Panthers' 2nd Stanley Cup banner raising set for Oct. 7 before hosting Blackhawks to open NHL season
The
back-to-back champions
play at 5 p.m. EDT on Oct. 7 to lead off an opening night tripleheader, the league announced Monday.
Florida defeated Edmonton
in the teams'
Cup final rematch
and is aiming for the
NHL's first threepeat
since the New York Islanders' dynasty from 1980-83.
Also 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. EDT. The remainder of the schedule is set to be released Wednesday.
This is the final 82-game regular season before
going to 84 in 2026-27
as part of a collective bargaining agreement extension agreed to
and ratified
by the league and the Players' Association. The 2025-26 schedule includes a break for players to participate in the Milan-Cortina Olympics, the
NHL's return to that stage
for the first time since 2014.
___
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