When Does the NHL Regular Season Start? 2025 Opening Night Date, Full Schedule & How to Watch

Hockey fans can officially circle Tuesday, October 7, 2025 as the night the puck drops on the 2025-26 NHL regular season. The league opens its 109th campaign with a nationally televised tripleheader featuring six marquee clubs, headlined by the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers raising their banner in Sunrise, Fla. Opening-Night Schedule (Oct. 7) • Panthers vs. Blackhawks – 5 p.m. ET (ESPN/Sportsnet/TVA Sports) • Rangers vs. Kings – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) • Oilers vs. Avalanche – 10 p.m. ET (ESPN) Key details fans search for • Regular-season length: 82 games per team, running through April 16, 2026. • Broadcast partners: ESPN, TNT, Sportsnet, TVA Sports, plus ESPN+, Hulu and NHL Power Play on ESPN+. • Streaming option: Out-of-market games available via NHL Power Play on ESPN+ in the U.S. and Sportsnet+ in Canada. • Special events: the 2026 Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Jan. 1; All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas Feb. 6-8. Why the early start matters The Oct. 7 launch date gives the NHL room to stage the 2026 Stanley Cup Final before June 30, limiting overlap with the Los Angeles Summer Olympics and setting the stage for the league’s planned expansion to an 84-game slate in 2026-27. Teams generating opening-week buzz • Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks meet Matthew Tkachuk’s Panthers on banner night. • Connor McDavid’s Oilers collide with Nathan MacKinnon’s Avalanche in a Western showdown. • The New York Rangers begin their centennial season against Anže Kopitar and the Kings. How to watch and stream Cable/satellite viewers can tune to ESPN, Sportsnet or TVA Sports. Cord-cutters can stream via ESPN+ (U.S.), Sportsnet+ (Canada) or subscribe to individual team packages through NHL Power Play. Select games will simul-stream on Hulu and Disney+. Ticket on-sale timeline Single-game tickets for most clubs are already on sale through Ticketmaster and official NHL club sites. Early demand is strongest for: • Florida’s home opener (Panthers-Blackhawks) • Edmonton’s Oct. 9 home debut vs. Vancouver • Toronto’s Oct. 10 tilt vs. Montreal Takeaway Searchers asking “When does the NHL regular season start?” can bank on October 7, 2025 as the definitive date, with a tripleheader showcasing superstar talent, multiple viewing options and the kickoff to an 82-game sprint toward the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.