The 2026/27 NHL season brings a significant change to the regular-season calendar along with a busy lineup of outdoor games, international events and nationally televised matchups.
For the first time in more than three decades, every NHL team is scheduled to play 84 regular-season games instead of 82.
The season begins on September 29, 2026 and continues through April 10, 2027. Across that span, the NHL will play 1,344 regular-season games involving all 32 teams.
Opening Night alone features five games, including the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes raising their championship banner before facing the Florida Panthers.
Later in the season, fans can look forward to the Heritage Classic, NHL Global Series games in Finland and Germany, the Winter Classic, All-Star Weekend and the Stadium Series.
Here is a guide to the NHL 2026/27 schedule, important dates and some of the major games and events to know.
NHL 2026/27 Key Dates at a Glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 19, 2026 | NHL preseason begins |
| September 26, 2026 | Preseason concludes |
| September 29, 2026 | NHL regular season begins |
| October 13, 2026 | All 32 NHL teams in action |
| October 25, 2026 | NHL Heritage Classic |
| November 12 & 14, 2026 | NHL Global Series Finland |
| December 18 & 20, 2026 | NHL Global Series Germany |
| December 31, 2026 | NHL Winter Classic |
| February 5–6, 2027 | NHL All-Star Weekend |
| February 20, 2027 | NHL Stadium Series |
| April 10, 2027 | NHL regular season concludes |
Schedules and broadcast arrangements can change. Fans should confirm time-sensitive information through the NHL and the relevant authorized broadcaster before a game.
When Does the 2026/27 NHL Season Start?
The NHL regular season begins Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Starting in September is unusual for the league. Most recent NHL regular seasons have opened in October.
The first night contains five games across ESPN in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada.
That creates several different storylines immediately, ranging from a Stanley Cup banner ceremony to Original Six matchups and divisional games.
NHL Opening Night Schedule — September 29
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Announced Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes | 5:00 PM | ESPN |
| Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs | 7:00 PM | Sportsnet |
| New York Rangers at Boston Bruins | 8:00 PM | ESPN |
| Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers | 10:00 PM | Sportsnet |
| Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights | 10:30 PM | ESPN |
The three ESPN games form the U.S. Opening Night tripleheader.
Canadian viewers also get an opening-night Sportsnet doubleheader featuring Montreal at Toronto and Vancouver at Edmonton.
Panthers at Hurricanes Opens the NHL Season
The first game of the 2026/27 regular season sends the Florida Panthers to Raleigh to face the Carolina Hurricanes.
Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 PM ET.
Before the game, Carolina is scheduled to raise its 2025/26 Stanley Cup championship banner.
That gives the season opener an additional storyline because Florida won the Stanley Cup in each of the previous two seasons before Carolina captured the championship in 2026.
Opening night is only one game in a long regular season, but beginning against another recent champion provides an immediate competitive test.
For fans, it also creates a natural transition from the previous postseason into the new campaign.
Canadiens at Maple Leafs Continues an Original Six Rivalry
Montreal visits Toronto at 7:00 PM ET in one of the NHL’s longest-running rivalries.
The Canadiens and Maple Leafs are both Original Six franchises, giving their games historical significance regardless of where the teams eventually finish in the standings.
The matchup could also feature the NHL debut of Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Because lineup decisions can change before game day, a possible debut should not be treated as guaranteed until the player is officially confirmed in the lineup.
For Toronto, the game begins a new season at home against one of its most familiar opponents.
Rangers at Bruins on Opening Night
The New York Rangers visit the Boston Bruins at 8:00 PM ET.
This is another Original Six matchup and forms the second game of ESPN’s opening-night tripleheader.
Boston and New York have met in numerous season-opening games during their histories.
Even so, historical meetings do not determine what will happen in a new season.
Changes in rosters, coaching, player development and injuries can all make one season look very different from the previous one.
Canucks at Oilers Opens the Pacific Schedule
Vancouver visits Edmonton at 10:00 PM ET on Sportsnet.
Because both teams compete in the Pacific Division, the game is more than an opening-night meeting between Canadian clubs.
Divisional games have additional relevance in 2026/27 because the NHL has expanded the regular season by adding two more divisional games for every team.
