NHL Returns Tonight — Five Games Open the 2026–27 Season

September 29, 2026

The wait is over. NHL hockey returns tonight, as the 2026–27 regular season gets underway with five games across North America.

After the excitement of the offseason, teams begin the long road toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with every club starting the new season with the same goal — reaching the final.

Five Games on Opening Night

The opening-night schedule features five games:

Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes
The defending Stanley Cup champions begin their title defence in Carolina, where the Hurricanes will host the Panthers.

Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs
Canadian hockey takes centre stage as two Original Six franchises meet in Toronto. It is one of the most anticipated games of the opening night.

New York Rangers at Boston Bruins
Two Eastern Conference rivals begin their seasons with a meeting in Boston.

Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers
The all-Canadian Western Conference matchup brings together two passionate hockey markets. The Oilers will be looking to make another deep playoff run, while Vancouver begins a new campaign with its own ambitions.

Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights
The night concludes in Las Vegas as the Blackhawks visit the Golden Knights.

Canadian Teams to Watch

Hockey fans across Canada will have plenty to follow this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins are among the Canadian-interest teams attracting attention as the season begins.

The Oilers will again be under the spotlight after their recent playoff battles, while Toronto and Montreal begin the season carrying the enormous expectations that traditionally surround Canada’s most famous hockey markets.

The Road to the Stanley Cup

Opening night is only the beginning. The regular season will feature more than 1,000 games before the playoff field is established.

There will be new storylines, emerging stars, goaltending battles, coaching changes, injuries and plenty of surprises along the way.

For hockey fans, tonight marks the return of one of Canada’s favourite autumn and winter traditions.

The NHL is back.

What to Watch Tonight

The biggest Canadian attractions are:

• Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs
• Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers
• The opening night of the new NHL season
• The start of another Stanley Cup chase
• The first look at how teams have changed during the offseason

For Canadian hockey fans, the message is simple:

Turn on the TV, settle in and enjoy the return of NHL hockey.

Source

NHL official schedule and season information: NHL.com