NHL releases expanded 84-game schedule for 2026-27 season - ESPN

The NHL released its 2026-27 regular-season schedule Thursday, as the league expands its campaign from 82 to 84 games this season.

Opening night moves to the end of September for the first time. The Carolina Hurricanes open the season Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. ET, raising their Stanley Cup championship banner before taking on the Florida Panthers on ESPN.

The NHL has had an 82-game season since 1995-96. But after some franchises complained about an imbalanced number of divisional games against rivals, the league sought to ease those concerns with an expanded schedule. Under the league's new collective bargaining agreement with the players, which begins its four-year term Sept. 16, the schedule was increased to 84 games.

The NHL previously had an 84-game regular season from 1992 to 1994, when the league and the NHL Players' Association agreed to add two neutral-site games to every team's schedule.

Now, each team will play two home and two road games against its seven division rivals. Teams will play two home games and one road game against four conference opponents, and one home game and two road games against the other four. Teams will then play each opponent in the opposite conference once at home and once on the road for a total of 42 home games and 42 away games.

Another innovation in the schedule is an increase in Monday afternoon games. Nearly two dozen Monday matinees will double as primetime games in European markets.

«These games further the league's commitment to deepening its connection with international fans and growth in European markets, as well as driving brand awareness for NHL clubs internationally,» the NHL said in a statement.

Among the key dates in the 2026-27 regular season:

• The season opens Sept. 29 on