After months of uncertainty, the NHL season is upon us. Beginning Jan. 13, the NHL's 31 teams will kickstart their 56-game sprint for the 2021 season.
This year's schedule brings plenty of intrigue and interesting quirks to the lineup, most notably because of the new divisions and the 8-10 interdivisional-game series that will encompass the season.
Despite 2021 marking the first time Original Six franchises the Bruins and Canadiens won't face each other in the regular season, the season won't disappoint. There will be 10 Battles of Alberta, Zdeno Chara facing the Bruins, and the last two teams left standing in 2019-20 — the Lightning and Stars — battling it out for a divisional playoff spot.
Here's everything you need to know about the NHL's 2021 season openers, including the start date and TV schedules for all 31 teams.
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When does the 2021 NHL season start?
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 13
The regular season kicks off Jan. 13 with five games on the slate and 17 teams making their debuts the next day. On Thursday, two teams were scheduled to play their season opener but the game has been postponed. The Stars announced on Friday that six players and two staffers tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the team's first three games — Jan. 14-15 at the Panthers and Jan. 17 at the Lighting — have been postponed. Dallas will now open the season Jan. 19 at the Lightning.
For now, opening night will showcase the Battle of Pennsylvania, an Original Six meeting and the 2020 Stanley Cup champion Lightning raising their banners. The Lightning were scheduled to have a small number of fans in attendance at the game but on Friday the team announced that Amalie Arena will be closed to the public through, at least, Feb. 5 because of rising coronavirus cases in the area.
NHL TV schedule for 2021 opening night
| TIME (ET) | MATCHUP | TV CHANNEL |
| 5:30 p.m. | Penguins at Flyers | NBCSN, SN1 |
| 7 p.m. | Canadiens at Maple Leafs | SN, TVAS |
| 8 p.m. | Blackhawks at Lightning | NBCSN |
| 10 p.m. | Canucks at Oilers | SN, SN1, TVAS2 |
| 10:30 p.m. | Blues at Avalanche | NBCSN |
NHL 2021 opening game schedule
Here's a list of the season openers for all 31 teams, as well as start times and TV channels.
(All times are Eastern)
| TEAM | MATCHUP | TIME | CHANNEL |
| Anaheim Ducks | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Golden Knights | 10 p.m. | ATTSN-RM |
| Arizona Coyotes | Thurs., Jan. 14 vs. Sharks | 9 p.m. | FS-A |
| Boston Bruins | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Devils | 7 p.m. | MSG+ |
| Buffalo Sabres | Thurs., Jan. 14 vs. Capitals | 7 p.m. | SN360, SNE, SNO, MSG-B, NBCSWA |
| Calgary Flames | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Jets | 8 p.m. | SNW |
| Carolina Hurricanes | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Red Wings | 7:30 p.m. | FS-D, FS-CR |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Wed., Jan. 13 at Lightning | 8 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Colorado Avalanche | Wed., Jan. 13 vs. Blues | 10:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Predators | 8 p.m. | FS-TN |
| Dallas Stars | Tues., Jan. 19 at Lightning | 7 p.m. | SUN |
| Detroit Red Wings | Thurs., Jan. 14 vs. Hurricanes | 7:30 p.m. | FS-D, FS-CR |
| Edmonton Oilers | Wed., Jan. 13 vs. Canucks | 10 p.m. | SN, SN1, TVAS2 |
| Florida Panthers | Sun., Jan. 17 vs. Blackhawks | 7 p.m. | SN, FS-F, NBCSCH |
| Los Angeles Kings | Thurs., Jan. 14 vs. Wild | 10 p.m. | FS-N, FS-WI |
| Minnesota Wild | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Kings | 10 p.m. | FS-N, FS-WI |
| Montreal Canadiens | Wed., Jan. 13 at Maple Leafs | 7 p.m. | SN, TVAS |
| Nashville Predators | Thurs., Jan. 13 vs. Blue Jackets | 8 p.m. | FS-TN |
| New Jersey Devils | Thurs., Jan. 14 vs. Bruins | 7 p.m. | MSG+ |
| New York Islanders | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Rangers | 7 p.m. | MSG, TVAS |
| New York Rangers | Thurs., Jan. 14 vs. Islanders | 7 p.m. | MSG, TVAS |
| Ottawa Senators | Fri., Jan. 15 vs. Maple Leafs | 7 p.m. | TSN5 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Wed., Jan. 13 vs. Penguins | 5:30 p.m. | NBCSN, SN1 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Wed., Jan. 13 at Flyers | 5:30 p.m. | NBCSN, SN1 |
| St. Louis Blues | Wed., Jan. 13 at Avalanche | 10:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| San Jose Sharks | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Coyotes | 9 p.m. | FS-A |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Wed., Jan. 13 vs. Blackhawks | 8 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Wed., Jan. 13 vs. Canadiens | 7 p.m. | SN, TVAS |
| Vancouver Canucks | Wed., Jan. 13 at Oilers | 10 p.m. | SN, SN1, TVAS2 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Thurs., Jan. 14 vs. Ducks | 10 p.m. | ATTSN-RM |
| Washington Capitals | Thurs., Jan. 14 at Sabres | 7 p.m. | SN360, SNE, SNO, MSG-B, NBCSWA |
| Winnipeg Jets | Thurs., Jan. 14 vs. Flames | 8 p.m. | SNW |