The NHL season schedule is always shifting, with different teams playing the most games from week-to-week. Check out the Daily Faceoff schedule to learn which team will see the most action this week.

Each NHL teams schedule varies, but typically each squad plays between 3-5 games per week. Be sure to check out the Daily Faceoff schedule page to see when your favourite team plays this week.

The NHL All-Star Game will return during the 2026-27 season after a two-year hiatus. The event will feature some of the league’s biggest stars competing in the traditional All-Star festivities, including the NHL All-Star Skills Competition. The 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend is scheduled to take place at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, home of the New York Islanders.

In the NHL, each team plays 84 regular season games. This means during the season there are a total of 1,344 games played during the regular season, plus the potential for 105 NHL Playoffs games if each seven-game series goes the distance.

NHL games are scheduled based on the division and conference of each respective franchise. Beginning with the 2026-27 season, the NHL expanded its regular-season schedule from 82 to 84 games, with each team playing 42 home games and 42 away games.

Of those 84 games, 28 are played against teams within their own division (four against each opponent), 24 are played against teams in the other division within their conference (three against each opponent), and the remaining 32 are played against teams from the opposing conference (two against each opponent).

This structure ensures that every team faces all 31 other NHL franchises at least twice per season, including one home game and one away game against each opponent. Divisional rivals meet four times, with each team hosting two games.

The NHL regular season typically begins in early October, but the 2026-27 season started earlier than usual, with opening night taking place on September 29, 2026. The season kicked off with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers at 5:00 PM ET. Four other games rounded out opening night, including two Original Six matchups: the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers facing the Boston Bruins. The Vancouver Canucks also visited the Edmonton Oilers, while the Chicago Blackhawks took on the Vegas Golden Knights.

Yes, the NHL regularly hosts international games as part of its “Global Series,” featuring regular-season matchups played outside of North America. During the 2026-27 NHL season, four games will be played in Europe. The Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken will face off in Helsinki, Finland, on November 12 and 14, while the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will meet in Düsseldorf, Germany, on December 18 and 20. All four games count toward the NHL’s regular-season standings.

The NHL regular-season schedule is typically released during the offseason, usually in June or July, shortly after the Stanley Cup Final. The announcement includes all 32 teams’ schedules, giving fans an opportunity to see key matchups, rivalry games, and important dates for the upcoming season.