NHL Season Opens With Rangers-Penguins Showdown

The NHL will kick off its 2025-26 season on October 7 with the New York Rangers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden, with the game airing at 8 p.m. on ESPN. This marks Mike Sullivan's debut as Rangers head coach against his former team, the Penguins, who are now led by Dan Muse, a former Rangers assistant. The night will also feature the Florida Panthers raising their Stanley Cup banner before facing the Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche playing the LA Kings. Coaching changes add intrigue, with Sullivan facing his former players and Muse returning as a rival. The Rangers will play their first game without Chris Kreider since 2012-13, following his offseason trade to the Anaheim Ducks. The complete NHL schedule will be released on Wednesday.