The Vegas Golden Knights will play 84 games in 2026-27, the first time the NHL has expanded the schedule past 82 games since 1993-94. On Wednesday, the league announced home openers for all 32 teams, with the Golden Knights hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on September 29, who will be without Connor Bedard.
On Thursday, the NHL released the schedules for every team, giving Vegas fans plenty to talk about. Of course, many took to social media to dissect every aspect of the schedule, to figure out who had the easiest or most difficult slate of games. Today, we won't dive that deep into the dates and times; instead, we want to discuss the top five games to circle on the Golden Knights' 2026-27 schedule.
5. February 1, 2027 at Calgary Flames
When the Golden Knights visit the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on February 1, 2027, it will be a bittersweet moment for the franchise. Barring a playoff matchup, it will be the last time Vegas visits The Dome, where they have a 6-7-2 record in 15 games. Moreover, Calgary has averaged 3.80 goals per game compared to the Golden Knights' 2.80. As one of the few buildings where the club hasn't had much success, they won't be sad to switch to Scotia Place next season.
4. January 30, 2027 vs Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, Alex Ovechkin, won his only Stanley Cup championship on T-Mobile Arena ice back in 2018. After the 2025-26 season, many wondered whether he'd retire, but when the Washington Capitals revamped their lineup with blockbuster moves, their longtime captain came back for another season. If this is the last dance for The Great 8, the Capitals' trip to Las Vegas in late January could be the last time fans get to see one of the all-time greats.
3. April 2, 2027 vs Edmonton Oilers
Ultimately, fans embrace every Golden Knights game against the Edmonton Oilers, since these two Pacific Division rivals have forged quite the battles in the regular season and playoffs. Considering how these two clubs tend to be within a few points of one another in the standings, this early April contest could be a four-point game, giving the victor a chance to create space in the playoff race. Moreover, since Vegas and Edmonton are Stanley Cup contenders, these late-season battles create intrigue for fans who hope they duke it out in the playoffs.
2. March 13, 2027 vs New York Rangers
Historically, only three players have ever scored more than 35 goals in a single season in Golden Knights history, and Pavel Dorofeyev is the only one to do it twice. Unable to re-sign him and remain salary cap compliant, Vegas had to trade the 25-year-old in late June to the New York Rangers for three draft picks. Immediately following his acquisition, New York signed him to a seven-year deal worth $77 million. Although these two teams don’t meet until mid-March, Dorofeyev will make his return to T-Mobile Arena on March 13. Â
1. December 21, 2026 vs Carolina Hurricanes
Usually, NHL schedule makers don’t wait until the holiday season to make the two previous Stanley Cup Finalists meet. However, that’s the case in 2026-27, when the Golden Knights welcome the Carolina Hurricanes back to Las Vegas, the site of their most recent championship in June 2026. Previously, these matchups against two of the top teams in the NHL didn’t carry much meaning, but now fans are eager to see how the teams respond after a grueling Stanley Cup Final.
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