When does the NHL regular season start? Opening games, schedule, dates for all 32 teams entering 2024-25

Bryan Murphy

When does the NHL regular season start? Opening games, schedule, dates for all 32 teams entering 2024-25 image

The ice is almost ready, folks. 

There is less than a week away from hockey officially returning to action, as the 2024-25 NHL regular season is on the horizon.

It seems like just yesterday the Panthers and the Oilers were battling it out in a winner-take-all Game 7 in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Florida emerged victorious in the contest, winning the franchise its first championship, while avenging the 2023 Stanley Cup Final loss to Vegas. 

Now the Panthers embark on the months-long quest to get back to the big dance, but they aren't the only ones. There are 31 clubs in the league all once again with their eyes on Lord Stanley. 

From Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard, to Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby, the stars are once again about to shine on the ice, as the NHL season gets ready to commence. 

MORE: Watch the NHL on ESPN with Fubo

Here's a breakdown of the NHL's first week of the season.

When does the 2024-25 NHL season start?

  • NHL season start date: Tuesday, Oct. 8
  • NHL season end date: Thursday, April 17

This year's NHL campaign begins on Tuesday, Oct. 8, with three games on the slate for opening night. 

The regular season is scheduled to wrap up on Thursday, April 17. Not every team will be in action, as there are only six games scheduled on that day. 

Technically, the first regular season games will take place Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 as a part of the NHL Global Series. The Sabres and Devils are playing two games on Friday and Saturday in Prague, Czechia at the O2 Arena. While preseason play is still going on for the rest of the league, those two games count toward the regular season for Buffalo and New Jersey. 

What games are on national TV in the first week?

The NHL kicks off the 2024-25 season with a triple header on ESPN. The first game on the docket is a matchup between the Blues and the Kraken in Seattle.

The headliner is the Stanley Cup champions enjoying their banner-raising ceremony in Sunrise. The Panthers welcome the Bruins down to South Florida in a rematch of the 2024 second-round matchup. Florida knocked Boston out of the past two playoffs, building plenty of bad blood for the opener. 

Wrapping up ESPN's trio of games will be Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks taking on Utah, the new franchise in place of the Coyotes. 

The next night, TNT will have a doubleheader on its channel. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins host the Rangers in a Metro Division matchup on prime time. Ending the night is Nathan MacKinnon and the high-flying Avalanche taking on the Golden Knights in Las Vegas. 

Here is the national TV schedule for the first week of games. 

DateMatchupTimeTV Channel
Tuesday, Oct. 8Blues at Kraken4:30 p.m.ESPN
Tuesday, Oct. 8Bruins at Panthers7 p.m.ESPN
Tuesday, Oct. 8Blackhawks at Utah10 p.m.ESPN
Wednesday, Oct. 9Rangers at Penguins7:30 p.m. TNT
Wednesday, Oct. 9Avalanche at Golden Knights10 p.m.TNT

NHL 2024-25 opening week schedule 

Here is how the first week of the NHL season shapes up. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8

MatchupTime (ET)
Blues at Kraken4:30 p.m.
Bruins at Panthers7 p.m.
Blackhawks at Utah10 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 9

MatchupTime (ET)
Maple Leafs at Canadiens7 p.m.
Rangers at Penguins7:30 p.m.
Jets at Oilers10 p.m.
Flames at Canucks10 p.m.
Avalanche at Golden Knights10 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 10

MatchupTime (ET)
Canadiens at Bruins7 p.m.
Kings at Sabres7 p.m.
Panthers at Senators7 p.m.
Penguins at Red Wings7 p.m.
Maple Leafs at Devils7 p.m.
Utah at Islanders7:30 p.m.
Stars at Predators8 p.m.
Blue Jackets at Wild8 p.m.
Blues at Sharks10:25 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 11

Matchup Time (ET)
Lightning at Hurricanes7 p.m.
Blackhawks at Jets8 p.m.
Flyers at Canucks10 p.m.
Blues at Golden Knights10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 12

MatchupTime (ET)
Kings at Bruins1 p.m.
Panthers at Sabres7 p.m.
Penguins at Maple Leafs7 p.m.
Senators at Canadiens7 p.m.
Predators at Red Wings7 p.m.
Hurricanes at Lightning7 p.m.
Utah at Rangers7 p.m.
Devils at Capitals7 p.m.
Islanders at Stars8 p.m.
Kraken at Wild8 p.m.
Blue Jackets at Avalanche9 p.m.
Flyers at Flames10 p.m.
Blackhawks at Oilers10 p.m.
Ducks at Sharks10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 13

Matchup Time (ET)
Wild at Jets6 p.m.
Kraken at Stars8 p.m.
Flames at Oilers8 p.m.
Ducks at Golden Knights10 p.m.

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Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.