The expanded 84-game regular season kicks off Tuesday, September 29, with national broadcasts on ESPN and Sportsnet.
Opening night begins with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers at 5:00 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes will raise their second Stanley Cup banner before puck drop at the arena.
Next up is a Canadian showcase as the Montreal Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in an Original Six matchup at Scotiabank Arena. Later, the Vancouver Canucks travel to Edmonton to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers in a Pacific Division showdown.
There are five games on opening night, listed below with times, matchups, and broadcast partners:
– 5:00 p.m. ET — Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes — ESPN
– 7:00 p.m. ET — Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs — Sportsnet
– 8:00 p.m. ET — New York Rangers at Boston Bruins — ESPN
– 10:00 p.m. ET — Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers — Sportsnet
– 10:30 p.m. ET — Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights — ESPN
The opening-night lineup underscores the league’s emphasis on tradition, rivalries, and star power. Classic Original Six clashes headline the Eastern slate, while Western Conference attractions feature Edmonton and Vegas.
Heritage Classic and Global Series events are also on the calendar. The Winnipeg Jets will meet the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Heritage Classic on October 25. The Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken will play the NHL Global Series in Finland, while the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks headline the Global Series in Germany.
Outdoor hockey returns with the Winter Classic scheduled for New Year’s Eve, pitting the Utah Mammoth against the Colorado Avalanche. The Stadium Series matchups include Dallas versus Vegas at AT&T Stadium in February.
Home openers for all 32 teams were announced, with games scheduled from September 29 through October 10. Notable home openers include the Oilers hosting the Vancouver Canucks on September 29, the Maple Leafs welcoming the Montreal Canadiens on September 29, and the Boston Bruins hosting the New York Rangers on September 29. Other matchups feature teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, and more across the opening weeks.
The schedule balances championship recognition with high-profile rivalries. The Hurricanes, as the reigning champions, receive early spotlight, while teams such as Edmonton and Toronto remain central television draws due to their star talent and broad national followings.
The full regular-season schedule is set to be released on July 16 at 1 p.m. ET. In the meantime, opening night provides an initial glimpse into the league’s priorities as the NHL enters a new era with an expanded 84-game schedule.
