How Many Games in an NHL Season? 84 in 2026-27
An NHL team plays 84 regular-season games in 2026-27: 42 at home, 42 on the road. It had been 82 since 1995-96. If you still have "82" in your head, you are two games short, and the season started earlier than you think.
Quick answer: 84 games per team, 1,344 across the league. Opening night was Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The regular season ends Saturday, April 10, 2027.
Want all 84 on your phone instead of in your head? Add the NHL schedule to Google Calendar or put it on your iPhone. One team is free for 14 days, no card. After that, Season Pass is $47 a year and covers every team you follow.
Why it went from 82 to 84
The new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players took effect in September 2026. It adds two regular-season games and cuts the preseason to four games per team.
That is the whole trade. Fewer exhibition games nobody remembers, two more games that count.
It also pulled the start forward, into September. Opening night was September 29, more than a week earlier than the season before.
How the 84 games break down
| Opponents | Games against each | Total |
|---|---|---|
| The 7 other teams in your division | 4 (2 home, 2 away) | 28 |
| The 8 teams in your conference's other division | 3 | 24 |
| The 16 teams in the other conference | 2 (1 home, 1 away) | 32 |
| Total | 84 |
The two new games are division games. So you see your rivals more, and every team in the league still visits your building at least once.
Has the NHL played 84 before?
Yes, twice: 1992-93 and 1993-94. Those seasons added two neutral-site games to each team's schedule. The league has played 82 since 1995-96, which is why 82 feels permanent.
The dates worth putting in your calendar
- Sunday, October 25, 2026. Heritage Classic: Canadiens at Jets, outdoors in Winnipeg, 7:00 PM ET.
- November 12 and 14, 2026. Global Series in Helsinki: Hurricanes and Kraken, two games.
- December 18 and 20, 2026. Global Series in Düsseldorf: Senators and Blackhawks, two games.
- Thursday, December 31, 2026. Winter Classic: Avalanche at Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City, 6:00 PM ET.
- Saturday, February 20, 2027. Stadium Series: Golden Knights at Stars, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
- Saturday, April 10, 2027. Last day of the regular season. All 32 teams play.
The league has not published a start date for the playoffs yet. When it does, the games appear in a subscribed calendar on their own.
Where the games are on TV in the US
Two national partners split the season:
- ESPN has 100 games. About half are on ESPN or ABC. The rest stream on ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+.
- TNT has 72 games, including nearly every Wednesday night, the Heritage Classic, the Winter Classic and the 2027 Stanley Cup Final.
A game that is not national is shown locally, on your team's regional channel.
How to put your team's 84 games in your calendar
- Open your team's page. For example: Rangers, Bruins, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, or find yours on the NHL page.
- Tap Try [your team] free for 14 days.
- Type your email and pick Apple, Google or Outlook. The email is where your backup link goes. No card.
- Tap the add button. The games land in your calendar with puck drop in your own timezone.
If a game is postponed or the start time moves, the event in your calendar moves. You do not add anything again.
Each game carries a where-to-watch line. A national game names its network: ESPN, ABC, TNT, or ESPN+ and Hulu for the games that stream only there. We take that from a game-by-game TV listing, not from the night of the week. Every other game says "Local/Regional Broadcast", which means your team's regional channel, or ESPN+ if you live outside its market.
NHL season FAQ
How many games are in an NHL season?
84 per team in 2026-27, 42 at home and 42 away. That is 1,344 games across the league.
When did the NHL change from 82 to 84 games?
With the 2026-27 season. The new collective bargaining agreement added two regular-season games and cut the preseason to four games per team.
When does the 2026-27 NHL regular season end?
Saturday, April 10, 2027. All 32 teams play that day.
How many times does a team play its division rivals?
Four times each, two at home and two away. Division games make up 28 of the 84.
Does every team play in every arena?
Yes. Each team plays every team in the other conference twice, once at home and once away.
Stop counting games
84 games, a September start, outdoor games in three cities. The schedule is not something to remember. It is something to subscribe to.
Pick your NHL team and try it free for 14 days
The trial is one team, no card. Season Pass is $47 a year and covers every team and league you follow, on the same calendar link.
Related: How many games in an MLS, NFL and NBA season? · Printable vs subscribed schedules