It’s time for the final showdown — the Florida Panthers take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Game 1 is on Saturday, June 3, at 8:00 PM (ET).
If you’re looking for a way to get in on the action for free, you’re in the right place! Fans in Canada get to watch NHL games for free with CBC Gem. If you’re not in Canada, you’ll be blocked from accessing the stream — unless you use a VPN!
Just take these quick steps:
We tested our streaming methods during the Playoffs without having to sign up or create an account. But if you’re asked to do so, we’ll cover everything you need to know below!
Whatever happens in the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Finals, we’ll have a first-ever champion — and it’s set to be a gripping match-up! The Florida Panthers have been on a relentless run, but the Vegas Golden Knights are sure to put up a formidable fight.
In their most recent result, the Golden Knights disposed of the Dallas Stars with a 6-0 whitewash to finish off their series 4-2. On the other hand, the Panthers swept the Carolina Hurricanes with four dominating victories. According to the bookies, Vegas is the favorite heading into the finals — but we’ll get into a full breakdown of what to expect later on!
Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals is on Saturday, June 3, at 8:00 PM (ET). There are several streaming platforms you can use to tune into the Finals, but if you want to watch the action for free, we recommend using CBC Gem.
We’ll show you exactly how to use watch the 2023 NHL Finals from anywhere around the world without paying a penny.
How to the Watch the 2023 NHL Finals for Free Online
If you want to watch the Stanley Cup Finals from anywhere in the world, you’re going to need the help of a virtual private network (VPN). That’s because most streams are based in Canada and the United States. Unless you’re in one of these countries, you’ll run into geo-blocking restrictions when trying to access the stream.
So, if you’re traveling abroad and you try to access a streaming site like Sling TV, you’ll be blocked instantly. Your IP address is what gives your location away. If your IP address indicates that you are not in an authorized location, you will not be able to access the live stream.
But you can use a reputable VPN service like NordVPN to connect to a secure server in Canada, which will spoof your device’s location. This shows streaming websites that you’re located in the correct region and gives you access to the streaming site.
Step-by-Step Guide: Watch the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals for Free Using a VPN
Connecting to a Canadian server through a VPN enables you to access geo-restricted NHL streams from any location. We’ve provided all the details below:
- Get a VPN subscription. We recommend NordVPN for streaming the NHL Stanley Cup Finals 2023. We’ve spent the entire playoffs testing NordVPN’s Canadian servers from different locations. Between the United States, South Africa, and Southeast Asia, our team had no issues watching NHL games using NordVPN. We found the connections to be fast, the servers reliable, and the streams running smoothly in top quality.
- Install the VPN on the device that you’ll be streaming from. Simply look for NordVPN on your operating system’s app store, or visit their site.
- Open the app and log in using the credentials you used to create an account.
- Connect to a server in Canada.
- Navigate to the CBC Gem website. Scroll down to find the Stanley Cup Finals stream!
CREATING AN ACCOUNT
Our team have been able to stream NHL games for free without signing up or creating a CBC account. But, if you are required to create an account, all you need to provide is your name, email address and a Canadian postal code. Canadian postal codes are six alphanumeric digits that can be found through a quick online search.
NHL Stanley Cup Finals 2023: Other Ways to Watch
If CBC Gem isn’t the way to go for you, there are other alternatives you can use to watch the NHL for free in 2023. You’ll just need to take advantage of free trials offered by the streamers below. In the U.S., you’ll need a streamer with TNT (or TBS and truTV for simulcasts).
