Last updated: July 13, 2026.
The 2026-27 NHL season marks a historic shift for the league. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the regular season has expanded from 82 to 84 games for the first time since the mid-90s. To accommodate the extra games, the season will begin in late September 2026, with the Stanley Cup awarded by mid-June.
Below, you can access our signature low-ink printable schedules for all 32 teams (including the newly rebranded Utah Mammoth) and the updated national TV broadcast windows for ESPN, TNT, and ABC.
2026-27 NHL Opening Night & National TV
The season opens Tuesday, September 29, 2026 with an ESPN tripleheader, and TNT follows with a September 30 doubleheader. U.S. national coverage is split between ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC (Disney; plus ESPN+ and Hulu streaming) and TNT, TBS and truTV (Warner Bros. Discovery; streaming on HBO Max), with TNT holding the 2027 Stanley Cup Final. The full game-by-game national slate is announced in late summer; here are the confirmed opening-night games and marquee events:
| Date | Game / Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 29 | Opening night: Florida at Carolina, NY Rangers at Boston, Chicago at Vegas | ESPN |
| Wed, Sep 30 | Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Los Angeles at Colorado | TNT |
| Sun, Oct 25 | Heritage Classic: Montreal at Winnipeg | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Thanksgiving Showdown: NY Rangers at Boston | TNT |
| Thu, Dec 31 | Winter Classic: Colorado at Utah (Salt Lake City) | TNT |
| Feb 5-6 | All-Star Weekend (UBS Arena, Elmont NY) | ESPN / ABC |
| Sat, Feb 20 | Stadium Series: Vegas at Dallas | ABC |
Full breakdown: 2026-27 NHL National TV Schedule: Every ESPN, TNT & ABC Game (Printable PDF) – confirmed national games, marquee events, and a free printable, updated as the full slate drops.
Standings: follow the playoff races on our live 2026-27 NHL standings page (all 32 teams by division and conference, updated all season).
2026-27 NHL Schedule: Quick Facts
- When does the 2026-27 NHL season start? It is expected to open in late September 2026 (likely around September 24-30), earlier than usual to fit the expanded schedule; the exact opening night is confirmed when the full schedule is released on Thursday, July 16, 2026 (1 p.m. ET), with opening-night matchups revealed July 15.
- How many games are in the 2026-27 NHL season? 84 games per team, up from 82 for the first time since the 1990s, under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- Is there a mid-season international break? No. With the next Winter Olympics not until 2030, the 2026-27 season has no mid-season international break, though an All-Star Weekend and outdoor games (the Winter Classic and Stadium Series) are planned.
- When is the full 2026-27 NHL schedule released? The complete schedule and printable team PDFs typically drop in late June or early July; we update this page as soon as they are posted.
Is there a Mid-Season International Break in the 2026-27 NHL Schedule?
With the Winter Olympics not scheduled until 2030, there will be no mid-season international break during the 2026-27 NHL schedule. This ensures a smoother flow from opening night through the playoffs. Expect an All-Star Weekend (location and dates TBD) and the return of outdoor events like the Winter Classic and Stadium Series. National TV partners (ESPN/ABC, TNT, and potentially others) will broadcast key games, with streaming options via ESPN+ and regional networks.
Key Dates for the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season
Key Known Dates for 2026-27 (as of June 2026; subject to official confirmation):
- Regular season expected start → Tuesday, September 29, 2026 (ESPN opening-night tripleheader)
- Regular season expected end → mid-April 2027; the Stanley Cup is awarded in June 2027
- Stanley Cup Finals → Expected to conclude in mid-to-late June 2027
- Schedule release → The full 84-game schedule was released July 16, 2026. All 32 printable team schedules are live below, and the season opens Tuesday, September 29 with an ESPN tripleheader.
- 2026-27 NHL Preseason Schedule → Preseason games begin in mid-September; team slates are posting now.
Full team schedules, including opponent matchups, start times, national TV broadcasts, and streaming details, are now live on every team page below. Each team has its full 84-game slate with start times in Eastern and a free low-ink printable PDF you can download.
2026-27 NHL Opening Night & Signature Events
The full 2026-27 schedule is released Thursday, July 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT), and every team schedule in the grid below fills in then. The NHL has already confirmed opening night and the outdoor and signature events:
Opening Night: Tuesday, September 29
- Panthers at Hurricanes – 5:00 p.m. ET, ESPN (banner night for the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes)
- Canadiens at Maple Leafs – 7:00 p.m. ET, Sportsnet
- Rangers at Bruins – 8:00 p.m. ET
- Canucks at Oilers – 10:00 p.m. ET, Sportsnet
Outdoor & Signature Events
- Tim Hortons Heritage Classic – Sun, Oct 25: Winnipeg Jets vs Montreal Canadiens, Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
- Discover NHL Winter Classic – Thu, Dec 31 (New Year’s Eve): Utah Mammoth vs Colorado Avalanche, Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City
- NHL Stadium Series – Sat, Feb 20, 2027: Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
- Global Series Finland – Nov 12 and 14: Carolina Hurricanes vs Seattle Kraken, Veikkaus Arena, Helsinki
- Global Series Germany – Dec 18 and 20: Ottawa Senators vs Chicago Blackhawks, PSD Bank Dome, Dusseldorf
- Honda NHL All-Star Weekend – Feb 5-6, 2027: UBS Arena, Long Island (Elmont, N.Y.)
How to Watch: NHL TV & Streaming Partners
In the United States, national coverage remains split between The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC) and Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT/TBS/TruTV).
- Streaming: Out-of-market games are available on ESPN+ (NHL Power Play).
- National Broadcasts: TNT holds the rights to the 2027 Stanley Cup Final.
- Early Season: Look for the season-opening tripleheaders on ESPN in late September.
2026-27 NHL Team Schedules Grid
Every team page below now carries the full 2026-27 schedule (all 84 games with dates, opponents, and start times in ET) plus a free low-ink printable PDF you can download or print.
Western Conference
Eastern Conference
All 32 team schedules are live. Tap any team above for the full 84-game slate and a printable PDF.
Every team page above is live with a full schedule and printable PDF. For the national picture, see the opening-night and national TV summary near the top of this page, plus our event guides. In the meantime, check out our 2025-26 NHL hub for current season coverage. You can also checkout the 2026 NHL Playoff and Stanley Cup Schedule here too if you are getting all set for watching the playoffs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why did the NHL move to an 84-game schedule?
The expansion to 84 games was part of the new CBA ratified in 2025. The extra two games are designated as divisional matchups to increase regional rivalries and league revenue.
When is the 2026-27 NHL schedule officially released?
While we know the opponents and the 84-game format, the full week-by-week calendar with specific kickoff times is expected to be released in late June or early July 2026.
Does the 84-game season change the playoff format?
No. The Stanley Cup Playoff format remains the same, with 16 teams qualifying for a four-round, best-of-seven series.
More NHL: see the 2026-27 NHL preseason schedule and the 2026 NHL Draft results and order.
2026-27 NHL Special Events: Schedules & Printables
- 2026-27 NHL Schedule Calendars (All 32 Teams, Printable Month-by-Month PDFs)
- 2026-27 NHL Opening Night 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)
See also: Printable 2026-27 NHL Schedule: By Teams, PDF Format – the full conference-and-division grid linking every team’s printable schedule.
Whole-season view: Printable 2026-27 NHL Schedule by Week (PDF) – all 1,344 games grouped Monday to Sunday, times ET.