That means clubs will see their closest standings competitors more often than under the previous 82-game format.
Blackhawks at Golden Knights Completes Opening Night
The final game of the night has Chicago visiting Vegas at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN.
Vegas enters the season after representing the Western Conference in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
Chicago, meanwhile, begins another season with a roster whose development will attract attention throughout the year.
Like every opening game, the result will count in the standings but should not be treated as a complete measure of either team’s season.
There will still be 83 games remaining for each club afterward.
NHL Moves From 82 Games to 84 Games
One of the biggest changes for 2026/27 is the expansion of the regular-season schedule.
Every NHL team will play 84 games.
Previously, teams played 82.
The additional two games are divisional matchups.
That means the schedule change does not simply add two random opponents. It creates more games against teams competing within the same division.
Across 32 clubs, the expanded schedule produces 1,344 regular-season games.
Why the 84-Game Schedule Matters
Adding two games may appear to be a small change across a season lasting more than six months, but those games can still matter.
Divisional opponents frequently compete directly for playoff positions.
Additional meetings can therefore influence:
- Division standings
- Wild Card races
- Head-to-head results
- Travel and rest patterns
- Late-season playoff positioning
The longer schedule also means teams have to manage player workload across two additional competitive games.
The impact will become clearer as the season develops.
NHL Preseason 2026
Before the regular season begins, the NHL preseason runs from September 19 through September 26.
The reduced preseason consists of 65 games over eight days.
The shorter preseason is connected to the expansion of the regular-season schedule.
Preseason games give teams an opportunity to evaluate players, test combinations and prepare for the regular season, but the results do not count toward regular-season standings.
Fans should therefore distinguish preseason performance from games beginning September 29.
September 30 NHL Games
The second night of the regular season includes TNT’s first national doubleheader in the United States.
Pittsburgh visits Philadelphia at 7:30 PM ET.
Los Angeles then travels to Colorado for a 10:00 PM ET matchup.
The Penguins-Flyers game adds an early meeting between Pennsylvania rivals, while Kings-Avalanche provides a Western Conference matchup later in the evening.
This means national coverage continues immediately after the five-game opening night.
All 32 NHL Teams Play on October 13
October 13 is one of the unusual dates on the NHL calendar because all 32 teams are scheduled to play.
With 16 games taking place across one day, fans can follow every NHL club in action.
ESPN’s Frozen Frenzy coverage is scheduled around the league-wide slate.
A day involving every team can also provide an early snapshot of the standings, although October records remain a relatively small portion of an 84-game season.
NHL Heritage Classic 2026
The NHL Heritage Classic returns on Sunday, October 25.
The Montreal Canadiens are scheduled to visit the Winnipeg Jets at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
The Heritage Classic is an outdoor regular-season game and has become one of the NHL’s major Canadian showcase events.
Unlike an exhibition, the result counts in the regular-season standings.
Playing outdoors introduces a very different setting from a normal NHL arena, although the same standings points remain at stake.
The announced U.S. national coverage is on TNT Sports.
NHL Global Series Finland
The NHL will take regular-season hockey to Finland in November.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken are scheduled to meet twice at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki.
The games are scheduled for:
- November 12, 2026
- November 14, 2026
These are regular-season games rather than preseason exhibitions.
International games allow NHL fans outside North America to attend meaningful league competition while also creating additional travel considerations for the teams involved.
NHL Global Series Germany
The international schedule continues in December.
The Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks are scheduled to play two regular-season games at PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The games are scheduled for:
- December 18, 2026
- December 20, 2026
Together with the Finland games, the Germany series expands the NHL’s regular-season presence in Europe.
Viewing availability can differ by country, so international fans should check the authorized broadcaster serving their location.
NHL Winter Classic 2026
The Discover NHL Winter Classic is scheduled for December 31, 2026.
The Winter Classic is one of the league’s signature outdoor events and is traditionally positioned as a major national showcase around the New Year period.
The 2026 edition is scheduled to feature the Dallas Stars hosting the Utah Mammoth at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.
The game is part of the regular-season schedule, meaning the standings points count exactly as they would in an indoor arena.
