This guide explains how to stream the New York Islanders’ next game, and how to watch the Islanders throughout the season, even if you don’t have cable.
The Short Answer
If you live in the New York Islanders TV market, most season home games will air on MSG SportsNet (MSGSN), with the occasional game airing on MSGSN 2. However, If a game is airing on ESPN or TNT, it may blackout your local MSGSN broadcast. You can stream all these channels with DIRECTV STREAM’s Choice Plan. There are a few Islanders games this season that are exclusive on ESPN+. Those games require a subscription to ESPN+ to watch
If you live outside the Islanders Market, then ESPN+ will carry any Islanders Game this season that isn’t exclusive to a national broadcast as long as you don’t live in the opposing team’s market. The most affordable solution is to subscribe directly to ESPN+ and pick up Sling Orange for national broadcasts exclusive to TNT and ESPN.
Read on for more information on watching the next Islanders game and every New York Islanders game this season, no matter where you live.
What Channel Are The Islanders On
Where you can watch the New York Islanders depends on whether or not you live in the New York Islanders TV market (New York, Northern & Central New York, Southern Connecticut, and Northern Pennsylvania). If you live inside that market, you can watch Islanders games on MSGSN. However, if you live outside that market, you will need ESPN, ESPN+, and TNT. Let’s take a look at your options based on where you live.
Watching Islanders Games In-Market
If you live in the Islanders TV market, you can watch the Islanders on MSGSN, the Islanders regional sports network. If you live in the Islanders broadcast areas, you can watch their regional sports network without cable on the following streaming services.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is a live streaming service that carries MSGSN for those living in their broadcast region. However, you must subscribe to their “Choice” package for $108.99 per month. You can sign up online. They don’t force you into a contract, and you can cancel at any time. DIRECTV STREAM also carries ESPN and TNT. NHL Network is available with an upgrade. These are all the networks that air nationally televised NHL games.
The service also includes a cloud DVR service and allows you to simultaneously stream to an unlimited number of devices in the home, and up to 3 outside the home. DIRECTV STREAM is supported on Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Android, Roku, and more. See our review of DIRECTV STREAM for more details on this streaming service.
FuboTV
fuboTV is a live streaming service that carries MSGSN for those living in their broadcast region. However, fuboTV subscribers in this area will be subject to a mandatory $6 per month regional sports fee. They offer a fuboTV subscription, which you can cancel within the trial period and not be charged. It’s also cheaper than DIRECTV STREAM at $74.99. You can cancel at any time. However, the service doesn’t carry TNT so you won’t have access to some nationally televised games. The service does carry ESPN, and NHL Network can be added through an upgrade. Service is month-to-month with no long-term contract. The service supports iOS, Android, Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, and more. The price includes a cloud DVR and the ability to stream on 3 devices at once. (see our review of FuboTV)
Watching Islanders Games Outside of their TV Market
To watch Islanders games if you live outside the New York market, you will need ESPN+. ESPN+ will show every Islanders game that isn’t exclusively airing nationally on ESPN or TNT.
ESPN+ is how you watch most out-of-market NHL games in the 2023-2024 season. Not only will ESPN+ show a ton of nationally televised games, but the service will also provide a live stream to over 1000+ NHL games outside your local market, including the New York Islanders.
You watch ESPN+ through the ESPN App. To add ESPN+ to your ESPN app, follow these instructions:
- Subscribe to ESPN+
- Download and Open the ESPN app on your mobile or TV device. supports Roku Players and TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast, Apple TV, Android, iPhone, Samsung TVs, Xbox, PlayStation and more.
- Click the Settings Gear in the upper right corner
- Select “Account Information” then “Log Into ESPN Account.” You should receive an activation code.
- Visit https://espn.com/activate on your phone or laptop and type in the code
- Log in with your ESPN+ credentials
- You should then get confirmation that your ESPN+ account is linked and now see and “ESPN+” tab in the ESPN app.
An ESPN+ subscription costs only $10.99 per month. There is no contract so you can cancel any time you like. However, you can select a yearly subscription for a discounted rate. In addition to ESPN, Disney also owns Hulu and the Disney+ streaming service. You can get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $24.99 / mo by signing up here! For more information on ESPN+, see my ESPN+ review.
Any nationally televised games not on ESPN+ will be on TNT, NHL Network, or ESPN which are available on the following TV streaming service:
- Sling Orange – see our Sling TV review
- DIRECTV STREAM – see our DIRECTV STREAM review
You can also check the following for more information on watching these channels.
