Get Cheap Hockey Tickets With Semi-Secret NHL Deals

To truly appreciate a National Hockey League game, you just have to see it in person, but cheap hockey tickets aren't exactly a dime a dozen. Some teams are so desperate for fans they're throwing down their gloves and offering some major deals. Others hide special offers deep within their websites or require you high stick other patrons to net even the most expensive season tickets.

To help you get to those games without taking out a second mortgage, I searched, and searched and searched to find the best deals on NHL tickets offered by every team in the league. All 30 of them!

If you can't make it to the games, of course, you should still let your fan-flag fly with logo-emblazoned caps, jerseys, nighties, etc., purchased using active wear free shipping codes.

If you end up with tickets not quite to your liking, however, it appears all teams have exchange programs. Prices can often exceed face value so buyer beware. Still, these programs are safer than buying from scalpers or via unsanctioned online sellers. All guarantee a full refund or exchange if the ticket proves to be a forgery or the event is canceled. Search your team's homepage for more information.

NORTHWEST DIVISION

 

1. Calgary Flames
 Pengrowth Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary, Alberta
 Seats in the black zone start at $20.52. You'll be located behind the club seats, watching the high rollers party it up, but these "fans" likely are doing business instead of watching the game, so let 'em pay through the nose for the privilege.

You can also join the Last Minute Club to receive emails about last-minute ticket offers. Join Telus Mobile Masters for a chance to win tickets and cellular phones by playing Flames' trivia-on-the-go contests during the games.

 

2. Colorado Avalanche
Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver, Colo.
The Avalanche is one of the few teams to spurn the almighty power of Ticketmaster, preferring to use the more user-friendly TicketHorse.com. That's a major point in their favor before you even consider they're the best team in their division -- perhaps the NHL. Go AVS! (I'm a bit biased since Colorado is my adopted home.)

While you can score any NHL gear with FansEdge free shipping codes,  I highly recommend you check out their assortment of everything Avalanche, including their adorable apparel for kids (because you've got to start them young).

The family friendly team from the Mile High City offers a Family Night special of four tickets, fountain drinks and family meals for just $99. Otherwise, the best available tickets are $25 for the upper-end balcony -- when you can actually secure these rare tickets in this hockey crazed town. Go AVS! (Or did I say that already?)

3. Edmonton Oilers
Rexall Place, 7424-118 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton must love its Oilers because the cheapest tickets are standing-room only at $37.50 for even the least intense games. The best deal offered by Alberta's pride is a $2 ticket for a chance to win 50 percent of a possible $30,000 pot, with proceeds going to the Oilers' 50/50 program. Last season, the over $1.2 million raised was donated to minor hockey, ringette teams and charitable organizations focusing on youth, education and/or health and wellness.

 

4. Minnesota Wild
 Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvc., St. Paul, Minn.
 Lots and lots of deals here, particularly for a chilly state. College student tickets are $30 for a lower-level ticket on designated game nights. Sales are first-come-first-served, starting one hour prior to game time. Bud Light Wild Night Out packages of $132 include two lower-level tickets, Bud Light drafts (or fountain drinks), brats, souvenir cups and Wild Night Out posters. Fox Sports North Packs offer two upper-level tickets, hot dogs and sodas for $55 to designated games (including Dec. 16, the famed Bobblehead night!)

Finally, register for Wild Ticket Alerts to receive last-minute notifications when tickets reserved by the NHL and other partners are released back to the team for sale.

5. Vancouver Canucks
Rogers Arena, 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver, B.C.
Tickets to the Canucks aren't cheap. The best deal in the house is $71 on single-game tickets, but the family night deal is pretty good. Their $180 package includes four upper-bowl tickets, 10-percent off at the Canucks Team Store, four Cineplex 'Family Fun Pak' movie passes and two regular popcorns. Family tickets go on sale each month, so keep an eye on the scheduled release dates, posted on the Canucks' website.

Join the Last Minute Tickets Club and learn via email about exclusive and last-minute ticket releases for designated games.


