ESPN announces NHL opening night tripleheader

ESPN has announced a tripleheader of NHL games on opening night of the 2026-27 season, scheduled for Tuesday, September 29. The broadcast will begin at 5 p.m. ET with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers, preceded by a banner-raising ceremony for the defending champion Hurricanes. The matchup features the last three Stanley Cup champions, as Florida won back-to-back titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25 before Carolina claimed the most recent championship.