General view of the NHL logo on an officials jersey during the NHL game between Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins on March 10, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)The National Hockey League announced its 2026-27 regular-season opening night schedule, and it includes some big games featuring the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights and Chicago Blackhawks. The league also will unveil an expanded 84-game regular season, increasing the divisional competition throughout the NHL.Championship celebrations, Original Six rivalries and Western Conference showdowns are all part of the first night of the schedule, Sept. 29, and the new schedule format is expected to put more emphasis on divisional standings all season long.NHL unveils expanded 84-game schedule and opening night matchesThe NHL will kick off the 2026-27 regular season on Tuesday, Sept. 29 with a slate of five marquee games on opening night and the debut of the league's new 84-game regular-season format.The schedule begins with the defending Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center, where Carolina will raise its second Stanley Cup championship banner before puck drop. The longer season means two more divisional games for every franchise, which means more rivalry games and more weight on divisional points in the playoff race.Opening night scheduleFlorida 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)How do the opening night games shape the 2026-27 NHL seasonOpening-night games feature some of the league’s biggest storylines before the full regular season starts.Carolina Hurricanes start Stanley Cup defenseThe defending champion will immediately be facing a familiar foe in the Florida Panthers, who won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025 before losing to Carolina last season. The banner raising adds another dimension to one of the biggest games of the evening.Original Six rivalries return immediatelyThe night includes two Original Six matchups with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins taking on the New York Rangers. The matchups continue some of hockey’s most historic rivalries and should draw plenty of national attention.Western Conference contenders meet in Las VegasThe late-night ESPN game features the Chicago Blackhawks against the Vegas Golden Knights, who were the Western Conference champions last season. The game could also draw interest if top 2026 first overall draft pick Gavin McKenna makes his NHL debut for Chicago.Why does the NHL's new regular-season format matterThe new 84-game schedule features two additional divisional games for each club, placing an even greater emphasis on divisional rivalries.More rivalry games could be a major factor in playoff seeding as teams will have more chances to earn points against direct divisional rivals. The league also will host international events, outdoor showcase games and the 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend during the season, making the 2026-27 campaign one of the NHL’s busiest schedules in years.The full 2026-27 NHL regular-season schedule will be announced on July 16, giving teams and fans the complete slate of games for the league’s expanded season.