The National Hockey League (NHL) released its 2026-27 schedule on Thursday, July 16, marking a return to an 84-game season for the first time since the 1993-94 season. This expanded schedule will begin on September 29, earlier than usual, and will feature fewer preseason games. The season will conclude on April 10, with all 32 teams playing on the final day.
The opening game of the season will see the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes face the 2024 and 2025 champion Florida Panthers. This season will not include a midseason international tournament, but the All-Star Game will return with an international theme.
Los Angeles Kings schedule adjustments
For the Los Angeles Kings, the return to an 84-game schedule brings several changes, particularly within the Pacific Division. The Kings will now play four games against every team in their division, with two home games and two road games against each opponent, accounting for 28 of their 84 games. This eliminates previous inconsistencies in the number of games played against divisional rivals.
Against teams in the Central Division, the Kings will play each team three times. This season, the Kings are scheduled to visit Chicago, Colorado, Minnesota, and Nashville twice, while hosting Dallas, St. Louis, Utah, and Winnipeg twice each. These matchups contribute to a total of 52 games against Western Conference teams.
The remaining 32 games for the Kings will be against teams from the Eastern Conference, with one home game and one road game against all 16 teams. Notable matchups include hosting Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin once each at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings will begin their season on the road against the Colorado Avalanche in a playoff rematch. This marks the first time since 2019 that the Kings will open on the road against a Western Conference team. Following this, their first divisional game will be against San Jose.
The schedule also includes three divisional games within the Kings’ first five matchups, including their first home game of the season against the Edmonton Oilers. The divisional schedule is more balanced this year, with at least three divisional games in every month except October and February. Eight of the final 11 games will be against Pacific Division opposition.
The Kings will play a home-and-home series against Anaheim around Thanksgiving, with an afternoon game at Honda Center on November 27, followed by a rematch the next night at Crypto.com Arena. They will also host the Ducks on March 1 and play them in Anaheim on April 6.
Key dates and team dynamics
This season’s schedule for the Kings features a more regular flow, with no break for the 4 Nations Faceoff or the Winter Olympics. The team will have one eight-day break starting on January 31. The NHL All-Star Game will be hosted by the New York Islanders on February 6, at the end of this break, with the schedule resuming on February 8.
The Kings will play their first regular-season game in North America during September, a rare occurrence. The team will face a busy period towards the end of the season, playing 31 games in 62 days to conclude the schedule. March is set to be the busiest month for the Kings in Los Angeles, with nine home games, including two seven-game homestands.
Several former Kings personnel will return to Los Angeles this season. Former Head Coach Jim Hiller will be with Toronto on December 30, and former Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith will return with Edmonton on October 13. Additionally, former Kings forward Warren Foegele will play at Crypto.com Arena with Ottawa on October 29, and Andrei Kuzmenko will return with the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 7.
The Chicago Blackhawks face a challenging start to their season, with Connor Bedard out for October and into November due to shoulder surgery. Their schedule includes 12 games against playoff teams through the first week of November, along with two meetings against the recent champion Panthers. The Calgary Flames will play their final regular season game at the Saddledome against the Vancouver Canucks.
Washington Capitals fans will see their team play their home opener and home finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins, offering two more opportunities to watch the matchup between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. This is also the final year of Crosby’s contract. The NHL is also increasing the number of Monday afternoon games to cater to European fans, with two games scheduled in Finland (Hurricanes vs. Kraken) and two in Germany (Senators vs. Blackhawks).
The Winter Classic will feature the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Utah Mammoth on New Year’s Eve, with the game starting at 4 p.m. local time.
The Kings will play 14 Saturday home games throughout the schedule, making it their most active day of the week for home games. They will play at least two Saturday home games in every month except March and April. The road schedule also features 11 Saturday games, with only three Saturdays without a game between October 3 and April 10.
The Kings will travel the most in October, with eight games away from home, including two road games to start the season and a five-game trip that begins in Washington and ends in Chicago.
The 2026-27 NHL season will commence on September 29.
Source: eu.usatoday.com