We are one step closer to the start of the 2025-26 NHL season. On Wednesday, the NHL released the schedule for each NHL team. For the St. Louis Blues, they now know what their path to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs looks like. As with every team, their 82-game schedule contains some spotlight games and stretches of hockey that stand out as we inch closer to puck drop.
The Blues will open the new season on home ice against the Wild. Blues fans will get an opportunity to see their home right off the bat. Furthermore, the Blues will get the chance to showcase their new home sweaters and logo. They are not new by any means. They are a variant of the sweaters the Blues wore for the 2017 Winter Classic and have served as the heritage sweaters for the last few seasons. The logo, however, has a new look, which will make its regular-season debut on October 9th.
Last season, the Blues and Blackhawks had to wait until the Winter Classic to meet for the first time. That will not be the case this season as the rivals meet less than a week into the season. The Blues swept the season series last year with the Hawks and will look to get things off on the right foot this season.
For the two rivals, it will be the first time their two young guns meet. For the Blackhawks, Connor Bedard enters his third season. As for the Blues, Jimmy Snuggerud enters his first full season following some experience late last season and the playoffs.
The Blues will play the two-time defending Western Conference Champions, the Oilers, for the first time in early November. Connor McDavid returns to the city where he made his NHL debut in 2015. Meanwhile, Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg hope to be off to strong starts in their second season with the Blue Note. After being pried away from the Oilers via an offer sheet, Holloway and Broberg have turned into strong players. Furthermore, Holloway will enter the 2025-26 season with 30-goal potential.
The Blues will embark on their first road trip of the season, which spans more than two games. The five-game road trip includes all Eastern Conference opponents for the Blues. They will start the journey north of the border against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After that, the team heads to the eastern United States to play the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and New Jersey Devils.
There is a maximum of ten points on the line during this road trip. If the Blues can obtain six to seven points on the trip, it can be considered a success.
When the Blues and Habs meet in early December, it will be the first time the two teams have met since their July trade. For Logan Mailloux, it will be his first game against the team that drafted him. The same is true for Zachary Bolduc.
The Blues and Jets will meet for the first time since their seven-game playoff series. The Blues were two minutes away from advancing in Game 7, leading 3-1. However, the Jets rallied and tied the game and went on to win in double overtime. The loss has haunted the Blues summer.
The Blues were able to solve Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in the playoffs. They will look to continue that success against the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winner.
The Blues will play their last game before Christmas at the home of the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Panthers. The Panthers have been working hard this summer, reassembling the band to make a run at a three-peat. It will be interesting to see where they sit in the standings by the time this game occurs.
Of course, St. Louis native Matthew Tkachuk will face the team he grew up watching.
The Blues will have a tough stretch of games in January. The team will play nine games against teams that participated in the playoffs last season. This includes three of the four teams that were in the Conference Final last week. While this will be a tough stretch of games, the Blues will play at home for five games.
18 points will be on the line. As we approach the halfway point of the season, the Blues can make a statement with a strong performance in these nine games. This would be a great time to start another long winning streak.
Due to the Winter Olympics, the Blues will only play in four games in February. The majority of the month will be spent watching Blues and other NHL players performing for their countries. Will Jordan Binnington continue his success from the 4 Nations Face-Off for Team Canada? The regular season will take a backseat this month, but the action will be plentiful and fun.
The Blues and Sharks meet on an essential day of the regular season. March 6th will be trade deadline day. When the Blues take the ice in San Jose, how will the team look? Will there be some new faces? Could Bowen Byram find his way to the Blues? We will know for sure by puck drop of this game.
Blues fans will get to welcome the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin for the first time since the legend scored his 895th goal. By this time, we expect Ovechkin to have scored his 900th goal. Any goal Ovi scores during this game will extend his record for most all-time goals. Blues fans will get to see a legend at work, but hope to see the home team pick up two more points.
The Blues will play three games in a row against Central Division teams. This includes the final matchup of the season with the Jets. Furthermore, the Blues will play two games against the Colorado Avalanche. The two teams met late in the previous season. The Blues won to extend their winning streak to 12 games.
The division is expected to be tight this year. Even if the Blues are not in contention for the division title, they should be fighting for a playoff spot and possibly even home ice in the first round. These three games will be important.
For the second season in a row, the Blues end their season against Utah. Unlike last season, the game will be in Utah.
Last season, the Blues cruised to victory to clinch a playoff spot. Will they have a spot clinched by then this season? Will they still be fighting for one? Could Utah be playing a meaningful game? This is a significant game for both teams.
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