The first 2026 NHL games of the new season arrive on Tuesday, September 29. Five games open the schedule, starting in Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes raise their second Stanley Cup banner before facing the Florida Panthers. Three more games follow on Wednesday, September 30. That is the whole month: 8 games across two nights.
Every start time below is Eastern Time. You also get the TV channel, the arena for each game, and a free printable PDF that covers September plus every key date of the 2026-27 season.
September 2026 NHL Quick Facts:
- Opening night: Tue, Sept 29, 2026, five games
- Second night: Wed, Sept 30, three games
- Games in September: 8, all on national TV
- First puck drop: 5:00 p.m. ET, Panthers at Hurricanes
- Defending champion: Carolina Hurricanes
- Season format: 84 games per team, 1,344 in total
- Regular season ends: Sat, Apr 10, 2027
Download the September 2026 NHL Schedule PDF
The free one page PDF lists all 8 September games with the matchup, puck drop time in ET, TV channel and arena. It also carries every key date of the 2026-27 season, so it stays useful after opening week. No app, login or email signup.
2026 NHL Games in September: Full Schedule
September holds two nights of hockey. Opening night is the bigger of the two, with five games and an ESPN tripleheader. All times are ET.
Opening Night: Tuesday, September 29
| Matchup | Puck Drop (ET) | TV | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers at Hurricanes | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN | Lenovo Center |
| Canadiens at Maple Leafs | 7:00 p.m. | Sportsnet | Scotiabank Arena |
| Rangers at Bruins | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN | TD Garden |
| Canucks at Oilers | 10:00 p.m. | Sportsnet | Rogers Place |
| Blackhawks at Golden Knights | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN | T-Mobile Arena |
Carolina raises its Stanley Cup banner before the 5:00 p.m. game, so the ceremony starts the league’s night.
Wednesday, September 30
| Matchup | Puck Drop (ET) | TV | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penguins at Flyers | 7:30 p.m. | TNT | Xfinity Mobile Arena |
| Islanders at Maple Leafs | 7:30 p.m. | Prime | Scotiabank Arena |
| Kings at Avalanche | 10:00 p.m. | TNT | Ball Arena |
Opening Night: What to Watch
- A banner in Raleigh. Carolina raises its second Stanley Cup banner, 20 years after its first. The Hurricanes then open against Florida.
- An ESPN tripleheader. Three of the five opening night games are on ESPN, running from 5:00 p.m. to a 10:30 p.m. finish in Las Vegas.
- Two Canadian games on Sportsnet. Montreal visits Toronto at 7:00 p.m., then Vancouver visits Edmonton at 10:00 p.m.
- TNT starts on night two. TNT opens its season on September 30 with Penguins at Flyers, then Kings at Avalanche.
- A longer season. This is the first 84 game season since 1993-94, and only the second time the regular season has opened in September. The first was 2007-08, when the Ducks and Kings opened in London.
How to Watch the 2026 NHL Games
Four channels carry the September slate. Every game in the month has a national broadcaster, which is unusual once the season settles into its nightly rhythm.
| Channel | What It Carries in September |
|---|---|
| ESPN | Three opening night games: Panthers at Hurricanes, Rangers at Bruins, Blackhawks at Golden Knights |
| TNT | Both September 30 national games, also on truTV and HBO Max |
| Sportsnet | Canadiens at Maple Leafs and Canucks at Oilers in Canada |
| Prime | Islanders at Maple Leafs on September 30. Prime Video carries Wednesday Night Hockey in Canada |
Cutting cable? YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream all carry ESPN and TNT. Once October starts, the ESPN App adds streaming exclusives and more than 1,050 out of market games through NHL Power Play.
Key Dates After September
September is a short month for hockey. These are the dates worth marking once the full schedule begins on October 1.
| Date | Event | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 13 | NHL Frozen Frenzy. All 32 teams play on one night | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sun, Oct 25 | Heritage Classic outdoors, Canadiens at Jets, Winnipeg | 7:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Nov 12 and 14 | Global Series Finland, Hurricanes and Kraken, Helsinki | Varies | Regional |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Black Friday doubleheader, Rangers at Blackhawks first | 5:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Dec 18 and 20 | Global Series Germany, Senators and Blackhawks, Dusseldorf | Varies | Regional |
| Mon, Dec 21 | First Stanley Cup Final rematch, Hurricanes at Golden Knights | 10:00 p.m. | Regional |
| Thu, Dec 31 | Winter Classic outdoors, Avalanche at Mammoth, Salt Lake City | 6:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Sat, Jan 16 | ABC Hockey Saturday returns, Bruins at Rangers | 12:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Feb 5 and 6 | All-Star Weekend, UBS Arena. Five team 3 on 3 tournament | Varies | ESPN / ABC |
| Sat, Feb 20 | Stadium Series outdoors, Golden Knights at Stars, Arlington | 8:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Mon, Mar 1 | Trade deadline, a Monday instead of the usual Friday | TBA | |
| Sat, Apr 10 | Final day. All 32 teams play across 16 start times | Varies | ABC |
2026 NHL Games FAQ
When do the 2026 NHL games start?
The season starts Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The first puck drop is 5:00 p.m. ET, Panthers at Hurricanes on ESPN.
How many NHL games are played in September 2026?
Eight. Five on Tuesday, September 29 and three on Wednesday, September 30. The first full slate arrives Thursday, October 1.
Who plays on opening night?
Panthers at Hurricanes, Canadiens at Maple Leafs, Rangers at Bruins, Canucks at Oilers and Blackhawks at Golden Knights.
What channel are the 2026 NHL games on in September?
ESPN has three opening night games and TNT has two on September 30. In Canada, Sportsnet carries two opening night games and Prime Video has the Wednesday game on September 30.
Why does the NHL season start in September this year?
The season grew to 84 games per team under the current collective bargaining agreement, so it needs a longer calendar. Starting in late September also leaves more room at the end, between the Stanley Cup Final and the draft. This is only the second time the regular season has opened in September, after 2007-08.
How many games does each team play in 2026-27?
Each team plays 84 games, 42 at home and 42 on the road. That is 1,344 games in total, a league record and the first 84 game season since 1993-94.
When is the 2027 Winter Classic?
Thursday, December 31, 2026. The Utah Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, at 6:00 p.m. ET on TNT.
Is the printable September schedule free?
Yes. The PDF is free to download and print, with no signup.
The 2026 NHL games start small, with 8 games over two September nights, then open up on October 1. Print the September sheet now so opening night start times and channels are on the fridge, and keep it for the key dates that follow.
Every date, puck drop time and channel on this page is checked against the official NHL schedule.