New Jersey Devils Will Host Philadelphia Flyers for Home Opener as NHL Expands to 84 Games
The complete upcoming NHL regular season schedule will be available in the next few hours. But, fans were treated to home openers and got confirmation of the upcoming season’s total games. One matchup caught our eye though. On Tuesday it was announced that the New Jersey Devils will host the Philadelphia Flyers for their home opener as the NHL expands to 84 games.
The last time New Jersey opened the season against Philly was in 2022-23. The Devils dropped that one 5-2, but we all know how that season turned out. That season saw the Devils clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2018 following a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on March 25, 2023.
It was also the superstar season for Jack Hughes. Hughes broke the Devils all-time franchise points record for one season, beating Patrik Elias’s mark from 22 years ago. Not even Taylor Hall’s MVP season was better than Elias’s 97 points from 2000-01. Hughes blew past it and almost became the first Devils player with 100 points.
So then, maybe starting the upcoming season again hosting Philadelphia might contribute to some positive vibes for the Devils. However, next season the Devils will actually play in two season openers. According to New Jersey Devils reporter, Amanda Stein; “ The Devils will also be a part of one other Home Opener, other than their own, this season. Two nights after opening Prudential Center on Oct. 1, NJ will be at UBS Arena on Long Island as the opponent in the Islanders’ home opener.”
In other New Jersey news, head coach Sheldon Keefe has completed his New Jersey Devils coaching staff. A staff can make or break a team, so decisions must be made with care. Nonetheless, Ted Donato, who spent the past 22 years as HC at Harvard, has joined Keefe’s staff as an assistant.
Furthermore, AJ MacLean makes the jump from assistant to Tampa’s AHL team to Keefe’s NHL coaching staff. Dan Stewart comes on as goalie coach from the St. Louis system. And lastly, Leo Luongo joins the organization as Director of Goaltending.
New Jersey Devils Will Host Philadelphia Flyers for Home Opener as NHL Expands to 84 Games
The National Hockey League also announced regular season expansion. There will be more games. More hockey to enjoy.
Through their public communications page the league mentions, “The NHL announced today the 2026-27 regular season, expanded to 84 games with the addition of two more divisional contests per team, will open on Tuesday, Sept. 29. In addition, the League announced each team’s home opener.”
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