TNT Sports is scheduled to carry the Winter Classic in the United States.
NHL All-Star Weekend 2027
NHL All-Star Weekend is scheduled for February 5–6, 2027.
The event is set for UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
The 2027 edition introduces a global format involving players representing five teams:
- Canada
- Finland
- Sweden
- United States
- World Team
The NHL All-Star Skills competition is scheduled for February 5.
The All-Star Game follows on February 6.
Rather than using the normal club format, the event is designed around international representation and 3-on-3 competition.
NHL All-Star Skills
The Skills competition is scheduled for February 5 at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN.
Skills events provide a different type of competition from regular-season hockey, placing greater focus on individual abilities rather than standings points.
The following day, the All-Star Game is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET on ABC.
Because All-Star formats can evolve, fans should check the NHL’s current event information closer to February for final rules and participant details.
NHL Stadium Series 2027
Another outdoor game arrives on February 20, 2027.
The Dallas Stars are scheduled to host the Vegas Golden Knights at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
AT&T Stadium is best known as the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, making the conversion of the venue into an NHL rink part of the attraction.
Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET.
The game is part of the regular-season schedule and is scheduled for national U.S. coverage.
Outdoor Games Are Still Regular-Season Games
The unusual venues and presentation surrounding the Heritage Classic, Winter Classic and Stadium Series can make them feel separate from the normal schedule.
They are not exhibitions.
The results count in the standings.
That means a team competing for a division title or Wild Card position can gain or lose important standings points in an outdoor setting just as it can inside its home arena.
The atmosphere changes.
The importance of the result does not.
NHL National Television in the United States
National NHL coverage during the 2026/27 season is spread across multiple platforms.
ESPN’s national schedule begins with the September 29 Opening Night tripleheader.
TNT Sports begins its regular-season coverage September 30 with Pittsburgh at Philadelphia followed by Los Angeles at Colorado.
ABC Hockey Saturday begins January 16, 2027.
Streaming and out-of-market options are also available through the ESPN App and NHL Power Play, subject to the applicable subscription and viewing restrictions.
Because individual games can appear on different services, fans should check the current listing for a specific matchup before purchasing access.
NHL Coverage in Canada
Sportsnet remains an important NHL broadcaster in Canada.
Its 2026/27 season begins with an Opening Night doubleheader on September 29.
Montreal visits Toronto at 7:00 PM ET before Vancouver visits Edmonton at 10:00 PM ET.
Canadian viewing arrangements can vary depending on the team, region and national or regional rights.
Fans should therefore verify a specific game’s listing before puck drop.
Watching NHL Games Outside the United States and Canada
International NHL viewing rights vary by country and territory.
A game shown on ESPN or TNT in the United States may have a completely different authorized broadcaster elsewhere.
Game times also require attention.
An evening game in North America can begin after midnight or the following morning for viewers in Europe or Asia.
Sportsurge Online will identify time zones when presenting schedules whenever practical.
Fans should still convert confirmed puck-drop times to their own local time before planning to watch.
Sportsurge Online provides schedules, previews, results and viewing information. It does not host unauthorized live NHL streams.
Understanding NHL Game Times
NHL schedule information for North American audiences frequently uses Eastern Time.
That does not mean the game starts at the same local clock time everywhere.
For example, a 10:30 PM ET game begins earlier in western U.S. time zones.
International viewers may see the game listed on the following calendar date.
This is particularly important for late-night Western Conference games.
Always check both the time zone and date when converting a schedule.
Can NHL Game Times Change?
Yes.
A published NHL schedule provides the planned date and time, but sports schedules remain time-sensitive.
Broadcast selections, arena issues, weather affecting outdoor events or other circumstances can lead to adjustments.
For that reason, fans planning around one particular game should check the NHL’s current schedule close to puck drop.
Sportsurge Online may also update schedule information when significant changes are confirmed.
Divisional Games Become More Important in the New Format
The additional games in the 84-game schedule are divisional games.
That gives teams more direct meetings against clubs they are likely to compete with in the standings.
A divisional game can matter in several ways.
It provides an opportunity to earn standings points while playing an opponent that may be competing for the same playoff position.
