The 2026-27 NHL season is already underway, bringing yet another year of marquee rivalries, outdoor hockey and some of the biggest stars in the sport to arenas across North America and beyond.
This season brings even more reason to get to the rink, with Alex Ovechkin recently announcing that 2026-27 will be his final NHL season, giving fans across the league one last opportunity to see the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer in action. Meanwhile, the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will look to repeat, outdoor hockey returns with the Heritage Classic, Winter Classic and Stadium Series, and the NHL heads overseas for international games in Finland and Germany.
NHL interest is already surging on StubHub, with daily searches for the Capitals jumping more than 15x following Ovechkin’s retirement announcement. From marquee matchups to can’t-miss moments, here’s what hockey fans should have on their radar and what you need to know to catch them live.
1. Ovechkin’s Final Home Game (Apr. 4, Capital One Arena)
Alex Ovechkin’s final regular-season home game could also deliver one last chapter in one of hockey’s defining rivalries, with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins visiting Washington on Apr. 4. For Capitals fans, though, the bigger draw is the chance to see the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer take the ice at home one final time.
On StubHub, interest in Ovechkin’s farewell is already building. Since his retirement announcement on October 5, the Capitals’ final home game against Pittsburgh and regular-season finale in Philadelphia have quickly emerged as two of the biggest dates on Washington’s remaining schedule, as fans look to secure their chance to see the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer one last time.
What to know before you buy: A final home game against longtime rival Pittsburgh gives this farewell even more significance. Fans hoping to see Ovechkin take the ice in Washington one last time should plan ahead, especially if seat selection matters.
2. A Stanley Cup Final Rematch (Dec. 21)
After battling for the Stanley Cup last June, the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights meet again on Dec. 21 for the first time this regular season in Las Vegas, before the series shifts to Carolina on Jan. 17. The two matchups give Vegas a shot at some revenge, while the defending champion Hurricanes look to pick up where they left off.
What to know before you buy: Interest in this season’s Hurricanes-Golden Knights matchups is building well ahead of puck drop. Following their Stanley Cup Final showdown last June, fans are moving early to see the two teams meet again, with both regular-season games seeing strong ticket sales months before they take the ice.
3. NHL All-Star Weekend Returns (Feb 5-6, UBS Arena)
After a two-year hiatus, NHL All-Star Weekend returns in 2027 with a new look, and a return to Long Island for the first time in nearly 50 years. UBS Arena will host the league’s biggest stars for two days of action, beginning with the NHL All-Star Skills competition on Friday before the All-Star Game takes center stage Saturday.
This year also brings an international twist. Instead of the traditional All-Star format, players will represent Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a World team in a five-team, 3-on-3 tournament, giving fans a preview of international rivalries with some of the NHL’s biggest names sharing the ice.
What to know before you buy: Winter Classic demand can behave differently from a standard NHL game because of the scale of the venue and the destination-event component. Fans traveling to Salt Lake City should consider the full experience, including seat location in a football stadium, rather than simply shopping by price.
4. Outdoor Hockey Returns to Canada (2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic, Oct. 25, Princess Auto Stadium)
The Heritage Classic returns for the first time since 2023, with the Winnipeg Jets hosting the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 25 outdoors at Princess Auto Stadium. The matchup marks the NHL’s return to one of its signature outdoor traditions and gives two Canadian fan bases the chance to experience regular-season hockey on one of the league’s biggest stages.
What to know before you buy: Outdoor games offer more inventory and greater variation in sightlines than a typical arena matchup, making seat location an important consideration. With the 2023 Heritage Classic generating roughly a third of its sales in the final 18 days, there could still be significant movement as game day approaches.
5. Hockey Heads Overseas – NHL Global Series Finland (Nov. 12 & Nov. 14, Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki)
Carolina’s title defense goes international this season, with the defending champion Hurricanes facing the Kraken twice at Helsinki’s Veikkaus Arena. The trip carries extra meaning for Carolina, whose Finnish stars get the rare opportunity to play NHL games in front of fans back home. It’s part of a four-game European slate this season and gives fans in Finland their first NHL regular-season games in Helsinki since 2018.
What to know before you buy: Unlike a typical road game, the two-game set gives fans two opportunities to see the same matchup. Comparing availability and prices across Nov. 12 and Nov. 14 could give buyers more flexibility, particularly those building a trip around the games.
6. The Winter Classic (Dec. 31, Rice-Eccles Stadium)
Utah takes center stage this New Year’s Eve, as the Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche in Salt Lake City’s first-ever Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The matchup will also mark Colorado’s first appearance in the Winter Classic, adding a divisional rivalry to one of the NHL’s marquee annual events and setting the stage for a memorable night of outdoor hockey.
What to know before you buy: Winter Classic demand can behave differently from a standard NHL game because of the scale of the venue and the destination-event component. Fans traveling to Salt Lake City should consider the full experience, including seat location in a football stadium, rather than simply shopping by price.
7. NHL’s Young Stars Take Over Germany (Dec. 18 & Dec. 20, PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf)
Tim Stützle gets a rare NHL homecoming this season, leading the Senators into Düsseldorf for a two-game set against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks. With two of the league’s brightest young stars sharing the ice at PSD Bank Dome, the series gives German fans a unique chance to see NHL action up close while spotlighting the league’s growing presence in the country.
What to know before you buy: Stützle playing at home, Bedard coming to town and only two NHL games in Germany all season make this a hot ticket. Fans hoping to be there should buy early rather than bank on more options opening up closer to game day.
8. A Texas-Sized Night of Outdoor Hockey (Feb. 20, AT&T Stadium)
Outdoor hockey returns to Texas on one of the biggest stages in sports, as the Stars and Golden Knights take over AT&T Stadium. The matchup marks just the second NHL outdoor game hosted in the state, following the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl, which drew more than 85,000 fans. This time, two Western Conference rivals meet in Cowboys country, with Vegas making its third outdoor appearance and Dallas getting another chance to take the game outside in front of its home fans.
What to know before you buy: AT&T Stadium offers far more inventory than a typical NHL arena, but outdoor hockey makes seat location especially important. Compare sections and sightlines alongside price, as the most affordable ticket may not offer the best experience.
One Last Chance to See Ovechkin on the Road
The five most in-demand Ovechkin road games on StubHub:
How to Buy NHL Tickets This Season
NHL interest is already building on StubHub, with search demand up nearly 35% year-over-year since the schedule release. From Ovechkin’s farewell season to outdoor games and international matchups, some of the season’s biggest moments are already separating themselves from the typical regular-season ticket.
There’s more than one chance to say goodbye to Ovechkin. His final home game and regular-season finale will be the headline dates, but looking earlier in the season can offer more flexibility on dates, seats and price.
Outdoor games give buyers more options. Larger venues mean more inventory but a wider range of experiences, so compare sightlines and proximity to the ice alongside price.
International games come with built-in scarcity. With only a handful of NHL games overseas this season, fans hoping to catch Stützle in Germany or Carolina in Finland should consider buying early for the greatest seat selection.
Marquee events can move late. The 2023 Heritage Classic generated roughly one-third of its sales in the final 18 days, so flexible fans may benefit from tracking tickets on StubHub closer to puck drop.
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