NHL extends regular season to 84 games as Panthers open campaign against Hurricanes

The National Hockey League has confirmed a structural adjustment to its competition format for the 2026-27 season, expanding the regular schedule from 82 to 84 games. The additional fixtures consist of two extra divisional matchups for each club, necessitating an earlier commencement date of 29 September 2026 to accommodate the increased workload.

The opening round of the expanded season will see the Florida Panthers travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to face the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes, who are the defending Stanley Cup champions, will host the Panthers for their home opener on 29 September. During this fixture, Carolina will raise a Stanley Cup banner to the rafters, marking their third consecutive title following victories in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

The Panthers enter the new campaign following a difficult 2025-26 season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018-19. Finishing seventh in the Atlantic Division with 84 points, the team recorded a 40-38-4 regular season record. The club aims to reverse this trend by fielding a roster featuring the reunited Tkachuk brothers.

Brady Tkachuk officially joined the Panthers from the Ottawa Senators on 21 June, reuniting with his brother Matthew. Matthew Tkachuk recorded 13 goals and 21 assists in 31 games for Florida during the previous season, while Brady Tkachuk contributed 29 goals and 26 assists in 72 games for Ottawa. Both players were instrumental in securing the United States' gold medal in ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

In addition to the season opener against Carolina, the Panthers will face the San Jose Sharks on 1 October for their second new divisional fixture. The team’s home opener is scheduled for 10 October at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, against the Minnesota Wild. Tickets for the home kickoff start at $190, according to StubHub.