NHL Season to Open with Must-Watch ESPN Tripleheader

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