It can also contribute to tiebreaking situations later in the season.
However, individual games should still be kept in perspective.
An October divisional loss matters in the standings, but it does not determine an entire six-month season.
What to Watch During the 2026/27 NHL Season
Several storylines should develop as the schedule progresses.
The New 84-Game Format
This is the first season under the expanded regular-season structure.
It will be worth following how teams handle the extra divisional games and whether those matchups have a noticeable effect on playoff races.
Carolina’s Championship Defense
Carolina begins the season as the defending Stanley Cup champion.
Winning the previous championship does not guarantee success in the next season, but it naturally places attention on how the Hurricanes perform across their title defense.
Young Players Entering the League
Newly drafted and developing players can become important stories during any NHL season.
Early expectations should still be treated carefully.
A player’s first few games are a very small sample compared with a full NHL career.
Divisional Races
The additional divisional games could create more direct late-season matchups between teams competing for similar standings positions.
The significance of those games will become clearer once the standings have developed.
Outdoor and International Hockey
The Heritage Classic, Global Series, Winter Classic and Stadium Series give the season several major events outside the normal arena schedule.
These games can attract wider attention while still counting toward the same regular-season standings.
The Final Playoff Push
By March and April, individual games may have much clearer playoff implications.
Teams can be competing for division position, Wild Card qualification or postseason seeding.
Those situations should be evaluated using the current standings rather than predictions made months earlier.
When Does the 2026/27 NHL Regular Season End?
The regular season concludes Saturday, April 10, 2027.
All 32 NHL teams are scheduled to play on the final day.
That creates the possibility of a busy finish if playoff positions remain unsettled.
Some postseason places may already be decided before April 10, while others can remain open until the final games.
The actual importance of the finale will depend on the standings at that time.
What Happens After the Regular Season?
After the April 10 regular-season finale, attention moves to the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Playoff matchups depend on the final standings and NHL postseason qualification rules.
Those matchups should not be assumed months in advance.
Sportsurge Online will cover confirmed playoff schedules once the field and official dates are established.
NHL 2026/27 Schedule FAQ
When does the 2026/27 NHL season start?
The regular season begins Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
How many games will each NHL team play?
Each team is scheduled to play 84 regular-season games.
Why did the NHL increase the schedule from 82 to 84 games?
The expanded schedule adds two additional divisional games for each team.
How many total NHL regular-season games are scheduled?
The 32 teams are scheduled to play 1,344 games across the 2026/27 regular season.
What are the NHL Opening Night games?
Opening Night features Florida at Carolina, Montreal at Toronto, New York Rangers at Boston, Vancouver at Edmonton and Chicago at Vegas.
When is the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic?
Montreal is scheduled to visit Winnipeg on October 25, 2026 at Princess Auto Stadium.
When are the NHL Global Series games?
Carolina and Seattle play in Helsinki on November 12 and 14. Ottawa and Chicago play in Düsseldorf on December 18 and 20.
When is the NHL Winter Classic?
The Winter Classic is scheduled for December 31, 2026.
When is NHL All-Star Weekend?
All-Star Weekend is scheduled for February 5–6, 2027.
When is the NHL Stadium Series?
Dallas is scheduled to host Vegas at AT&T Stadium on February 20, 2027.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The regular season is scheduled to conclude April 10, 2027.
Does Sportsurge Online stream NHL games?
No. Sportsurge Online is an independent sports information website covering schedules, previews, results and viewing information. It does not host unauthorized live sports streams.
Following the 2026/27 NHL Season
The 2026/27 season will be different from recent NHL campaigns before the first puck is even dropped.
An 84-game schedule gives every team two additional divisional matchups and expands the league-wide regular season to 1,344 games.
Opening Night on September 29 begins with five games, but the calendar extends far beyond the first week.
The Heritage Classic arrives in October, international games take place in Finland and Germany, the Winter Classic closes December, and All-Star Weekend and the Stadium Series highlight the second half of the season.
By April, attention will shift almost entirely toward the standings and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For fans following a particular team, the most reliable approach is to use the published schedule for planning while checking current NHL information close to game day for any changes in puck-drop times or viewing arrangements.