The 2026-27 NHL schedule opens Tuesday, September 29, 2026 and runs through Saturday, April 10, 2027. It is the first 84 game season in more than 30 years, with a record 1,344 regular season games. Opening night starts in Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes raise their second Stanley Cup banner before facing the Florida Panthers.
Use this page to download the full season PDF, check opening week games, find your team, and see where every national game airs.
2026-27 NHL Season Quick Facts:
- Opening night: Tue, Sept 29, 2026, five games
- Regular season ends: Sat, Apr 10, 2027, all 32 teams play
- Total games: 1,344, with 84 per team (42 home, 42 away)
- Defending champion: Carolina Hurricanes
- Winter Classic: Thu, Dec 31, Avalanche at Mammoth, Salt Lake City
- All-Star Weekend: Feb 5 to 6, 2027, UBS Arena, Long Island
- Trade deadline: Mon, Mar 1, 2027 (reported)
- Stanley Cup Final: June 2027, on TNT in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada
Download the NHL Full Schedule PDF
The free PDF lists every 2026-27 game by date, with the matchup, puck drop time in ET and national TV channel. No app, login or email signup.
NHL Schedule by Month (Printable)
The NHL does not play in weeks like the NFL, so the season is easiest to follow month by month. Games run almost every night from late September to mid April, with a short break for All-Star Weekend in early February.
| Month | Highlights |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | Opening night Sept 29, TNT debut Sept 30 |
| October 2026 | Frozen Frenzy Oct 13, Heritage Classic Oct 25 |
| November 2026 | Global Series Finland Nov 12 and 14, Thanksgiving Showdown Nov 27 |
| December 2026 | Global Series Germany Dec 18 and 20, Cup Final rematch Dec 21, Winter Classic Dec 31 |
| January 2027 | ABC Hockey Saturday returns Jan 16, Carolina hosts Vegas Jan 17 |
| February 2027 | All-Star Weekend Feb 5 to 6, Stadium Series Feb 20 |
| March 2027 | Trade deadline Mar 1, playoff races tighten |
| April 2027 | Final day Apr 10, then the Stanley Cup Playoffs |
New this season is a steady run of Monday matinee games. They start in the early afternoon in North America, which puts them in prime time for fans watching in Europe.
Opening Week: Games, Times and TV
Opening night has five games, three on ESPN and two on Sportsnet in Canada. TNT joins the schedule the next night. All times are ET.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sept 29 | Panthers at Hurricanes | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tue, Sept 29 | Canadiens at Maple Leafs | 7:00 p.m. | Sportsnet |
| Tue, Sept 29 | Rangers at Bruins | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tue, Sept 29 | Canucks at Oilers | 10:00 p.m. | Sportsnet |
| Tue, Sept 29 | Blackhawks at Golden Knights | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Wed, Sept 30 | Penguins at Flyers | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Wed, Sept 30 | Kings at Avalanche | 10:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Thu, Oct 1 | Flyers at Devils | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu |
| Thu, Oct 1 | Blackhawks at Mammoth | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu |
| Fri, Oct 2 | Rangers at Red Wings | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Fri, Oct 2 | Blues at Stars | 9:00 p.m. | TNT |
Only national games are listed above. Most other games air on local regional networks.
NHL Schedule by Team
Every team plays 84 games this season, four against each division rival, three against each of the eight other conference teams, and two against every team in the other conference. Pick a team below for its full game list and a free printable PDF.
Eastern Conference
| Atlantic Division | Metropolitan Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Buffalo Sabres | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Detroit Red Wings | New Jersey Devils |
| Florida Panthers | New York Islanders |
| Montreal Canadiens | New York Rangers |
| Ottawa Senators | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Washington Capitals |
Western Conference
| Central Division | Pacific Division |
|---|---|
| Chicago Blackhawks | Anaheim Ducks |
| Colorado Avalanche | Calgary Flames |
| Dallas Stars | Edmonton Oilers |
| Minnesota Wild | Los Angeles Kings |
| Nashville Predators | San Jose Sharks |
| St. Louis Blues | Seattle Kraken |
| Utah Mammoth | Vancouver Canucks |
| Winnipeg Jets | Vegas Golden Knights |
Key Dates: Outdoor Games, Global Series and Playoffs
- Oct 13: NHL Frozen Frenzy. All 32 teams play, led by an ESPN tripleheader starting with Devils at Red Wings at 6:00 p.m.
- Oct 25: Heritage Classic. Canadiens at Jets, Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, 7:00 p.m. on TNT.
