package: in English they're on TSN, Sportsnet or Sportsnet+ feeds. Dates by team are in our NHL on Prime Video guide.

Not every Saturday game is Saturday Night Hockey

Saturday Night Hockey is Sportsnet's Saturday broadcast, not every Saturday NHL game: TSN and regional Sportsnet feeds carry other Saturday games, and the regional ones follow the regional rules. CBC no longer airs NHL games, so a Saturday game missing from CBC isn't a blackout either; the story is in what happened to Hockey Night in Canada. In French, TVA Sports carries some Saturday games.

Back to contents

How to watch out-of-market NHL games in Canada

The NHL lists two ways to watch out-of-market games in Canada: NHL Centre Ice on TV, or streaming on Sportsnet+, where out-of-market games are in Sportsnet+ Premium. ESPN+'s out-of-market NHL is a US-only product. In French, viewers west of Belleville, Ont. can also buy a Sportsnet+ pass for Canadiens and Senators French regional games.

• Sportsnet+ Premium, $44.99/month or $344.99/year: the streaming option for Oilers, Flames, Canucks and Maple Leafs regional games on Sportsnet from outside their regions, and Sportsnet+'s NHL Game Finder also lists TSN's regional Jets, Canadiens, Senators and Leafs broadcasts on Premium for viewers outside each team's region. It adds out-of-market games and every US-vs-US game to Standard (1,250+ NHL games in total), lets you choose the home or away feed, and Sportsnet+ says “limited blackouts” apply.
• NHL Centre Ice, through a TV provider, for the 2026-27 regular season: Rogers lists $249 per season, lump sum, or $63/month over four months, for up to 40 out-of-market games per week; Telus Optik TV lists $249 per season, one-time payment, or 4 payments of $62.25, for up to 37 a week (for existing Optik TV customers; Telus' offer runs until Jan 5, 2027); and Shaw Direct lists $249 per season, lump sum. Bell's sports-packages page showed no Centre Ice price as of October 2026; for Cogeco or any other provider, ask yours. Regional blackouts apply; Rogers says there are no refunds or early cancellations, and Shaw Direct's package is non-refundable.
• Sportsnet+ French out-of-market pass, $59.99 per season, regular season only: Canadiens and Senators French regional games, for viewers west of Belleville, Ont. It's sold only on sportsnetplus.ca.

Prices in Canadian dollars as of October 2026, plus tax.

Inside your own region, Sportsnet+ says Premium and NHL Centre Ice don't include regional games another broadcaster airs in your local market. Inside the Jets region, for example, you need TSN for the Jets' TSN3 games. And if you move between cities or provinces, Sportsnet+ says your territory changes, and so do the games you get.

Back to contents

Blacked out when you shouldn't be? How to fix it

If you're sure you're inside the team's region and the game is a regional game you should get, the problem may be how your location is being read. TSN and Sportsnet+ suggest these steps.

1. Confirm your region. Enter your postal code in NHL.com's Broadcast Area Lookup, the tool TSN calls its blackout checker.
2. Check the game. Sportsnet+'s NHL Game Finder looks up whether a game is available to you based on your location and plan.
3. Check your IP location. TSN asks you to make sure your public IP address's reported location matches where you physically are; Sportsnet+ says a wrong blackout may mean your IP address is mapped to a different location.
4. Turn off any VPN. TSN says VPNs can mask your true location and lead to incorrect blackouts, and Sportsnet+ says a VPN or proxy can make your device appear to be outside Canada.
5. On satellite or mobile internet? TSN says satellite internet customers may see more frequent blackouts and should ask their internet provider to update their geolocation records. As a workaround, TSN says you can often watch on a mobile device with location services turned on (set to “While Using the App” or “Always”), and on some devices cast it to a bigger screen. Sportsnet+ notes that some mobile and satellite providers can make a device look as if it's outside Canada.
6. Contact the service. Sportsnet+ asks you to start a live chat. TSN asks for your public IP address, your postal code, the team you're trying to watch and your internet provider.

Travelling outside Canada is a different case: TSN and Sportsnet+ both stream only while you're physically in Canada, whatever your plan. To find tonight's channel for a game where you are, see what's on tonight or the NHL schedule, which list each game's Canadian feeds.

Back to contents

NBA League Pass blackouts in Canada

The NBA's rule is different. NBA League Pass in Canada blacks out nationally broadcast games live; they're on demand about 3 hours after the game ends. Some NBA Cup games, All-Star and playoff games after Round 1 are also blacked out. The NBA says you should be able to watch those games on a national broadcaster such as Sportsnet or TSN, and that League Pass blackouts follow your current location (your IP address or location services). Plans and where to buy are in our NBA League Pass guide.

For the Toronto Raptors, that means TSN and Sportsnet, on TV or through their streaming services: Raptors coverage is split between the two (Sportsnet's announced 2025-26 schedule had 41 national Raptors broadcasts), and both Sportsnet+ plans include 35 regular-season Raptors games. Prime Video also carries NBA games in Canada from 2026-27, included with Prime; its announced 2026-27 schedule includes the Raptors on Nov 20, 2026 at Detroit and Jan 7, 2027 vs Minnesota. The NBA's League Pass blackouts page names only Sportsnet and TSN for Canada and, apart from its rule for playoff games after Round 1, doesn't say how League Pass treats Prime Video's games, so watch those on Prime Video. More in how to watch the NBA in Canada.

Back to contents

MLB.TV blackouts and the Blue Jays

Baseball works differently. The Blue Jays' broadcast territory is all of Canada, so MLB.TV blacks out Toronto Blue Jays games across the country, not just in one region. Every Jays game airs nationally on Sportsnet in Canada except Apple TV games (Apple TV's Friday Night Baseball is available in Canada).

• Sportsnet+: both plans include 150+ Blue Jays games, 150+ US MLB games and every postseason and World Series game, so you don't need Premium for the Jays.
• MLB.TV through Fubo Canada: $39.99/month, as an add-on to a Fubo base plan (as of October 2026, plus tax), with 29 team feeds. Blue Jays games are blacked out across Canada.

See how to watch MLB in Canada and how to watch the World Series in Canada.

Back to contents