NHL 2026-27 Season Adds 84 Games, Panthers Face Hurricanes

How the schedule grew

Two extra contests will be added to every NHL roster for the 2026‑27 campaign, boosting the regular season from 82 to 84 games. The additional slots come from inserting two divisional matchups per team throughout the calendar. To accommodate the lengthened slate, the league pushed the start date forward, with the first puck scheduled for September 29.

The extra games also mean earlier horizons for fans, as teams will play more frequent games from the season’s opening week. This shift allows the NHL to balance travel demands while extending the regular‑season stretch. The early kickoff will set the tone for a compressed but expanded schedule.

Panthers hoist third straight banner, host Hurricanes

Florida will raise a championship banner to the rafters for a third consecutive season, a visual reminder of the back‑to‑back titles in 2024 and 2025. The Panthers will open their run on the road against the Hurricanes on September 29, with Carolina’s 5 p.m. ESPN broadcast featuring the raising of the Stanley Cup banner. Carolina, the defending champions, will also feature the Tkachuk brothers—Matthew and Brady—in the lineup opposite Florida.

Panther tickets for the season kickoff are available now, with home opener pricing starting at $190 per seat via Stubhub. The home opener itself will take place on October 10, when Florida faces the Minnesota Wild at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

Rebuilding after a playoff miss

The 2025‑26 season ended with a 40‑38‑4 record for the Panthers, leaving them seventh in the Atlantic Division and 84 points shy of the postseason. It was the first year Florida missed the playoffs since the 2018‑19 term, a stark drop after two straight championships. The team’s front office has opted for a shake‑up, acquiring Brady Tkachuk in a June 21 trade from Ottawa to pair him with his brother Matthew.

Matthew Tkachuk contributed 13 goals and 21 assists with a minus‑6 rating in 31 games for the Panthers this past season. Brady had a solid stint with the Senators, posting 29 goals and 26 assists in 72 contests. The brothers also helped lead Team USA to gold at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.

Ticket information and season outlook

Fans interested in the Panthers’ home schedule can purchase tickets starting at $190 through Stubhub, covering the October 10 matchup against the Wild. The early-season stretch includes road games against the Hurricanes and San Jose Sharks, giving Florida a mix of divisional and inter‑conference foes. With the new game count and an earlier start, the league expects a busier calendar but also a fresh window for contenders to stake their claim.

The addition of two divisional games per team means more high‑stakes matchups and heightened relevance for division rivals. This format also aligns with the NHL’s broader push for more consistent competition throughout the season. As the Panthers look to rebuild after a playoff drought, the expanded schedule provides extra chances to climb back into the postseason picture.