2026–27 NHL Opening Night Tickets: Five Games on Sept. 29

The 2026–27 NHL regular season starts Tuesday, September 29, with five games beginning between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET. This guide lays out every opening-night matchup, start time, and venue so you can choose a game and compare NHL tickets.

The NHL’s official schedule announcement confirms a three-game ESPN slate in the U.S. and a two-game Sportsnet slate in Canada. Broadcast details are useful for planning, but your best matchup depends on whether you want a banner ceremony, an Original Six game, or a late Western Conference start.

All five games take place on September 29, and all times listed below are in Eastern Time. Listings and prices can change, so confirm the matchup, venue, section, row, quantity, and displayed total before buying.

What is the 2026–27 NHL opening-night schedule?

Opening night runs from 5 p.m. ET through the 10:30 p.m. ET start, giving fans five matchups across three time windows. The complete September 29 schedule is:

• Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes — 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs — 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet
• New York Rangers at Boston Bruins — 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers — 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet
• Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights — 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Why choose Panthers at Hurricanes tickets?

Choose the 5 p.m. opener if you want the first game of the season and Carolina’s championship banner ceremony. The Florida Panthers visit the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center, with the ceremony scheduled before the game.

This is the only opening-night choice with a pregame banner raising, so build extra arrival time into your plan. If your decision comes down to location inside the arena, TickPick’s Carolina Hurricanes seating guide explains the arena layout and viewing tradeoffs.

Why choose Canadiens at Maple Leafs tickets?

Choose the 7 p.m. game for the earliest Original Six matchup and an all-Canadian opener. The Montreal Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

The 7 p.m. start also makes this the first Canadian game of the season. Sportsnet carries the game in Canada, and the schedule leaves a one-hour overlap before the other Original Six matchup begins.

Why choose Rangers at Bruins tickets?

Choose the 8 p.m. game for an Original Six matchup on the U.S. opening-night broadcast. The New York Rangers visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.

This game sits between the early Carolina opener and the late Vegas game on ESPN. It is the clearest choice for fans who want a traditional East Coast evening start without waiting for the Western Conference games.

Why choose Canucks at Oilers tickets?

Choose the 10 p.m. game for a Pacific Division matchup and the first half of an opening home-and-home set. The Vancouver Canucks visit the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.

These teams meet again two nights later in Vancouver, but September 29 is Edmonton’s home opener. Sportsnet carries the opening-night game in Canada at 10 p.m. ET, which is 8 p.m. local time in Edmonton.

Why choose Blackhawks at Golden Knights tickets?

Choose the 10:30 p.m. game for the final start of opening night and Vegas’ home opener. The Chicago Blackhawks visit the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.

The 10:30 p.m. ET start is 7:30 p.m. local time in Las Vegas. It closes ESPN’s opening-night tripleheader and is the latest option for viewers planning to watch more than one game.

How should I compare NHL opening-night tickets?

Compare the full listing details, not just the first number you see. Start with the correct game and venue, then check ticket quantity, section, row, view disclosures, delivery method, and the final displayed total.

• Pick the experience: Carolina has the banner ceremony, Toronto and Boston host Original Six games, and Edmonton and Vegas offer later Western Conference starts.
• Check the time zone: the schedule above uses Eastern Time, while local arena times differ in Edmonton and Las Vegas.
• Compare similar seats: judge listings in comparable sections and rows, and read any limited-view or accessibility notes.
• Use the displayed total: TickPick uses all-in pricing, so the displayed price is the final price with no service or delivery fees added at checkout.

Can I watch more than one opening-night game?

The staggered starts make it possible to follow parts of several games, but the schedule includes overlaps. Panthers–Hurricanes starts at 5 p.m. ET, Canadiens–Maple Leafs starts at 7 p.m., and Rangers–Bruins follows at 8 p.m. The two Western Conference games then begin only 30 minutes apart at 10 and 10:30 p.m.

If attending in person is the priority, choose one arena experience and plan around local time rather than the national broadcast sequence. In Edmonton, the puck drop is 8 p.m. local time; in Las Vegas, it is 7:30 p.m. local time.

Will opening-night ticket prices stay the same?

No static price can describe the full market because listings vary by game, section, row, quantity, and purchase time. Compare current options for the exact matchup you want, rather than using another arena’s listing as a benchmark.

A useful comparison keeps seat quality consistent. Two listings at different totals may represent different rows, views, quantities, or disclosures, so open the listing details before deciding which one fits your plan.

What should I do before buying?

Choose the matchup first, then open the relevant team page and compare current listings for September 29. Confirm the date, start time, venue, ticket quantity, and seat details one final time before checkout.