The 2026-27 NHL season opens Tuesday, September 29, with five games. It starts at 5 p.m. ET when the Carolina Hurricanes raise their second Stanley Cup banner at Lenovo Center and face the Florida Panthers, the champions of the two seasons before that. ESPN carries three games in the United States and Sportsnet has two in Canada.
Opening Night Schedule, Tuesday, September 29
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Panthers at Hurricanes | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Canadiens at Maple Leafs | 7:00 p.m. | Sportsnet |
| Rangers at Bruins | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Canucks at Oilers | 10:00 p.m. | Sportsnet |
| Blackhawks at Golden Knights | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Wednesday, September 30
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Penguins at Flyers | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Kings at Avalanche | 10:00 p.m. | TNT |
What Is Different This Season
The regular season is 84 games for the first time since 1993-94, with two extra division games per team, and the preseason was cut to four games. That is why the season starts in September for only the second time in league history. The Heritage Classic is October 25 in Winnipeg, the Winter Classic is December 31 in Salt Lake City, and the Stadium Series is February 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The All-Star Game returns February 6 at UBS Arena after two years off for the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympics.
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