CENTRAL DIVISION

6. Chicago Blackhawks
United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago., Ill.
If you're one of those fans who never sits down anyway, shell out $33.82 (including all taxes and fees) for standing-room-only tickets at the United Center. You'll be surrounded by other on-their-feet fans and won't annoy those who like to take their seats between breakaways.

7. Columbus Blue Jackets
Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, Ohio
If you're willing to sit waaaaaay up in the boonies, use binoculars and buy years in advance, select Blue Jackets tickets are available for the rock-bottom price of $15 (including fees). Otherwise, you'll pay at least $33.

Desperate for freebies? Attend one of next year's Breakaway Tour events and register to win prizes, including a grand prize package of four prime seats to the 2011-2012 opening-night game. It'll take a bit of pre-planning, but a fan's got to do what a fan's got to do.

 

8. Detroit Red Wings
Joe Louis Arena, 19 Steve Yzerman Dr., Detroit, Mich.
Since I grew up in Detroit as a devoted Red Wings fan -- which entirely goes against my present status as a Coloradan -- I recommend using Champs Sports free shipping coupons to pick up some nifty Red Wing apparel. (BTW: I wouldn't say no if anyone would care to buy me one of their most excellent Red Wing lace-up hoodies for Christmas. Just saying.)

But to get back to ticket specials: Skip the normal ticket-buying routes and go to RedWingsTickets.org. Here you'll find tickets for as little as $6. You read that right -- $6 to see the 11-time Stanley Cup Champions! You even get a place to sit. Plus, you'll have the opportunity of visiting the historic Joe Louis Arena in Detroit's steadily re-energized riverfront region. Make sure you rub the sculpture of Joe's fist on your way into the arena for good look.

9. Nashville Predators
Sommet Center, 501 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn.
The youthful Preds must be trying to attract new fans with their wealth of ticket specials. The Nashville stick team starts off by selling 100 upper-level seating locations for $10 each, beginning at 10 a.m. on game day and available only through the Bridgestone Arena box office. The lines begin to form early, so bring your sleeping bag and dress warmly.

Here's the lowdown on the rest of their special deals. All military personnel past and present pay just $20 for best-available seats at each Monday home game. Families can also get in on the fun with the Family Four Pack, including tickets to one of five designated home games, along with four hot dogs and soft drinks for $99. Finally, show your student ID at the Predators Box office for any Thursday night “College Night” game and receive a $10 upper level ticket or a $25 lower level ticket. In conjunction with College Night, the Sommet Center offers drink specials throughout the first intermission.

Smashville fans also can join the Preds Mobile Club by texting "PREDS" to 95323 and receive alerts about special ticket discounts, giveaways, promotions and contests.

10. St. Louis Blues
Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
Here's another team trying to pull a new-fan hat trick. First, students pay just $20 for mezzanine tickets and $35 for plaza-level seats on Thursdays and Fridays. Second, if you've served or are serving your country through military service, mezzanine tickets are just $10 to $14 for specific home games. Third, Family Night Packs start at $99 for weekend games and include four game tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and two boxes of popcorn.

Sign up for the Blues Hotwire newsletter to receive feature information on ticket offers, along with discounts at local businesses that support the Blues and special savings on select Scottrade Center events.


ATLANTIC DIVISION

11. New Jersey Devils
Prudential Center, 165 Mulberry St., Newark, N.J.
Devils may be red, but frugal fans will want to shoot for the brown sections. Tickets for these four sections -- located in the far corners of the Prudential Center -- are just $10. You have to get there early, however, as these seats only go on sale the day of each game at the Prudential Center Box Office.

You can also join the Devils Army to receive fan mail with special ticket offers and team news.

12. New York Islanders
Nassau Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, N.Y.
The Islanders offer a $12.25 ticket at the loge level (including taxes and fees), but you have to order extremely early and stay on your toes. Otherwise, their cheapest tickets are $35.

Their Family pack isn't cheap at $149, but it includes four tickets, hot dogs and sodas. The Loudville program is available for high school and college students, but the Islander website doesn't detail the "amazing prices" offered if you wear the team's colors and get in line to Loudville one hour prior to gametime. Senior citizens (65 and older) and all military personnel are eligible for $15 tickets at the upper mezzanine level or 40-percent off all other tickets to any home game (excluding Rangers games).

