Each NHL team's season-opening game is staggered across the first handful of days of the campaign, and Thursday includes the first regular-season action for 10 clubs.
Whether it's an exciting young rookie, a familiar face in a new place, or an iconic new goaltender mask, there's something for all fans in these contests.
Thursday night is also an occasion where it pays to have multiple devices and an ESPN+ subscription, with eight games on the slate. Here's what to watch in each of them:
Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 ET (ESPN+) | CBJ -115, O/U: 6.5
The Sabres ended the NHL's longest postseason drought last season -- and won a round when they got there, for good measure. The Blue Jackets have not played any playoff hockey in six seasons, but have come close recently. Can they their fortunes around? And for those who like to watch elite defensemen, you're in luck: reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski and Norris finalist Rasmus Dahlin will be playing heavy minutes in this one.
Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils
7 ET (Disney+/ESPN+/Hulu) | NJ -142, O/U: 5.5
Following Tuesday's Battle of Pennsylvania showdown against the Penguins (a 7-0 loss), the Flyers take on their I-95 rivals in North Jersey. Despite the NHL's divisional playoff format, the two teams have met just twice in the postseason since 2005; the Flyers won 4-1 in the 2010 conference quarterfinals and the Devils won 4-1 in the 2012 conference semifinals. In each of those years, the team that won the matchup lost in the Stanley Cup Final.
Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers
7 ET (ESPN+) | TB -142, O/U: 5.5
After a 3-0 loss to the Bruins in their season opener, the Rangers will look to get on track in their home opener at Madison Square Garden. The Lightning's last trip to MSG (Nov. 29, 2025) resulted in a 4-1 win, although they no longer have the services of Darren Raddysh, who had three helpers in that game but was traded to Toronto this summer.
Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators
8 ET (ESPN+) | MIN -142, O/U: 6.5
Back in the 2026 Olympics, Sweden and Finland squared off in the latest best-on-best duel between international hockey powers. Finland took that round 4-1, backstopped by Juuse Saros, who is the likely starter for the Preds in their season opener. While Sweden's goalie from that game -- Filip Gustavsson -- won't be available for this contest due to injury, his Minnesota creasemate Jesper Wallstedt was also on that Swedish roster, so perhaps he'll be out for some extra revenge in this tilt.
Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames
9 ET (ESPN+) | CGY -115, O/U: 5.5
Expectations are on the lower side for both of these teams as the season begins, but given the state of the Pacific Division there could be room for one of them to surprise. Of particular note on the Flames side are Matvei Gridin -- who has all the makings of a future superstar -- and Simon Nemec, who arrived this summer with designs on a much larger role than he had in the Devils' defensive logjam.
Chicago Blackhawks at Utah Mammoth
9:30 ET (Disney+/ESPN+/Hulu) | UTA -192, O/U: 5.5
The Mammoth have two rising American stars on their roster in Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley. The Blackhawks have one of the best American players ever in Patrick Kane -- who scored a goal in Tuesday's season opener for Chicago, and made his NHL debut on Oct. 4, 2007. Keller was nine at that time, while Cooley was three.
Beyond that "make everyone feel old" fact, this game will be a good barometer for the Blackhawks as they climb back into the ranks of legitimate contention, as the Mammoth gave the Stanley Cup Finalist Golden Knights a tough series this past postseason.
Florida Panthers at San Jose Sharks
10 ET (ESPN+) | FLA -135, O/U: 6.5
The Panthers are the second oldest NHL roster this season -- the 30.48 average years of age on their opening night roster is just shy of the Los Angeles Kings' 31.13, according to Elite Prospects -- while the Sharks have the fourth youngest, at 26.29. And San Jose can also boast the NHL's youngest captain, 20-year-old Macklin Celebrini, whose meteoric rise in 2025-26 included a star-making turn at the Olympics and setting the franchise single-season scoring record.
Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks
10 ET (ESPN+) | EDM -198, O/U: 6.5
It's far too early to declare a "shock of the season," but Vancouver's win over Edmonton on Tuesday is certainly an early contender, given expectations for both teams. It was also an entertaining tilt for those who remember the high-scoring Smythe Division shootouts of decades past. Will either team tighten things up, or are fans in for another offensive onslaught?
Reminder: Fans can catch all of the action in the NHL streaming hub and on the ESPN App.
Jump ahead:
Top NHL stories
Last night's scores
NHL stats leaders
Today in hockey history
Top stories around the NHL
Here's what you need to know:
Greg Wyshynski predicts the future for all 32 teams with his full standings predictions.
Emily Kaplan runs down all the big storylines across the NHL for opening week.
The ESPN family of reporters, analysts and broadcasters made their picks for division winners, the Stanley Cup and all the major awards.
Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton went deep with all the intel you need on all 32 teams.
The Avalanche have extended coach Jared Bednar's contract through 2030-31.
Wild defenseman Brock Faber had surgery on his fractured skull, with his return TBD.
The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets swapped Kirill Marchenko for Matthew Knies (with four other players involved).
The Hurricanes and the Avalanche are co-favorites to win the Cup, according to the sportsbooks.
Wednesday's scoreboard
Pittsburgh Penguins 7, Philadelphia Flyers 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 2, New York Islanders 1
Colorado Avalanche 8, Los Angeles Kings 4
NHL scoring leaders
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
NHL goaltending leaders
Click here for the full list of goaltender stats.
Today in hockey history
First-round draft picks are the coin of the realm for big NHL trades, and that's been the case for quite some time.
In fact, on Oct. 1 1981, the Colorado Rockies traded their first-round pick in the 1983 entry draft to the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Bob Lorimer and forward Dave Cameron.
The Rockies would relocate -- becoming the New Jersey Devils -- prior to the 1982-83 season, and the pick wound up being No. 3 overall.
The player selected by the Isles? Verdun Juniors center Pat LaFontaine, who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career.
