The 2026-27 NHL Opening Night schedule is set for Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with a five-game slate to launch the league’s first 84-game season. The night runs coast to coast, from Florida at Carolina at 5:00 p.m. ET to Chicago at Vegas at 10:30 p.m. ET. Below is the full Opening Night lineup with times (ET) and venues, plus a free printable one-pager.
Download the Free Printable Opening Night Schedule (PDF)
2026-27 NHL Opening Night: Quick Facts
Last updated: September 5, 2026
- Opening Night: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
- Games: 5 (10 teams)
- First puck drop: Florida at Carolina, 5:00 p.m. ET
- Nightcap: Chicago at Vegas, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Season format: 84 games per team, the first 84-game season since 1994-95
- US TV: ESPN, ESPN+ and Hulu (national windows announced closer to game day)
2026-27 NHL Opening Night Schedule
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sept 29 | Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes | 5:00 PM | Lenovo Center, Raleigh | ESPN |
| Tue, Sept 29 | Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs | 7:00 PM | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto | Sportsnet |
| Tue, Sept 29 | New York Rangers at Boston Bruins | 8:00 PM | TD Garden, Boston | ESPN |
| Tue, Sept 29 | Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers | 10:00 PM | Rogers Place, Edmonton | Sportsnet |
| Tue, Sept 29 | Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights | 10:30 PM | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas | ESPN |
How to Watch NHL Opening Night
The three-game Opening Night tripleheader on Tuesday, Sept. 29 airs on ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN+ and Hulu) in the United States, while the two all-Canadian matchups air on Sportsnet in Canada. Across the full 2026-27 season, national U.S. coverage is split between ESPN (100 games, including ESPN/ABC) and TNT Sports (72 games) — a 172-game national slate; TNT opens its schedule the next night, Wednesday, Sept. 30. Start times above are Eastern and can shift when national windows are finalized. Each participating club’s full 84-game slate, TV listings and a printable PDF are on its team schedule page linked below.
2026-27 NHL Opening Night: FAQ
When is NHL Opening Night in 2026?
NHL Opening Night is Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with a five-game schedule to start the 2026-27 regular season.
How many games are on NHL Opening Night 2026?
There are five games on Opening Night, September 29, 2026, featuring 10 teams from Florida at Carolina through Chicago at Vegas.
Why do NHL teams play 84 games in 2026-27?
The NHL expanded to an 84-game regular season for 2026-27, the first time since 1994-95, adding two divisional games per team.
Is there a printable NHL Opening Night schedule?
Yes. This page has a free printable 2026-27 NHL Opening Night schedule PDF with all five games, times (ET) and venues.
More 2026-27 NHL Schedules
- 2026-27 NHL Schedule Hub: All 32 Teams
- 2027 NHL Playoff Bracket & Schedule
- Carolina Hurricanes 2026-27 Schedule
- Toronto Maple Leafs 2026-27 Schedule
- Edmonton Oilers 2026-27 Schedule
- 2026-27 NHL Outdoor Games: Winter Classic, Heritage & Stadium Series
- 2026 NHL Global Series: Finland & Germany
- 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend Schedule
- 2026 NHL Frozen Frenzy Schedule (Oct 13)