13. New York Rangers
Madison Square Garden, 7th Ave. and 32nd St., New York City, N.Y.
This may not sound like a great deal but hear me out: $2,352 gets you 300-section seats for 42 games; first consideration on playoff tickets; access to special team events; a flexible payment interest plan; and upgrade opportunities. That figures out to $56 per game, as opposed to $69.50 for the cheapest single-game ticket. For dedicated fans, that's a savings of $567 per year, and that doesn't include those tasty extras.

Others can join the Rangers Mobile Club to receive exclusive ticket offers, contest information and breaking news. Text "NYR" to 726437 to register.

15. Pittsburgh Penguins
Consol Energy Center, 1001 Fifth Ave., Pittsburth, Pa.
The American Eagle Student Rush program is open to all current high school and college students. Tickets are available for $25 one hour before game time on a first-come-first-served basis. Sign up for alerts of ticket availability by texting "RUSH" to 32623.


NORTHEAST DIVISION

16. Boston Bruins
TD Banknorth Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, Mass.
Students with a valid ID can purchase select balcony seats to designated Bruins home games for $29.50. After the game, bring your Bruins student ticket to a Chipotle restaurant for a free burrito. Families get a discount, too, with tickets in the Tufts Medical Center Family Section. Adults pay $20 and children under $14 pay just $10 per ticket.

Fans of all stripes can register to receive the CyBear newsletter for ticket discounts, promotions and announcements of new ticket packages.

17. Buffalo Sabres
HSBC Arena, One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza, Buffalo, N.Y.
 Considering the cost of some tickets, $23 seats are nothing to be sneezed at in the nose-bleed section. According to the HSBC Arena's 3-D seating chart, however, you still get a decent view of the arena and you're that much closer to the exits when you want to pop out for beer and food. Family Packs, starting at $249, include four game tickets, hot dogs, soft drinks and boxes of popcorn, along with a free parking voucher.

Sign up for the Buffalo Sabres Insider newsletter to get the inside skinny on pre-sale offers and promotions.

18. Montreal Canadiens
Centre Bell, 1260, de La Gauchetière Street West, Montreal, Quebec
Kids may be relegated to the periphery of Centre Bell, but they only have to pay $10 per ticket for any home game. Accompanying adults pay $30 to $42 per ticket. Then there's always the Molson Ex Zone tickets of just $29 for regular games, also in the nosebleed zone, but no doubt close to the brewskies, eh?

19. Ottawa Senators
Scotiabank Place, 1000 Palladium Dr., Ottawa, Ontario
You can pay $15 for standing room during select games; buy a Family 4 Pack (four tickets, hot dogs and drinks starting at $99 with taxes included); or purchase four tickets to select games and receive four 6-inch subs from participating SUBWAY sandwich shops.

Become a Senators Insider and you'll be at the front of the line for exclusive ticket offers and contests.

20. Toronto Maple Leafs
Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario
Wondering how you can get your hands on tickets for the incredibly popular Maple Leafs? Become a member of the Last Minute Club and you'll receive an email when tickets are released in the hours close to select home games.


SOUTHEAST DIVISION

21. Atlanta Thrashers
Philips Arena, One Philips Dr., Atlanta, Ga.
You'll be out in the boonies, but $14.25 gets you a Thrashers ticket. Isn't it amazing how much ticket prices vary throughout the NHL? Clearly some people care more about hockey than others. Perhaps that's why the Thrashers have teamed up with Chick-fil-a for one of the best family night deals: The offer, starting at $85, includes four tickets and four combo meal coupons. That figures out to $21.25 per person. None too shabby.

 

22. Carolina Hurricanes
 RBC Center, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh, N.C.
 As with the Hurricanes, it seems like $15 is the base price point for a lot of southern teams' tippy-top seats. Sure the air is thin and it takes binoculars to see face offs, but you're actually in the arena, so what the heck.

