The New York Islanders are looking forward to the start of their 2025-26 season
The path for New York is busy early, road-heavy in the middle, and home-friendly down the stretch. Here’s the clean, schedule-first look fans wanted.
October: opening split and early Metro tests
Oct 9: Season opener at Pittsburgh.
Oct 11–13: UBS debut vs Washington, matinee vs Winnipeg.
Five of the last seven games are on the road, including at Boston (Oct 28) and at Carolina (Oct 30).
First rivalry trip hits Philadelphia (Oct 25), Boston (Oct 28), Carolina (Oct 30), Washington (Oct 31) in a tight, travel-heavy run.
November: longest road swing, then home comfort
Start with a three-game homestand (Columbus Nov 2, Boston Nov 4, Minnesota Nov 7).
A demanding five-game Western road trip: at Vegas (Nov 13), Utah (Nov 14), Colorado (Nov 16), Dallas (Nov 18), Detroit (Nov 20).
Return for a pivotal home block before U.S. Thanksgiving: St. Louis (Nov 22), Seattle (Nov 23), Boston (Nov 26), Philadelphia (Nov 28), Washington (Nov 30).
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December: holiday hockey and Coastal hops
Quality Eastern tests at UBS: Tampa Bay (Dec 2), Colorado (Dec 4), Vegas (Dec 9), Anaheim (Dec 11), Tampa Bay matinee (Dec 13).
Quick road pair to Florida: at Lightning (Dec 6), at Panthers (Dec 7).
Festive stretch: New Jersey (Dec 23), rivalry vs Rangers (Dec 27), then at Columbus (Dec 28) and at Chicago (Dec 30).
January: New Year at home, then Pacific push
Jan 1: Holiday matinee vs Utah.
Jan 3: Marquee vs Toronto.
A six-game, eight-day Western swing: at Nashville (Jan 8), Minnesota (Jan 10), Winnipeg (Jan 13), Edmonton (Jan 15), Calgary (Jan 17), Vancouver (Jan 19).
Cap the month with TV-spotlight dates: vs Rangers (Jan 28), then at Rangers (Jan 29), followed by vs Nashville (Jan 31).
February: short slate before Olympic Pause
Quick Mid-Atlantic run: at Washington (Feb 2), vs Pittsburgh on TNT (Feb 3), at New Jersey (Feb 5).
Light schedule resumes Feb 26 at Montreal and Feb 28 at Columbus to re-ramp before the stretch drive.
March: long miles, playoff pace
Pacific trip: at Anaheim (Mar 4), at Los Angeles (Mar 5), at San Jose (Mar 7).
Central visit and TNT tilt: at St. Louis (Mar 10).
Important home cluster at UBS: vs Kings (Mar 13), Calgary (Mar 14), Columbus (Mar 22), Chicago (Mar 24), Dallas (Mar 26), Florida matinee (Mar 28), Pittsburgh (Mar 30).
One-day dash to Buffalo closes the month (Mar 31).
April: home-heavy finish at UBS
Four of the final six are on Long Island: Philadelphia (Apr 3), Toronto (Apr 9), Ottawa matinee (Apr 11), Montreal (Apr 12), Carolina (Apr 14) with only at Carolina (Apr 4) in the first week.
The layout favors a late push, with three straight at home to close the year.
Key dates to circle
Home opener: Oct 11 vs Washington.
Rivalry spotlight: Dec 27 vs Rangers; national TV Jan 28 vs Rangers.
Western grinder: Nov 13–20 five-game trip; Jan 8–21 six-game trip.
Holiday games at UBS: Nov 28 vs Philadelphia, Jan 1 vs Utah.
Closing kick: Apr 9 vs Toronto, Apr 11 vs Ottawa, Apr 12 vs Montreal, Apr 14 vs Carolina.
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