2023-24 NHL Season Schedule & Tickets
It seems like just yesterday that the Vegas Golden Knights were lifting the Stanley Cup. We’re now just a few short weeks from the start of the 2023-24 NHL season. While the NHL season schedule has long been released, it’s time to take a close look at it. That means understanding the key dates, biggest games, and everything else fans need to know about the upcoming season, including how they can find the best deals on NHL tickets. With that said, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming 2023-24 NHL season.
Season Begins – October 10
The 2023-24 NHL season officially opens on October 10. The league has a triple-header lined up that day to kick things off. The puck drops with a matinee between the Tampa Bay Lightning, winners of two of the last four Stanley Cups, against the Nashville Predators. Next, the top overall pick in this year’s draft, Connor Bedard, is expected to make his NHL debut when he and the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. The triple-header concludes when the Las Vegas Golden Knights raise their championship banner and begin their defense of the Stanley Cup by hosting the Seattle Kraken.
Heritage Classic – October 29
Hockey fans had to go without the Heritage Classic last season, but it’s back this year and scheduled for October 29. Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, which is typically used for CFL games, will host the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames. This game will decide Alberta’s bragging rights, at least for the first part of the season.
Global Series in Sweden – November 16-19
In November, the NHL will go abroad – at least a few terms are going overseas. Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, will host four games in four nights. On November 16, the Detroit Red Wings will face the Ottawa Senators. The next night, the Red Wings battle the Toronto Maple Leafs. On Saturday, November 18, the Senators are in action again against the Minnesota Wild. Finally, the Wild play the Maple Leafs on November 19 to wrap up this year’s Global Series.
Winter Classic – January 1
As usual, the NHL will get the spotlight on New Year’s Day with the Winter Classic, which is played outdoors. The reigning Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights are involved in this year’s Winter Classic. In a rematch of their opening-night game, the Knights will play the Kraken in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, which is the home field of the Seattle Mariners.
All-Star Weekend – February 2-3
The NHL’s best players will be on display during all-star weekend on February 2 and 3. The festivities begin on Friday, February 2, with the All-Star Game being played on Saturday, February 3. This year, Scotiabank Arena in Toronto has the honor of hosting All-Star Weekend.
Stadium Series – February 17-18
Just a couple of weeks after the All-Star Game, the NHL heads back outside. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host games on back-to-back days. On Saturday, the New Jersey Devils will face the Philadelphia Flyers in a bitter rivalry game. It’ll be the same story on Sunday, February 18, when the Rangers and the Islanders, New York’s two franchises, square off in New Jersey against one another in front of what will surely be a packed outdoor audience.
Final Day of Regular Season – April 18
The fun of the NHL regular season officially comes to an end on Thursday, April 18. If there are any playoff spots yet to be decided, they will be known by the end of the night. There are six games on the schedule for that night, with the Blackhawks and Golden Knights being the last two teams to drop the puck during the regular season.
Stanley Cup Playoffs Begin
Of course, once the regular season ends, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin in short order. There is no official date for the start of the playoffs. However, there is likely to only be a short break between the end of the regular season and the first playoff game. As hockey fans know, the real fun begins when the playoffs start. It is weeks of madness and high-pressure games, the likes of which can’t be matched by any other pro sports league.
Best Way to Get NHL Tickets
Whether it’s the regular season or the playoffs, the best advice for buying NHL tickets is to be patient. Of course, if fans have their heart set on going to a specific game and need to make travel plans ahead of time, it’s okay to occasionally buy tickets far in advance. However, to get the best deals on NHL tickets, it’s always good to wait. When buying tickets on the secondary market, the best deals are usually found close to the date of the game, including the day of the game. The closer it gets to game time, the more eager ticket holders who can’t make it to the game are to sell tickets that won’t be used. Therefore, prices start to drop, allowing fans to buy tickets at the last minute to get some amazing deals on NHL tickets.