The New York Islanders released their schedule for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, with puck drop for the campaign less than three months away. The team will open the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 9, with their home opener two nights later on Oct. 11 against the Washington Capitals.
Among other matchups on the team’s schedule are returns, rivalry matchups, and more. First, a pair of former Islanders will return to UBS Arena in forward Brock Nelson and defenseman Noah Dobson. Nelson and the Colorado Avalanche visit Long Island on Dec. 4, and Dobson and the Canadiens venture to Elmont on April 12.
In rivalry matchups, the Islanders will face the New York Rangers four times this season, starting at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 8. The Islanders host the Rangers on Dec. 27 before a home-and-home between the two clubs on Jan. 28 and 29. Also on the docket are four games against the tri-state rival New Jersey Devils, with trips to the Garden State on Nov. 10 and Feb. 5 and visits from New Jersey on Dec. 23 and Jan. 6.
Other notable matchups include three against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, starting at Amerant Bank Arena on Dec. 7; the Islanders will host the Panthers twice in March.
The schedule also includes a pair of seven-game road trips in November and January. November’s trip, running from Nov. 8-20, takes the team to both tri-state venues. It is followed by contests with the Vegas Golden Knights, the newly named Utah Mammoth, the Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings.
January’s trip features stops in the Midwest and Western Canada. The Islanders will start against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 8 before visiting the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Seattle Kraken until Jan. 21.
The team will visit California from March 4-7, facing the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks. After a brief stay against the St. Louis Blues, the Islanders will head home.
The Islanders will have a break from Feb. 8-25 with the NHL’s return to the Olympics, before returning to action on the road against the Canadiens. Also notable is that most weekend home start times are moving earlier. The latest weekend games start on the calendar are 7 p.m. ET, with 10 afternoon or early evening starts on the initial release.
The full schedule can be found here.
