The Puck Drops Now: NHL 2026-27 Season Is Live
The NHL's 2026-27 season dropped the puck tonight — and opening night came loaded: the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes raising their second banner before hosting the Florida Panthers, an Original Six doubleheader of Bruins-Rangers and Maple Leafs-Canadiens, and Connor McDavid's Oilers hosting Vancouver. The league also expanded to an 84-game schedule this season. Here's your first-week guide.
Opening Night & The First Week
Carolina raised its banner at Lenovo Center against the same Florida Panthers team that has crashed the Eastern Conference's biggest parties in recent seasons — the freshest rivalry in the East, resumed immediately. Then the history hits: Boston hosting the New York Rangers, Toronto opening against Montreal, and Edmonton against Vancouver in a home-and-home that stretches into Thursday. The Penguins-Flyers rivalry resumes Wednesday in Philadelphia.
The Jerseys to Open the Season In
Sebastian Aho
Aho in Carolina red — the face of the defending champions on the night the banner goes up.
Auston Matthews
Matthews' blue Leafs jersey — Toronto opened at home under the lights, and No. 34 is still the show.
Connor McDavid
The best player on the planet, in Oilers orange. Edmonton's Cup window is wide open and everybody knows it.
David Pastrnak
Pasta in the black-and-gold — Boston's Original Six opener at TD Garden runs through him.
Your team's season starts this week — jump straight to the full range:
Quick Answers
When did the 2026-27 NHL season start?
Opening night was Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with a tripleheader headlined by the defending champion Hurricanes hosting the Panthers. Most teams open at home between October 1 and October 8.
What's new this season?
The schedule expanded to 84 games per team, and the Hurricanes enter as defending Stanley Cup champions.
Are these jerseys in stock?
Yes — every jersey above ships now, and our hockey collection covers all 32 teams across home, away and premium player editions.
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Banner's up. Get your sweater before the next face-off.
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