The puck drops on a historic regular season on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. For the first time since the 1993-94 season, the NHL is launching an expanded 84-game campaign. That means more hockey to track than ever before.
With start times constantly shifting for television broadcasts and games scattered across global time zones, missing a notification means missing the game. Syncing the schedule to your calendar ensures the full slate, or just your favourite team’s games, lives in your daily schedule and updates automatically.
👉 Click here to sync the 2026-27 NHL schedule to your calendar now
Opening Night Is a Statement
The season fires up with a massive five-game slate across North America. It starts in Raleigh, where the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes raise their banner against rivals Florida Panthers, themselves back-to-back champs in 2024 and 2025. It is also the Panthers debut of Brady Tkachuk, reunited with brother Matthew after his off-season trade from Ottawa.
The marquee U.S. tripleheader rolls on as the Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers, and the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, Canadian fans get a blockbuster doubleheader featuring the classic Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens matchup, which marks the highly anticipated NHL debut of No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna. The doubleheader concludes with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Vancouver Canucks, featuring new coaches Mike Babcock and Manny Malhotra squaring off on the bench.
30 September keeps it going with Sidney Crosby’s Penguins visiting the Flyers in a playoff rematch, and Artemi Panarin’s Kings taking on Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche.
Dates You Cannot Afford to Miss
Alex Ovechkin plays his 22nd, and perhaps final, home opener for Washington on 7 October against old rival Crosby. Reigning Calder winner Matthew Schaefer and the Islanders open at home on 3 October. Brady Tkachuk’s Florida home debut on 10 October puts him up against his Team USA teammates on the Minnesota Wild.
The Signature Events
These are the showpieces that hide easiest in a busy schedule, which is exactly why you want them synced:
- Tim Hortons Heritage Classic: Jets vs. Canadiens, 25 Oct, Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
- Global Series Finland: Hurricanes vs. Kraken, 12 and 13 Nov, Helsinki
- Global Series Germany: Senators vs. Blackhawks, 18 and 20 Dec, Düsseldorf
- Discover NHL Winter Classic: Utah Mammoth vs. Avalanche, 31 Dec, Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City
- Honda NHL All-Star Weekend: 5 and 6 Feb, UBS Arena, Long Island (Skills 5 Feb, the new five-nation 3-on-3 All-Star Game 6 Feb)
- Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series: Stars vs. Golden Knights, 20 Feb, AT&T Stadium, Dallas
The complete 84-game schedule for all 32 teams follows the opening-night reveal, so more must-see nights are on the way.
How to Sync the Schedule to Your Calendar
Step-by-Step Setup:
- Head to the NHL’s schedule page and click on “Add to Calendar”, or use this direct link.
- Choose your favourite team or sync the full league schedule.
- Choose your preferred calendar provider (Google, Apple, or Outlook) and grant permission to sync.
Every face-off, home opener, and outdoor showcase will drop into your feed with automatic reminders before puck drop.
💡 Pro-Tip: When you first hit sync, it might take a few minutes for the entire 84-game schedule to reflect in your feed. Once that initial download completes, you have a permanent, live connection. It will run quietly in the background and update instantly whenever the league shifts a broadcast time. If dates look slightly off initially, just ensure your calendar app’s primary time zone matches your local device settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026-27 NHL season start?
Tuesday, 29 September 2026, with an opening-night slate headlined by the Hurricanes hosting the Panthers.
How many games will each team play?
Each team will play 84 games, marking the league’s first 84-game season in over three decades.
Can I sync only my favourite team’s games?
Yes. In the sync portal, simply select your preferred team instead of the full league.
Will my calendar update if a game time changes for TV?
Yes. Because this is a live connection, any broadcast or time adjustments will update automatically on your device.
When is the 2027 Winter Classic?
31 December 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, featuring the Utah Mammoth against the Colorado Avalanche.
