The Edmonton Oilers are set to commence their 2026-27 NHL season with an 84-game schedule, as announced on Thursday. The season will kick off with a home-and-away series against the Vancouver Canucks, with the first game on September 29 and the second on October 1.
This opening series against the Canucks marks the first of two such matchups in October for the Oilers. Following this, they will face the Utah Mammoth in a home-and-away set on October 15 and 17. The team will then welcome the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes to Rogers Place on October 22, which will be part of their initial extended homestand of the season.
The homestand in October also features a highly anticipated visit from the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 24, followed by the first Battle of Alberta against the Calgary Flames on October 28. Additional games during this period include matchups with the Detroit Red Wings on October 26 and the Minnesota Wild on October 20.
Key Matchups and Homestands
The Oilers‘ longest homestand of the season, spanning eight games, will be divided by the All-Star Break in January and February. This extended period at home includes significant games against the Montreal Canadiens on January 30, the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 13, and the Boston Bruins on February 19.
The team will also undertake two separate six-game road trips to the east. One is scheduled for November, and the other will occur in late December and early January. Their annual trip to New York begins in late October, where they will play back-to-back games against the New York Islanders on October 31 and the New York Rangers on November 1, concluding this trip against the New Jersey Devils on November 3.
A notable game will see new Oilers netminder Frederik Andersen face his former team, the Carolina Hurricanes, for the first time since joining Edmonton. This matchup is scheduled for October 22 at Rogers Place.
The Oilers will also face the Anaheim Ducks on October 7, a team that eliminated them in the first round of the playoffs last season. Another significant game is on December 1 against the Buffalo Sabres, a team that handed the Oilers a substantial loss last season.
Later in the season, the Oilers will host the Dallas Stars on December 17. The Stars swept the three-game season series against Edmonton last year. A road game against the Colorado Avalanche is set for January 26, after the Avalanche had a strong season last year.
On February 3, the Oilers will play against the Vegas Golden Knights, who became Western Conference champions last season. This game will be part of the Oilers‘ eight-game homestand.
Season Conclusion and Scheduling Notes
The latter part of the regular season will see the Oilers play 12 of their final 19 games against Pacific Division opponents. This includes three games against the Calgary Flames, with their last visit to Scotiabank Saddledome on March 23.
The regular season will conclude with a home-and-away series against the Winnipeg Jets on April 7 and April 10. Due to potential changes in the application of year-round Daylight Saving Time across various jurisdictions in the NHL, all game start times, both home and away, are subject to change.
The Vancouver Canucks‘ schedule, also released on Thursday, features an 84-game slate for the first time in over 30 years, with their season also beginning in September. This marks the first time in franchise history that Vancouver will start its season in September.
The Canucks have nine home games scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. next season, with the first on November 21 against the Minnesota Wild. Additionally, five road contests for Vancouver are currently set to start at 8 p.m. Vancouver time. The Canucks will close their regular season on April 10 against the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
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Source: nhl.com
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
