Connor McDavid’s revenge tour: Edmonton Oilers’ 2025-26 gauntlet and key dates

Rodney Knuppel

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Connor McDavid’s revenge tour: Edmonton Oilers’ 2025-26 gauntlet and key dates image

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers have revenge on their mind heading into the 2025-26 season.

Edmonton’s path is heavy on statement nights and long stretches away from home. It starts with a rivalry pop at home, takes a quick sprint through the East, and keeps delivering marquee showdowns deep into spring.

Early tone setters

Oct 8 vs Flames – Battle of Alberta to open the season in front of a charged crowd.
Oct 11 vs Canucks – First look at a Pacific foe trying to steal points in Edmonton.
Oct 14-21 at Rangers/Islanders/Devils/Red Wings/Senators – Five-game Eastern swing in eight days. That trip will test the penalty kill, depth scoring, and travel legs right away.

Home stand to bank points

Late October into mid November brings a friendlier stretch at Rogers Place:

Oct 23 vs Canadiens, Oct 28 vs Utah, Oct 30 vs Rangers, Nov 1 vs Blackhawks
Nov 8 vs Avalanche – heavyweight tilt with pace all over the ice
Nov 10 vs Blue Jackets – classic “don’t slip” spot between contenders

Handle business here and the standings look fine even if the first road run stings a bit.

MORE: MacKinnon, Makar and the Avs’ 2025-26 road map starts in LA

National windows and rivalry spice

Dec 13 at Maple Leafs and Dec 14 at Canadiens – back-to-back in Canada’s media glare.
Dec 21 vs Golden Knights – playoff tempo in December.
Dec 31 vs Bruins – New Year’s Eve at home, quality barometer for special teams.
Jan 3 vs Flyers, Jan 6 vs Predators – quick reset into the new year.

The big January pulse

A dense run of 10 games from Jan 8-31, mostly at home:

Jan 10 vs Kings – measuring stick for cycle play and forecheck detail.
Jan 15 vs Rangers, Jan 20 vs Devils, Jan 22 vs Penguins, Jan 24 vs Capitals
Jan 31 vs Wild – close the month with volume minutes for the bottom six.

If Edmonton owns this block, the Pacific race tilts their way.

Olympic pause and the sprint back

The league pauses Feb 6-24. Edmonton returns with a California trip:

Feb 25 at Ducks, Feb 26 at Kings, Feb 28 at Sharks

Then it’s a run of showcase nights back home:

Mar 3 vs Senators, Mar 6 vs Hurricanes
Mar 8 at Golden Knights, Mar 10 at Avalanche, Mar 12 at Stars, Mar 13 at Blues

That five-game road swing through Vegas, Denver, Dallas, and St. Louis is the toughest week on the board.

Circle these can’t-miss games

Mar 19 vs Panthers – first visit from the back-to-back champs this season and a perfect playoff rehearsal.
Mar 21 vs Lightning – star power, speed, and a goalie test.
Mar 26 at Golden Knights – divisional leverage.
Apr 4 vs Golden Knights – potential seeding decider.
Apr 13 vs Avalanche – late-season classic with pace and elite skill.
Apr 16 vs Canucks – finale with possible Pacific title stakes.

What the season looks like

Win opening week, take three of five on that first Eastern trip, and protect the big January homestand. After the Olympic break, split the brutal Vegas–Avs–Stars–Blues road set and cash in at home against Florida and Tampa Bay. Do that, and Connor McDavid’s chase for another scoring crown will come packaged with a division banner and home ice in round one.

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Rodney Knuppel

Rodney Knuppel is a freelance writer for The Sporting News. When not watching, listening or writing about sports, Rodney enjoys following the travels of his three kids, who are all active in their own sports and activities. A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, Rodney also enjoys St. Louis Blues hockey and is a big Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan.