The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 9 in their home opener to the 2025-26 season.
That contest was announced via social media Wednesday morning. Later in the afternoon, the entire schedule for the NHL’s season was revealed.
Earlier in the week, the league announced the Penguins would open the season with a road contest against the New York Rangers, led by former Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan.
In the Penguins’ third game, they will host Sullivan and the Rangers on Oct. 11.
Other games and dates of note:
• Early in the season, the Penguins will embark on a three-game road trip through California against the Anaheim Ducks (Oct. 14), Los Angeles Kings (Oct. 16) and San Jose Sharks (Oct. 18).
• The most notable dates on the schedule were previously announced this past March. A pair of neutral-site games against the Nashville Predators will be staged in Stockholm on Nov. 14 and 15.
• A traditional Thanksgiving “eve” home contest will be held Nov. 26 against the Buffalo Sabres.
• A season-high five-game homestand will unfold in mid-December against the Ducks (Dec. 9), Montreal Canadiens (Dec. 11), Sharks (Dec. 13), Utah Mammoth (Dec. 14) and Edmonton Oilers (Dec. 16).
• The Penguins will welcome the new year Jan. 1 with a home contest against the Detroit Red Wings.
• Another swing through in the western portion of the continent will be in mid-January with road games against the Seattle Kraken (Jan. 19), Calgary Flames (Jan. 21), Oilers (Jan. 22) and Vancouver Canucks (Jan. 25).
• After a road game against the Sabres on Feb. 5, the Penguins will be idle for three weeks as the NHL participates in the Olympics. They will return to the ice with a home contest against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 26.
• In March, the Penguins will embark on a season-high five-game road trip over significant portions of the country that begins and ends in the same place. They will face the Carolina Hurricanes (March 10), Vegas Golden Knights (March 12), Mammoth (March 14), Colorado Avalanche (March 16) and, once again, the Hurricanes (March 18).
• A rare regular season “series” will take place April 4 and 5 when the Penguins host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on consecutive days.
• After a home-and-home series against the Washington Capitals (home on April 11 and road on April 12), the Penguins will conclude the regular season with a road contest against the St. Louis Blues on April 14.
