The NHL has unveiled the schedule for the opening night of the 2025-26 season, set for Monday. The Florida Panthers will start by raising their second consecutive Stanley Cup banner against the Chicago Blackhawks. Following that, the Pittsburgh Penguins will visit New York to face the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The night will conclude with a showdown between the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings. All matches will be broadcast on ESPN on Tuesday, October 7th.
Notably, this will mark the second consecutive season in which the Penguins open against the Rangers. In the 2024-25 opener at PPG Paints Arena, the Rangers dominated with a 6-0 victory, effectively sealing the game by netting three goals in the first period. This year’s matchup carries extra significance because former Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan will face his old team. Sullivan, who led the Penguins to Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017 and made seven playoff appearances, holds the franchise record for most wins and longest tenure as head coach.
Sullivan appeared set to continue as Penguins coach for an 11th season but mutually parted ways with the team on April 28th after a challenging period marked by three straight playoff misses and no playoff series wins since 2018. Penguins President Kyle Dubas highlighted the difficulty of managing a long-tenured coach through tough times, acknowledging Sullivan’s significant contributions.
After firing Peter La Violette for missing the playoffs last season, the Rangers are expected to hire Sullivan as head coach on May 2nd, hoping he can maximize their roster’s potential and return them to playoff contention. Facing his former team so early in the season adds a poetic touch, especially given his successful decade-long stint, which included coaching stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Sullivan revolutionized the Penguins’ style with aggressive offensive forechecking and tight defense. A prime example of his system’s effectiveness was demonstrated in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks, where the Penguins dominated scoring chances and completely stifled the Sharks’ offense in the crucial third period.
Beyond the Sullivan storyline, the Rangers-Penguins rivalry remains intense, particularly after their 2022 playoff series where the Rangers overcame a 3-1 deficit to win in seven games. This season’s fight will miss Penguins nemesis Chris Kreider, who was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. Still, the Rangers boast dangerous players like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, JT Miller, Vincent Trocheck, and Adam Fox.
Though Sullivan won’t receive immediate recognition during the MSG game, Penguins fans can expect a tribute when the Rangers play in Pittsburgh later in the season. The full NHL schedule for 2025-26 will be released on Wednesday.
Fan Take: This opening night sets the stage for an electrifying season, fueled by the intense rivalry between the Penguins and Rangers and the intriguing narrative of Mike Sullivan facing his former team. Hockey fans should be excited as these storylines could shape the future dynamics and competitiveness of the NHL.
