NHL expands to 84 games; Panthers open season against Hurricanes
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 15, 2026, 6:01 PM
Last updated Jul 15, 2026
The NHL will expand to an 84-game season starting September 29, 2026. The Florida Panthers will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the season opener, where the Hurricanes will raise the Stanley Cup banner for the third consecutive year. The Panthers finished the previous season with a disappointing 40-38-4 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The addition of two divisional matchups per team accounts for the extra games. Florida’s home opener is scheduled for October 10 against the Minnesota Wild.
- •NHL season starts on September 29, 2026
- •Panthers visit Hurricanes in season opener
- •Hurricanes raise Stanley Cup banner
- •Panthers finished last season with 40-38-4 record
- •Home opener for Panthers on October 10 against Wild
- 6:01 PMYahoo Sports — Florida Panthers, NHL expand to 84 games, open vs. Stanley Cup champs
"The NHL is expanding to an 84 game season starting September 29 as the Florida Panthers reunite the Tkachuk brothers.
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