Save the date! Exciting news from the NHL – the official opening night for the 2026-27 season has been revealed!
The NHL recently unveiled the much-anticipated schedule for the upcoming expanded 84-game season, which is all set to kick off on Tuesday, September 29th. Fans can look forward to a thrilling lineup of five games on opening night.
One of the highlight matchups will be a classic Original Six showdown between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. In addition, there will be a Pacific Division clash between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks, both airing on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Notably, this season marks a special occasion as the Leafs take the ice on opening night after a four-year hiatus. Traditionally, the opening-night schedule has mainly featured matchups between U.S. teams, making this year’s lineup particularly exciting for Canadian hockey fans.
The action is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET with a faceoff between the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Florida Panthers.
Adding to the excitement, the New York Rangers will square off against the Boston Bruins in another compelling Original Six battle, while the Cup runners-up, the Vegas Golden Knights, will host the Chicago Blackhawks.
Aside from the opening night games, the NHL has also revealed some key dates to mark on your calendar throughout the season.
Fans can anticipate the Heritage Classic on Sunday, October 25th, as the Jets host the Canadiens in an outdoor matchup at the Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
For international hockey fans, the NHL Global Series will feature matchups in Helsinki and Düsseldorf. The Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken will head to Helsinki for games on November 12th and 14th, while the Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will play in Düsseldorf on December 18th and 20th.
New Year’s Eve will bring the annual NHL Winter Classic, as the Utah Mammoth face off against the Colorado Avalanche at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. And on February 20th, the Dallas Stars and Golden Knights will battle it out at AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the Stadium Series.
The excitement continues with the All-Star weekend scheduled for February 5th-6th at the UBS Arena on Long Island, the home of the New York Islanders.