Best hockey apps for Android to kick off NHL season

Alright hockey fans, the NHL seasons start tomorrow as you well know. You want to make sure you're on top of what's happening, even if you can't be rinkside or plopped on your couch in front of the TV. Luckily there are a ton of great hockey apps for Android that can make sure you're in tune to what's up before, during, and after the latest games.
Let's drop the puck and get started with our top five NHL apps for Android.

1. theScore

TheScore is a fantastic third-party app for following not only hockey, but just about every other sport you might be interested in. You can follow specific teams, get home screen widgets for the latest information at a glance, notifications when things get crazy, and, of course, the latest scores and stats. The best part is, you can keep tabs on NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, and lots more at the same time. Diversified sports fans will find good use for theScore year-round.

• Free - Download now

2. NHL GameCenter

NHL GameCenter is the free, official app for keeping tabs on games. Get play-by-play information, audio streams, a simulated view of the game, up-to-date standings, and with a premium subscription, post-game video highlights. If there are specific teams you want to keep an eye on, NHL GameCenter lets you get customized alerts whenever anything new happens with them. Verizon customers will get a few extra for free, including NBC and live streams of games. 

NHL GameCenter lets you get the latest hockey news right from the horse's mouth.

• Free - Download now

3. ESPN SportsCenter

If you're used to following hockey on TV, ESPN SportsCenter will be a familiar face. Dive into deep analysis after the games, catch breaking news, watch video highlights, and mark teams as favorites for notifications as soon as there's something you should know. Twitter integration lets you see what everybody else is saying about the latest results.

• Free - Download now

4. Rogers GameCentre Live

Rogers is offering front-row seats for premium, live streaming to Canadian hockey fans. A ton of blackouts have been lifted (though there are still many to keep in mind), so you can catch in-market and out-of-market games without a hassle.

The season pass price has been bumped up to $199.99, but that lets you access every game (including the Stanley Cup Playoffs) on any internet-connected screen during and after the game. If you're already a Rogers customer for wireless or internet access, you get additional access to a bewildering array of camera angles through GamePlus, plus free access until the end of December.

If you're really serious about catching every game, Rogers GameCentre Live should be your first stop.

• $199.99 - Sign up now

5. Yahoo Fantasy Sports

Fantasy sports fans will already be very familiar with Yahoo's offering. With Yahoo Fantasy Sports, you can keep tabs on player news, plan your next matchup or draft, and talk smack on the message boards. Scores are updated in real-time, which is perfect if you need to make some last-minute calls.

Fantasy hockey fans needn't look any further than Yahoo to get their fix.

• Free - Download now

Your favorite hockey apps for Android?

We don't claim to be authorities on sports around here, but we're happy to connect you with the best apps available on Android. Leave a comment with your favorite hockey apps for Android.