Sports / NHL

How to Bypass NHL Blackouts on Fire Stick & Roku (2026 Guide)

You're paying for ESPN+ or an NHL streaming package, but your local team's games are blacked out. It's one of the most frustrating parts of being a hockey fan in 2026 — and it's entirely fixable.

This guide shows you how to bypass NHL blackouts on Fire Stick and Roku using a VPN, step by step. No technical background needed.

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How NHL Blackouts Work

NHL blackout rules are driven by broadcast contracts:

• In-market blackouts: If you live in your team's broadcast territory, their games are blacked out on ESPN+ and NHL streaming packages. You're expected to watch on your local Regional Sports Network (RSN) instead.
• National blackouts: Games broadcast nationally on TNT, ABC, or ESPN are blacked out on all streaming packages nationwide.
• ESPN+ exclusive games: Some games are ESPN+ exclusives with no blackout — but most in-market games are still restricted.

The streaming apps determine your location using your IP address (and on Fire Stick, GPS data). A VPN changes your IP address to make it appear you're in a different city — outside the blackout zone.

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What You Need

• An ESPN+ subscription or NHL streaming package
• A Fire Stick or Roku device
• Surfshark VPN — our top pick for sports blackout bypass (has GPS override for Fire Stick)

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Fire Stick Setup: Bypass NHL Blackouts

Step 1: Install Surfshark on Your Fire Stick

1. On your Fire Stick, go to the Amazon Appstore and search for "Surfshark".
2. Download and install the app.
3. Open Surfshark and log in with your account. If you don't have one, sign up here — plans start at $2.19/mo.

Step 2: Enable GPS Override

This is the critical step. ESPN+ checks both your IP address and your Fire Stick's GPS location. Without GPS override, it will still detect your real location even with the VPN connected.

1. In the Surfshark app, go to Settings.
2. Find "Override GPS location" and toggle it On.
3. Grant any location permissions the app requests.

Step 3: Connect to a Server Outside the Blackout Zone

1. In Surfshark, tap Locations and choose a US city that is not in your team's broadcast territory.
2. Wait for the connection to establish (usually 3–5 seconds).
3. Open ESPN+ or your NHL streaming app and navigate to the game.

Not sure which server to use? See our city-by-city VPN server guide for team-specific recommendations.

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Roku Setup: Bypass NHL Blackouts

Roku doesn't support native VPN apps — so you need to get the VPN connection to your Roku through your network. Two methods:

Method 1: Router-Level VPN (Recommended)

1. Log in to your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Navigate to the VPN section (varies by router brand).
3. Download Surfshark's OpenVPN configuration files from their website for a server outside your blackout zone.
4. Upload the .ovpn file to your router and enter your Surfshark credentials.
5. Enable the VPN connection.
6. Your Roku (and all devices on your network) will now route through the VPN.

See our complete router VPN setup guide for detailed instructions for ASUS, Netgear, and DD-WRT routers.

Method 2: PC/Mac Hotspot Sharing

1. Install Surfshark on your Windows PC or Mac.
2. Connect to a VPN server outside your team's blackout zone.
3. Create a mobile hotspot: Windows: Settings → Network → Mobile Hotspot. Mac: System Preferences → Sharing → Internet Sharing.
4. On your Roku, go to Settings → Network and connect to your PC/Mac's hotspot.
5. Your Roku now uses the VPN connection.

See our Surfshark on Roku setup guide for complete step-by-step instructions for both methods.

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NHL Server Location Guide by Team

Choose a server that's outside your team's broadcast territory. Here are recommended servers for the most common blackout zones:

Your Team	Blackout Zone	Recommended Server
New York Rangers / Islanders / Devils	NY, NJ, CT	Miami or Chicago
Boston Bruins	New England	Dallas or Atlanta
Chicago Blackhawks	IL, IN, IA	Miami or Los Angeles
Toronto Maple Leafs	Ontario, Canada	New York or Los Angeles
Montreal Canadiens	Quebec, Canada	New York or Dallas
Tampa Bay Lightning	FL	Chicago or Dallas
Pittsburgh Penguins	PA, WV	Miami or Dallas
Colorado Avalanche	CO, WY, MT, NE	Los Angeles or Miami
Vegas Golden Knights	NV	Chicago or Dallas
Seattle Kraken	WA, OR, AK	Dallas or Miami

For a complete guide covering all teams across MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL, see our city-by-city VPN server location guide.

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Troubleshooting

Game still showing as blacked out

• Fire Stick: Make sure GPS override is enabled in Surfshark settings. Without it, ESPN+ detects your real GPS location.
• Roku: Confirm your Roku is connected to the VPN-protected network (router or hotspot), not your regular Wi-Fi.
• Both: Force-close the ESPN+ app and reopen it after connecting to the VPN. Location data is sometimes cached.

Buffering or slow streams

• Try a different server in the same region. Some servers are more congested than others.
• Use Surfshark's "Fastest Server" option to auto-select the best connection.
• If on a router, check that your router's CPU can handle VPN encryption. Older routers may bottleneck speeds.

VPN detected by ESPN+

• Switch to a different server in the same city. Surfshark regularly rotates IP addresses.
• Try connecting to a nearby city instead (e.g., Atlanta instead of Miami).
• Clear the ESPN+ app cache: Settings → Applications → ESPN+ → Clear Cache.

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What to Read Next

• 🗺️ Best VPN Server Locations for Sports Blackouts (City Guide) — every team, every league
• 🆚 NordVPN vs Surfshark for Fire Stick — head-to-head comparison
• ⚾ How to Watch Geo-Blocked Sports on Roku — all sports, all devices
• 🔐 Best VPNs for Fire Stick (2026) — full comparison guide

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iStreamPilot guides are for informational and educational purposes. VPN use is legal in most countries. Bypassing blackouts may violate the terms of service of your streaming provider. You are responsible for compliance with applicable terms and laws in your jurisdiction.