The NHL has announced its opening night slate for the 2025-26 season, and it will include the Rangers with their new head coach facing his former team right away.
The Blueshirts will open up their season on Oct. 8 at 8:00, as Mike Sullivan will face his former club in his first game behind the bench with New York.
The game will take place at Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers will look to begin their quest to wash away the sting of last season, when they became just the fourth team in league history to miss the postseason after winning the Presidents Trophy the season prior.
That disappointment led to the hiring of Sullivan, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in his first two seasons with the team. He coached the Penguins for 10 years, and last season was his first losing season with the team.
The season-opening game will also be the Rangers’ first game without Chris Kreider on the roster since the 2012-13 campaign, as he was dealt to the Ducks this offseason.
The NHL’s triple header to begin the season also includes the two-time defending champion Panthers hosting the Blackhawks, while the Kings will host the Avalanche.
The full NHL schedule will be released on Wednesday at 1:00.