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The NHL's new-look schedule is out with 84 games per team and a September start.
The league already announced on Wednesday, July 15, that the 2026-27 season would start on Sept. 29 with five games. It also announced the home openers for every team.
The NHL announced the full schedule on Thursday. Because of the extra two games, every team will play four games against division opponents.
The schedule includes the Carolina Hurricanes raising their Stanley Cup banner on Sept. 29 before they face the 2024 and 2025 champion Florida Panthers. There will be games in Finland and Germany, three outdoor games and the All-Star Game will return after a two-year hiatus.
Here's a look at the highlights of the 2026-27. season:
The 2026-27 NHL season starts on Sept. 29 with the following five games:. There will be an ESPN tripleheader in the United States and a Sportsnet doubleheader in Canada.
All times p.m. Eastern
The TNT schedule begins on Sept. 30 with the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings at the Colorado Avalanche. Both are rematches of first-round series won by the Flyers and the Avalanche.
The Washington Capitals' Oct. 7 home opener will be against the rival Penguins. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are in their 22nd season and their contracts expire after this season.
All 32 teams will be in action on Oct. 13 and April 10.
The former Ottawa Senators captain will return on Oct. 21. He was traded to the Panthers, where he's joining brother Matthew.
The Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken will play in Helsinki, Finland on Nov. 12 and 14.
The Senators and Chicago Blackhawks will play in Dusseldorf, Germany on Dec. 18 and 20.
Stanley Cup goalie Frederik Andersen, who signed with the Oilers, will return to Carolina on Nov. 21.
The Golden Knights host the champion Hurricanes on Dec. 20. Carolina will host Vegas on Jan. 17.
The Winter Classic will be on New Year's Eve at University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche, starting at 6 p.m. ET.
The Winnipeg Jets and Canadiens will play in the Heritage Classic on Oct. 25 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
The Dallas Stars and Golden Knights play in the Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 20.
The NHL All-Star weekend will be Feb. 5-6, at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The skills competition is on the 5th and the All-Star Game will be on the 6th. There are new formats this season.
The two-time Stanley Cup winner, who signed with Toronto in the offseason, will return on March 6.
It will end on April 10 with all 32 teams in action.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026-27 NHL schedule highlights: Stanley Cup rematch, reunions, more
Continue reading...
The league already announced on Wednesday, July 15, that the 2026-27 season would start on Sept. 29 with five games. It also announced the home openers for every team.
The NHL announced the full schedule on Thursday. Because of the extra two games, every team will play four games against division opponents.
The schedule includes the Carolina Hurricanes raising their Stanley Cup banner on Sept. 29 before they face the 2024 and 2025 champion Florida Panthers. There will be games in Finland and Germany, three outdoor games and the All-Star Game will return after a two-year hiatus.
Here's a look at the highlights of the 2026-27. season:
When is NHL opening day?
The 2026-27 NHL season starts on Sept. 29 with the following five games:. There will be an ESPN tripleheader in the United States and a Sportsnet doubleheader in Canada.
All times p.m. Eastern
- Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 (ESPN): A meeting of the last three Stanley Cup winners. Carolina will raise a Stanley Cup banner for the first time in 20 years. Both teams lost their longtime goalies (Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky, Carolina's Frederik Andersen) to free agency.
- Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 (Sportsnet): No. 1 overall draft pick Gavin McKenna makes his NHL debut. The Canadiens reached the conference finals last season.
- New York Rangers at Boston Bruins, 8 (ESPN): Pavel Dorofeyev makes his Rangers debut after his draft-day trade from the Golden Knights
- Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers, 10 (Sportsnet): Vancouver's Manny Malhotra makes his NHL head coaching debut and must try to figure out how to slow down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Coach Mike Babcock is returning to the NHL with the Oilers.
- Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights, 10:30 (ESPN): New coach Ryan Craig takes over a Vegas team that went to the Stanley Cup Final. Injured Connor Bedard won't be playing for the Blackhawks until November.
When does TNT start showing games?
The TNT schedule begins on Sept. 30 with the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings at the Colorado Avalanche. Both are rematches of first-round series won by the Flyers and the Avalanche.
When is every NHL team's home opener?
The Washington Capitals' Oct. 7 home opener will be against the rival Penguins. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are in their 22nd season and their contracts expire after this season.
When will all 32 NHL teams be in action?
All 32 teams will be in action on Oct. 13 and April 10.
When does Brady Tkachuk return to Ottawa?
The former Ottawa Senators captain will return on Oct. 21. He was traded to the Panthers, where he's joining brother Matthew.
When is the NHL Global Series?
The Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken will play in Helsinki, Finland on Nov. 12 and 14.
The Senators and Chicago Blackhawks will play in Dusseldorf, Germany on Dec. 18 and 20.
When does Frederik Andersen return to Carolina?
Stanley Cup goalie Frederik Andersen, who signed with the Oilers, will return to Carolina on Nov. 21.
When is the Stanley Cup Final rematch?
The Golden Knights host the champion Hurricanes on Dec. 20. Carolina will host Vegas on Jan. 17.
When is the Winter Classic?
The Winter Classic will be on New Year's Eve at University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche, starting at 6 p.m. ET.
When are the other NHL outdoor games?
The Winnipeg Jets and Canadiens will play in the Heritage Classic on Oct. 25 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
The Dallas Stars and Golden Knights play in the Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 20.
When is the NHL All-Star Game?
The NHL All-Star weekend will be Feb. 5-6, at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The skills competition is on the 5th and the All-Star Game will be on the 6th. There are new formats this season.
When does Sergei Bobrovsky return to Florida?
The two-time Stanley Cup winner, who signed with Toronto in the offseason, will return on March 6.
When the 2026-27 NHL season end?
It will end on April 10 with all 32 teams in action.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026-27 NHL schedule highlights: Stanley Cup rematch, reunions, more
Continue reading...
