Last updated: September 8, 2026. Here is every team’s 2026-27 NHL home opener in one place: the date, the opponent, and the broadcast. The season drops the puck Tuesday, September 29, and the home openers roll out over the following two weeks, wrapping up when Florida raises its banner on October 10. Grab the free printable below and check your team’s first night at home.
2026-27 NHL Home Openers: All 32 Teams
Teams are listed alphabetically. Home opener is each club’s first game played in its own building.
| Team | Home Opener | Opponent | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Ducks | Oct 4 | Florida Panthers | Local/RSN |
| Boston Bruins | Sept 29 | New York Rangers | ESPN |
| Buffalo Sabres | Oct 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | Local/RSN |
| Calgary Flames | Oct 1 | Seattle Kraken | Local/RSN |
| Carolina Hurricanes | Sept 29 | Florida Panthers | ESPN |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Oct 6 | St. Louis Blues | Local/RSN |
| Colorado Avalanche | Sept 30 | Los Angeles Kings | TNT |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Oct 1 | Buffalo Sabres | Local/RSN |
| Dallas Stars | Oct 2 | St. Louis Blues | Local/RSN |
| Detroit Red Wings | Oct 2 | New York Rangers | Local/RSN |
| Edmonton Oilers | Sept 29 | Vancouver Canucks | Sportsnet |
| Florida Panthers | Oct 10 | Minnesota Wild | Local/RSN |
| Los Angeles Kings | Oct 6 | Florida Panthers | Local/RSN |
| Minnesota Wild | Oct 3 | Boston Bruins | Local/RSN |
| Montreal Canadiens | Oct 6 | Carolina Hurricanes | Local/RSN |
| Nashville Predators | Oct 1 | Minnesota Wild | Local/RSN |
| New Jersey Devils | Oct 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | Local/RSN |
| New York Islanders | Oct 3 | New Jersey Devils | Local/RSN |
| New York Rangers | Oct 1 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Local/RSN |
| Ottawa Senators | Oct 8 | Philadelphia Flyers | Local/RSN |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Sept 30 | Pittsburgh Penguins | TNT |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Oct 3 | Montreal Canadiens | Local/RSN |
| San Jose Sharks | Oct 1 | Florida Panthers | Local/RSN |
| Seattle Kraken | Oct 4 | Calgary Flames | Local/RSN |
| St. Louis Blues | Oct 8 | San Jose Sharks | Local/RSN |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Oct 3 | Washington Capitals | Local/RSN |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Sept 29 | Montreal Canadiens | Sportsnet |
| Utah Mammoth | Oct 1 | Chicago Blackhawks | Local/RSN |
| Vancouver Canucks | Oct 1 | Edmonton Oilers | Local/RSN |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Sept 29 | Chicago Blackhawks | ESPN |
| Washington Capitals | Oct 7 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Local/RSN |
| Winnipeg Jets | Oct 2 | Boston Bruins | Local/RSN |
Opening Night and the First Week
The league opens with a marquee Tuesday, September 29 slate: Carolina hosts the Florida Panthers and Boston welcomes the New York Rangers on ESPN in the US, while Toronto raises the curtain against Montreal and Edmonton hosts Vancouver on Sportsnet in Canada. Vegas rounds out opening night against Chicago. The next night, September 30, brings TNT action with home openers in Philadelphia (vs Pittsburgh) and Colorado (vs Los Angeles).
From there the home openers stagger through early October, with most clubs christening their season at home between October 1 and October 8. The Florida Panthers are last on the calendar, opening at home October 10 against Minnesota. A handful of early matchups are home-and-home rivalries, including Edmonton and Vancouver, who trade buildings on September 29 and October 1.
Quick Facts
- Season opener: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
- Last home opener: Florida Panthers, October 10
- National TV: ESPN (US) and Sportsnet (Canada) on Sept 29; TNT on Sept 30; all other home openers on local or regional networks
- Printable: free one-page PDF of all 32 home openers above
More 2026-27 NHL Resources
- 2026-27 NHL Opening Night: Full September 29 Schedule and TV
- 2026-27 NHL Schedule: Free Printable PDF and Key Dates
- 2026-27 NHL National TV Schedule
- 2026-27 NHL Standings and Playoff Picture
2026-27 NHL Home Openers: FAQ
When does the 2026-27 NHL season start?
The season opens Tuesday, September 29, 2026, headlined by Carolina hosting Florida and Toronto hosting Montreal.
Which team has the latest home opener?
The Florida Panthers play their home opener last, on October 10 against the Minnesota Wild.
Are these dates final?
Home opener dates are set by the NHL schedule release, but start times and broadcast assignments can change. Check your team’s schedule page for the latest.
Related: see the full 2026-27 NHL opening night schedule for Sept. 29 games, times and TV.
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