NHL Season to Open with Must-Watch ESPN Tripleheader
Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The NHL season is set to begin on October 7, 2025, and it will feature a tripleheader on ESPN that will include the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers.
The 2025-26 NHL season begins Tuesday, October 7, with an ESPN tripleheader that includes marquee matchups and the banner-raising ceremony for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
The activity begins at 5 p.m. ET when the Connor Bedard-led Chicago Blackhawks face the defending champions.
A banner raising ceremony will kick off the new season
Florida will be celebrating its 2024-25 championship with a banner-raising ceremony at Amerant Bank Arena, highlighted by stars Matthew Tkachuk and Conn Smythe champion Sam Bennett, who inked an eight-year extension recently.
At 8 p.m., Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins make their way to Madison Square Garden for a high-stakes Metropolitan Division battle with the New York Rangers, now led by former Pens bench boss Mike Sullivan and star Artemi Panarin.
The evening concludes at 10:30 p.m. as the Colorado Avalanche take on the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. The L.A. squad enters the season with newcomers Corey Perry and Anton Forsberg.
- Chicago Blackhawks Face Two-Time Defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. ET
- Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers at 8 p.m.
- Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m.
- Opening Night and all NHL on ESPN Games to Stream on ESPN's New DTC Streaming Service
- Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers at 8 p.m.
- Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m.
- Opening Night and all NHL on ESPN Games to Stream on ESPN's New DTC Streaming Service
ESPN will announce its complete broadcast schedule, commentators, and other coverage specifics in the next few weeks.
This season also sees the launch of ESPN's new direct-to-consumer streaming service and enhanced app, which will give fans every NHL game on ESPN platforms, along with such features as multiview, enhanced personalization, and integrated stats and betting.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 14 | 149 ANSWERS NHL Season to Open with Must-Watch ESPN Tripleheader Are you going to watch the season-opening tripleheader? | ||
| Yes | 75 | 50.3 % |
| No | 74 | 49.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