- Nov 12 and 14: Global Series Finland. Hurricanes and Kraken play twice at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki.
- Nov 27, Black Friday: Thanksgiving Showdown on TNT. Rangers at Blackhawks (5:30 p.m.), then Penguins at Sabres (8:00 p.m.).
- Dec 18 and 20: Global Series Germany. Senators and Blackhawks play twice at PSD Bank Dome in Dusseldorf.
- Dec 21: First Stanley Cup Final rematch, Hurricanes at Golden Knights. Vegas visits Carolina on Jan 17.
- Dec 31: Winter Classic. Avalanche at Mammoth, Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, 6:00 p.m. on TNT.
- Jan 16, 2027: ABC Hockey Saturday returns with Bruins at Rangers at noon, the first of 16 Saturday games on ABC.
- Feb 5 and 6, 2027: All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena. Skills on Feb 5 (7:00 p.m., ESPN), then a five team 3 on 3 tournament on Feb 6 (3:00 p.m., ABC) with Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a World team.
- Feb 20, 2027: Stadium Series. Golden Knights at Stars, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, 8:00 p.m. on ABC.
- Mar 1, 2027: Trade deadline, a Monday instead of the usual Friday.
- Apr 10, 2027: Final day. All 32 teams play, with an ABC tripleheader.
- April to June 2027: Stanley Cup Playoffs. Dates have not been announced yet.
Outdoor and International Games
Five special event games take the NHL outdoors or overseas this season.
| Date | Event | Matchup | Venue, City | Time (ET), TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | Heritage Classic | Canadiens at Jets | Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg | 7:00 p.m., TNT |
| Nov 12 and 14 | Global Series | Hurricanes vs Kraken | Veikkaus Arena, Helsinki | TBA |
| Dec 18 and 20 | Global Series | Senators vs Blackhawks | PSD Bank Dome, Dusseldorf | TBA |
| Dec 31 | Winter Classic | Avalanche at Mammoth | Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City | 6:00 p.m., TNT |
| Feb 20 | Stadium Series | Golden Knights at Stars | AT&T Stadium, Arlington | 8:00 p.m., ABC |
How to Watch NHL Games in 2026-27
ESPN and TNT share national games in the U.S. Sportsnet is the main national partner in Canada.
| Platform | What It Carries |
|---|---|
| ESPN and ABC | 53 national games, opening night, Frozen Frenzy, All-Star Weekend, Stadium Series, ABC Hockey Saturday |
| ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu | 47 streaming exclusive games, mostly Tuesdays and Thursdays |
| TNT, truTV, HBO Max | 72 games, Wednesday nights, Heritage Classic, Thanksgiving Showdown, Winter Classic, Stanley Cup Final |
| NHL Power Play (ESPN App) | More than 1,050 out of market games |
| Sportsnet, Sportsnet+ | National games in Canada and the Stanley Cup Final |
| TVA Sports | French language games in Canada |
Cutting cable? YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream all carry ESPN and TNT. The ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan streams every ESPN game plus NHL Power Play.
NHL Schedule 2026-27 FAQ
When does the 2026-27 NHL season start and end?
The season starts Tuesday, September 29, 2026 with five games. The regular season ends Saturday, April 10, 2027, when all 32 teams play.
How many games are in the 2026-27 NHL season?
There are 1,344 regular season games, a league record. Each team plays 84 games, two more than last season, and both extra games are against division rivals.
Who plays on opening night?
Panthers at Hurricanes, Canadiens at Maple Leafs, Rangers at Bruins, Canucks at Oilers and Blackhawks at Golden Knights. Carolina raises its Stanley Cup banner before the first game.
When is the 2027 NHL Winter Classic?
The Winter Classic is Thursday, December 31, 2026, with the Mammoth hosting the Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. It airs at 6:00 p.m. ET on TNT.
Where is the 2027 NHL All-Star Game?
All-Star Weekend runs February 5 to 6, 2027 at UBS Arena on Long Island. The game is a five team 3 on 3 tournament airing on ABC.
How can I watch NHL games without cable?
A live TV service that carries ESPN and TNT covers most national games. The ESPN App adds streaming exclusives and more than 1,050 out of market games through NHL Power Play.
Is the printable NHL schedule free?
Yes. The full season PDF and all 32 team schedules are free to download and print, with no signup.
The 2026-27 NHL schedule packs a record 1,344 games into a season that opens in September for only the second time. Print the season PDF now, then grab your team’s sheet so outdoor games, road trips and the March stretch run are easy to plan.
Every date, puck drop time and network on this page is checked against the official NHL schedule announcement.