The National Hockey League will begin its 2026-27 season on Sept. 29 with a five-game opening day slate that includes a Stanley Cup rematch between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes will raise their Stanley Cup banner before hosting the Panthers at 5 p.m. ET. Florida won the Cup in both 2024 and 2025, making this an early-season meeting of the last three champions.
The Vegas Golden Knights will host the Chicago Blackhawks at 10:30 p.m. ET in another opening day matchup. ESPN will broadcast three of the five games in the United States; Sportsnet will carry two games for Canadian audiences.
The NHL announced the opening day schedule on Wednesday, July 15. The full 2026-27 schedule followed Thursday, July 16. The league expanded the regular season from 82 to 84 games per team to create a balanced division schedule.
There will be no midseason international tournament during the 2026-27 campaign. The All-Star Game will return with an international theme.
The Blackhawks drew a challenging early schedule. The Panthers-Hurricanes rivalry, built over recent seasons, gives their opener weight beyond the two points at stake.
