Rangers Open 2026 NHL Season Against Bruins

The New York Rangers will kick off their 2026 NHL season on the road against longtime rival the Boston Bruins on September 29. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.

Last season, the Rangers finished with a 34-39-9 record, failing to make the playoffs for the second year in a row. The team has retooled its roster in hopes of a better outcome this season.

"I think the expectation is more inward than results," captain J.T. Miller told The Post during training camp. "I think if we have high expectations for each other on a daily basis, on and off the ice, we’re going to be a better hockey team, and we’ll just leave it at that."

Notable offseason additions include forward Pavel Dorofeyev, acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights. Dorofeyev was a key contributor to Vegas's Stanley Cup Final run, scoring 12 goals in the postseason. He has since signed a long-term extension with the Rangers. On defense, the team added Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson. Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, a former Bruin, joins Igor Shesterkin as the team's new backup.

Eighteen-year-old rookie Alberts Smits, the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, has made the opening night roster after an impressive training camp.

Fans without cable can stream the game through DIRECTV, which is offering a five-day free trial. Alternatively, a Sling TV Orange Day Pass can provide 24-hour access for $4.99.

The NHL has expanded its regular season to 84 games starting this year. The Rangers' home opener is set for October 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. Other notable early season matchups include games against the New York Islanders (Oct. 6), Utah Mammoth (Oct. 4), Washington Capitals (Oct. 9), New Jersey Devils (Oct. 15), Columbus Blue Jackets (Oct. 17), Philadelphia Flyers (Nov. 5), Carolina Hurricanes (Nov. 22), and Pittsburgh Penguins (Jan. 29).