Here are some of the best streaming platforms you can use to watch the Florida Panthers and the Las Vegas Golden Knights fight for the Stanley Cup:
| Streaming Service | Channels | Subscription | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN+ | ESPN, ABC (simulcast) | $10/month or $100/year | ✖ |
| Sling TV (Orange package) | ESPN, TBS, TNT | $40/month | ✖ |
| YouTube TV | ESPN, ABC, TBS, TNT | $65/month | ✔ |
| Hulu+ Live | ESPN, ABC, TBS, TNT | $70/month | ✖ |
| FuboTV | ESPN, ABC | $70/month | ✔ |
Stanley Cup Finals 2023 Schedule
Here’s an overview of the schedule for the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs — Florida Panthers vs. Vegas Golden Knights:
| Game | Venue | Date | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | T-Mobile Arena, Nevada | Saturday, June 3, 2023 | 8:30 PM |
| Game 2 | T-Mobile Arena, Nevada | Monday, June 5, 2023 | 8:00 PM |
| Game 3 | FLA Live Arena, Florida | Thursday, June 8, 2023 | 8:30 PM |
| Game 4 | FLA Live Arena, Florida | Saturday, June 10, 2023 | 8:30 PM |
| Game 5* | T-Mobile Arena, Nevada | Tuesday, June 13, 2023 | 8:00 PM |
| Game 6* | FLA Live Arena, Florida | Friday, June 16, 2023 | 8:00 PM |
| Game 7* | T-Mobile Arena, Nevada | Monday, June 19, 2023 | 8:00 PM |
Florida Panthers vs. Vegas Golden Knights: What to Expect
It’s finally time for someone to hoist the Stanley Cup in 2023! The Florida Panthers take on the Vegas Golden Knights in a best-of-7 series. Neither of these teams has won the Stanley Cup before, so we’re guaranteed a brand-new winner by the time it’s all over.
But before we find out who gets to lift that sought-after cup, there’s a jaw-dropping battle on the horizon. Both of these teams want to round off their season in style, and they won’t be giving an inch once they hit the ice.
Here are some quick comparison stats right off the bat.
| Team | Power Play (Rank out of 16) | Penalty Kill (Rank out of 16) | Shots Faced Per Game (Rank out of 16) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | 27.9% (6th) | 71.2% (13th) | 37.3 (16th) |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 18.5% (9th) | 63.0% (14th) | 32.4 (13th) |
So, how do these teams stack up against each other?
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have been on fire in the playoffs so far. Their first series against the Bruins was a sketchy one — they took it right to the edge, winning in OT of Game 7.
From there, the Panthers upped their game, taking down the Maple Leafs in 5 games to clinch round 2. The Panthers then swept the Hurricanes in their most recent series to seal their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Matthew Tkachuk is the dangerous man here, with 21 points (9G, 12A) in the 2023 postseason. He’s the overall points leader for active teams in the Playoffs — just three behind Roope Hintz from the Dallas Stars. Alex Barkov, the Panther’s captain, is also a threatening force on the ice to keep an eye on. Aaron Ekbald is the star defender that’s helped the Panthers on their current run of form.
Between the pipes, Sergei Bobrovsky has been impressive (considering he’s not the first-choice goalie) with a save percentage of .935. However, he’s still second to Adin Hill from the Golden Knights, who has a save percentage of .937.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have been unlucky with injuries so far this season. While their postseason has been a bumpy ride so far, they managed to defeat the Stars in six games in the previous round.
Before that, they took down the Edmonton Oilers in six games, as well as the Winnipeg Jets in five. It sure hasn’t been smooth sailing for them, but they’ve officially stamped their tickets into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Jack Eichel is the points leader for the Golden Knights. He’s currently sitting on 18 points (6G,12A), which puts him tied in fourth overall. Jonathan Marchessault is right behind him with 17 points (9G,8A) — keep an eye on this duo during the finals! Alex Pietrangelo is also a dangerous player in the defensive zone.
As for goaltending, Adin Hill has the third-best overall goals allowed average with 2.07, making him the highest shot-stopping goalie that’s still in the Playoffs. But, he’ll definitely be kept busy by the Panther’s offense!
Will the Panthers continue their astonishing attacking form to finally win a Stanley Cup for the first time? Can the Golden Knights survive the onslaught and be crowned champions despite their short history? We’ll find out when Game 1 kicks off on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 8:00 PM EST.
Don’t forget, to watch for free with the CBC Gem player, you’ll need NordVPN connected to a server in Canada!
