2025-26 NHL schedule release: Panthers to raise Stanley Cup banner vs. Blackhawks on opening night

It Nhl announced the regular season calendar for the 2025-26 season Wednesday, which includes a tripleheader on the opening night. The Florida panthers will have the opportunity to raise their Stanley Cup flag for the second consecutive season before the game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Again Bank Arena on October 7.

In addition, the NHL opening night will also include the New York Rangers who are hosting Pittsburgh Penguins in a metropolitan division clash, while the Los Angeles kings will host the Colorado Avalanche in the action of the Western conference.

The League will have a double heading on October 8, with the Boston Bruins taking the Washington Capital, while the Golden Golden Knights will host the kings of Los Angeles. The Wednesday board will also show the Western Conference Defense Champion, Edmonton Oilers, taking on Calgary’s flames at the first installment of the “Battle of Alberta” of the season.

One of the most intriguing dates in the NHL calendar will be a resale of the last two final games of the Stanley Cup between the Panthers and the Oilers, which takes place on November 22 in Arant Bank Arena. In the meantime, the Oilers will host the Panthers on March 19 at Rogers Place.

By 2026 Winter Classic will feature the panthers who host the Rangers on January 2 at the Loan Depot Park in Miami. It is marked the first time that the Winter Classic will be played in the state of Florida and is also the first time when the Panthers will participate in the annual outdoor game.

In addition, the stadium series will see the Tampa Bay Lightning that welcomes Bruins to Raymond James Stadium, which is the home of the Nfl’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It will mark the first appearance of the stadium series for any of the teams, while this will be the first outdoor game in Lightning.

The League will also feature the NHL global series in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 14 and 16, in which Nashville’s predators will assume the penguins. Several Swedish stars will take the ice in Stockholm, including Penguins’ defender, Erik Karlsson, Penguins striker, Rickard Rakell and predators, advanced Fiorsberg.

In total, there will be 1,312 games that will be played with the regular season that ends on April 16. It likes the regular league season will pause from February 6 to 24 when the best stars of the NHL will compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy.