The Florida Panthers are set to lift their second consecutive Stanley Cup banner earlier than starting the NHL season towards the Chicago Blackhawks.
The back-to-back champions play at 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 7 to steer off a gap evening tripleheader, the league introduced Monday. Florida defeated Edmonton within the groups’ Cup ultimate rematch and is aiming for the NHL’s first three-peat for the reason that New York Islanders‘ dynasty from 1980-83.
Additionally on Oct. 7, the New York Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 8 p.m. with the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET. The rest of the schedule is about to be launched Wednesday.
That is the ultimate 82-game common season earlier than going to 84 in 2026-27 as a part of a collective bargaining settlement extension agreed to and ratified by the league and the Gamers’ Affiliation. The 2025-26 schedule features a break for gamers to take part within the Milan-Cortina Olympics, the NHL’s return to that stage for the primary time since 2014.