Hockey season is officially on the horizon in downtown Newark. The National Hockey League has released the complete schedule for the New Jersey Devils’ 44th season, bringing 41 home contests, signature holiday games, and major division rivalries straight to the heart of the Central Ward at Prudential Center.
The Devils will officially launch their 2026-27 campaign on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7:00 p.m. with their Home Opener Presented by Citizens Bank against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The announcement sets off an action-packed autumn for downtown Newark’s hospitality and small business corridors, which welcome hundreds of thousands of fans, commuters, and families into the neighborhood surrounding Championship Plaza throughout the winter months.
October Kickoff and Home Ice Momentum
The Devils start the year with a heavy dose of home-ice action, playing 14 total games in October, eight of which will take place in Newark. The inaugural month features two separate three-game homestands:
- First Homestand: Kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 6, hosting the Utah Hockey Club.
- Second Homestand: Begins on Tuesday, Oct. 20, welcoming the Colorado Avalanche.
Overall, the schedule boasts 15 weekend home dates in Newark—comprising two Friday night games, nine Saturday matchups, and four Sunday clashes. Seven of these weekend dates are family-friendly matinees scheduled before 5:00 p.m., offering ideal options for youth sports groups and families.
Holiday Traditions at Championship Plaza
Downtown Newark will once again serve as a premier regional gathering place following the Thanksgiving holiday. The Devils will host a marquee back-to-back homestand at Prudential Center, featuring:
- Black Friday (Nov. 27): A matinee clash against the Calgary Flames at 1:00 p.m.
- Saturday (Nov. 28): A matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7:00 p.m.
The team will also host a season-high four-game homestand from Dec. 15 to Dec. 20, featuring visits from the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and Nashville Predators before the winter holiday break.
The regular season concludes right back in Newark with a crucial final four-game homestand from April 4 to April 10, welcoming Florida, Tampa Bay, the New York Islanders, and Pittsburgh to Prudential Center.
Special Home Game Start Times
While standard weekday home games in Newark drop the puck at 7:00 p.m., twelve home games feature special start times tailored for regional broadcasts and matinee audiences:
- Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Vancouver: 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Los Angeles: 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 18 vs. Montreal: 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 27 vs. Calgary (Black Friday): 1:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 9 vs. Detroit: 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 19 vs. Boston: 12:00 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 20 vs. Nashville: 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 9 vs. Chicago: 12:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 20 vs. Buffalo: 3:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 31 vs. Minnesota: 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, April 4 vs. Florida: 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, April 10 vs. Pittsburgh: 6:00 p.m.
(Note: The NHL regular season will temporarily pause on Feb. 5–6 for the 2026 NHL All-Star Game festivities at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.)
How to Tune In and Secure Tickets
Fans across Newark and the tri-state area can catch live coverage across local and national media networks:
- Regional Television: MSG Networks remains the exclusive regional broadcast home for Devils hockey, providing live game coverage, pre-game analysis, and post-game shows.
- Digital Audio: Audio broadcasts are available via the Devils Hockey Network on
NewJerseyDevils.com, the official Devils + Prudential Center App, and the NHL App. - National Broadcasts: Selected national games will air across ESPN/ABC, TNT Sports (TNT/Max), Sportsnet, TVA Sports, and Prime Video.
Individual game tickets for the 2026-27 season will go on sale in the coming weeks. Local fans can subscribe to NJD Weekly at nhl.com/devils/tickets for priority presale access, or explore full season memberships via the Black and Red Membership program.
