Yahoo to start streaming NHL games

Yahoo is making a shift to the ice rink.

The media company announced Thursday a partnership with the National Hockey League to stream up to four games per week without requiring a cable subscription or authentication. The streams kick off March 11.

Users will also get access to condensed games, a 5-7 minute version of an NHL game focusing on the biggest moments, as well as countless post-game highlights.

"More and more people are finding their video experiences online, and that includes live and sports," said Adam Cahan, Yahoo's senior vice president of video.

Last year, Yahoo streamed its first live game from the National Football League, which drew 15 million viewers. The company also partnered with Major League Baseball on a "Game of the Day," and unveiled a deal last month with the PGA Tour for free, live coverage of golf events.

"We’re going broadly across of all these sports to make sure we can bring unique experiences to our audience," says Cahan.

Although the majority of live sports experiences are available through cable TV subscriptions, more leagues are experimenting with live streaming. Nearly every game of the 2016 NCAA men's Division 1 basketball tournament will be available through live stream, while tech companies including Facebook, Amazon and Google have reportedly shown interest in streaming NFL games.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.