NHL announces 84-game 2026-27 season opening night

The National Hockey League will launch its first 84-game regular season on Tuesday, September 29, with a five-game opening night featuring marquee matchups across two networks. The league announced the opening night slate and all 32 home openers on Wednesday, July 15, with the full schedule set for release on Thursday, July 16.

Opening night will begin with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. ET in Raleigh, North Carolina, a game that will include the Hurricanes' championship banner ceremony. That contest will be followed by an Original Six matchup between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers at 8 p.m. ET in Boston, and will conclude with the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights hosting the Chicago Blackhawks at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Simultaneously, Sportsnet will broadcast a Canadian doubleheader. The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Vancouver Canucks at 10 p.m. ET. The opening night schedule marks an earlier start to the season than in recent years.

The 2026-27 season will be the first under a new collective bargaining agreement that...