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2025-26 NHL Season Opener
2025-26 NHL Season Opener Begins Tuesday, Oct. 7 with Opening Night Tripleheader
The National Hockey League (NHL) 2025-26 regular season opens on Tuesday, Oct. 7 with a tripleheader broadcast exclusively on ESPN in the U.S., and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
At 5 p.m. ET, the Chicago Blackhawks will face off against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Prior to the game, Florida will raise its second championship banner at Amerant Bank Arena.
Action continues at 8 p.m. ET, when the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the New York Rangers in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Madison Square Garden.
Then, at 10:30 p.m. ET, the Colorado Avalanche will visit the Los Angeles Kings in a Western Conference matchup at Crypto.com Arena.
Dates, times, opponents, games and events are subject to change. Please contact event organizers to confirm the latest information.