NHL adds two games and turns up the heat on rivalry nights

The NHL is stretching its regular season to 84 games in 2026-27, giving every club two extra nights and every division rivalry a little more oxygen.

The league released the schedule Thursday, ESPN reported, ending the 82-game format that had been in place since the 1995-96 season. The change comes under the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement with the players, which begins a four-year term on Sept. 16.

According to ESPN, the league made the move after some teams raised concerns about uneven numbers of divisional games against rivals. The new setup puts every team against its seven division opponents four times: twice at home and twice away.

Conference opponents outside the division will be split into two groups. Each team will play four of them three times with two at home and one away, and the other four three times with one at home and two away. Every opposite-conference opponent remains a home-and-road set, leaving each club with 42 home games and 42 road games.

The NHL last used an 84-game regular season from 1992 to 1994, when the league and the NHL Players’ Association added two neutral-site games to each team’s schedule, ESPN reported.

Opening night starts early

The season begins Sept. 29, the first time opening night has moved to the end of September, according to ESPN. The Carolina Hurricanes will raise their Stanley Cup championship banner before hosting the Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The opening-night tripleheader continues with the New York Rangers at the Boston Bruins at 8 p.m., followed by the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the Stanley Cup Final runner-up Vegas Golden Knights at 10:30 p.m.

The schedule also includes two full-league nights, with all 32 teams playing on Oct. 13 and April 10.

More matinees for Europe

The NHL said the schedule will include nearly two dozen Monday afternoon games designed to land in prime time for European viewers.

In a statement quoted by ESPN, the league said those games are meant to strengthen its connection with international fans, support growth in European markets and raise awareness of NHL clubs outside North America.

The NHL Global Series will also return to Europe. According to the schedule, the Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken will play in Helsinki on Nov. 12 and 14, while the Ottawa Senators and Blackhawks will meet in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Dec. 18 and 20.

Outdoor dates and All-Star changes

The league has three outdoor games on the calendar. The Winnipeg Jets host the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic on Oct. 25 at Princess Auto Stadium. The Utah Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche in the Winter Classic on Dec. 31 at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah. The Dallas Stars and Golden Knights play Feb. 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The revamped NHL All-Star Weekend will be held at UBS Arena on Long Island. ESPN reported that the Feb. 5 skills event will feature 10 players aged 25 or younger, while the Feb. 6 All-Star Game will use five 11-player teams: Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a World team in a 3-on-3 tournament.

Several dates come with built-in drama, ESPN noted. Brady Tkachuk is scheduled to return to Ottawa on Oct. 21 after being traded to Florida this summer. Darnell Nurse is set to visit Edmonton with the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 13 after 12 seasons with the Oilers and a reported trade request.

Florida faces Toronto on Dec. 3 after Sergei Bobrovsky signed with the Maple Leafs in the offseason. Alex Tuch, who left Buffalo for Washington as a free agent, is not scheduled to return to Buffalo until March 18.

Columbus opens at home Oct. 1 after ESPN reported that Zach Werenski appeared ready to leave via trade this offseason before remaining with the club. Detroit opens at home Oct. 2 after captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade, according to ESPN. Neither player has moved.

This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.