The National Hockey League has confirmed that the 2026‑27 regular season will open on September 29, 2026, marking the start of a campaign that will see each of the 32 franchises play 84 games, two more than in recent years.
Opening Night Tripleheader and Doubleheader
In the United States, ESPN will broadcast a tripleheader to launch the season, while Sportsnet will carry a doubleheader in Canada. The first night of action on the U.S. network will continue on September 30 on TNT, featuring a doubleheader that pits the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings against the Colorado Avalanche.
The expanded schedule adds two divisional games per team, a change intended to increase regional rivalries and provide more varied matchups throughout the year.
Schedule Release and Special Programming
The complete slate will be unveiled on July 16, 2024, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time, with a one‑hour special edition of NHL Tonight on the NHL Network. The program will be hosted by Jamison Coyle, Thomas Hickey and E.J. Hradek and will also stream on NHL.com.
The following evening, NHL Tonight will dedicate its regularly scheduled 6 p.m. ET broadcast to a deep dive into the released schedule, ensuring fans have ample analysis before the season begins.
With broadcast partners ranging from ESPN and Sportsnet to TNT and the NHL Network, the league is positioning the 2026‑27 season as a marquee event for North American hockey fans, promising a blend of traditional rivalries and new competitive formats.