Other special offers include the "99.9 The Fan" $9.99 Ticket. Beginning on public on-sale dates, upper goal zone tickets purchased through the RBC Center's Box Office are $9.99 while supplies last. The Harris Teeter Nights special requires fans show a VIC Card to receive $20 to $10 off Monday through Thursday games. Family Night packages begin at $39 and include four tickets with $1 hot dogs.

23. Florida Panthers
BankAtlantic Center, One Panther Parkway, Sunrise, Fla.
Here's the deal: Go with the Half-Season Ticket Plan of $203.50 for 22 games and you'll pay just $9.25 a game.

Not good enough? How about saving 50-percent off Panther tickets for all Monday home games. Select food items and merchandise are also discounted 50 percent during Monday night games. Or you might try the Papa Johns Pizza Pack: For $50 you get two upper-level tickets, Cokes and Arena Pizzas, along with free parking. The Papa Johns deal is also available in the lower level for $100.

You want more? We got more. The Panthers Locker Room Package is truly amazing. Shell out $35 per game for lower-bowl seating, meet-and-greets with the players, locker room tours, concert ticket purchase access, a Panthers t-shirt, free parking, and a skating party.

24. Tampa Bay Lightening
St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa, Fla.
Another team, another $15 bottom price for select games. Tampa Bay offers plenty of seats at this price range, however, and a full-season package brings the price down to $14 per game. Naturally, that includes extras like free tickets to select Forum events, locker-room tours, access to Lightening practices, skate parties, savings on Lightening merchandise, exclusive premium gifts, an invite to the holiday party, a "chalk talk" with a member of the coaching staff, and lots more.

Children 14 and under can join the Thunderbug's Kids Club for $20 to receive a myriad of deals. Membership includes two free tickets to the Feb. 25 game for the Bug's Birthday Bash and two-for-one ticket purchases to six other games throughout the season.

25. Washington Capitals
Verizon Center, 601 F St., Washington, D.C.
Nothing to see here folks. Just move along. The cheapest individual Caps tickets is $45. Don't even think about trying to get season tickets. The best you can hope for is an alert about available individual tickets the day before each home game. Text TIXALERT to 43803.


PACIFIC DIVISION

26. Anaheim Ducks
Honda Center, 2695 Katella Ave., Anaheim, Calif.
The Ducks like to "pack" 'em in. The Miller Lite Beer Pack  includes two tickets, hot dogs and Miller Lites for $47. The Track Pack is just $21.50 for a single ticket, hot dog and soft drink. Families pay $88 for the Pepsi four pack of four tickets, hot dogs and soft drinks. And the Oggi's Pizza Pack includes two tickets, Oggi's pizzas and soft drinks for $48.50. Let's hear a few quacks for the packs.

28. Los Angeles Kings
STAPLES Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, Calif.
According to the Kings, they're "back" with "A Plan for Every Fan," starting at $19 per game. The cheapest seats are located directly adjacent to the press box, which can be either a good or bad thing depending on your interest in sports announcers.

Kids can join Bailey's Buddies (Bailey is the Kings' mascot) for chances to win all sorts of prizes, game tickets and merchandise. They'll also receive invitations to skating parties at the STAPLES Center and Bailey fan jams after home games.

29. Phoenix Coyotes
Jobing.com Arena, 9400W. Maryland Ave., Glendale, Ariz.
Individual tickets to see the howling hockey team from Arizona start at $20 for fairly decent seats, according to their 3-D map. (You gotta love those new-fangled maps!) Sadly, the desert dogs offer no special ticket packs, which seems highly inappropriate for a "pack" of dogs.

Hard-core fans might consider signing up for Coyotes Alerts. Text HOWL to 55333 to receive mobile notifications of special ticket offers, contests and the other usual stuff.

30. San Jose Sharks
HP Pavilion at San Jose, 525 West Santa Clara St., San Jose, Calif.
Save $34 with a Sharks Family Pak. For $84 you get four tickets, hot dogs, chips and soda drink. The offer is only good for three select games, however. Otherwise, the cheapest upper level tickets go for $30.25, but you can save $4 to $32 off the individual ticket price with a season ticket, depending on the number of games in your package.