The Columbus Blue Jackets and National Hockey League have announced the team’s 2025-26 regular season schedule. The Blue Jackets will play 82 games, including 41 home dates at Nationwide Arena.

The team opens its 25th NHL season on Thursday, October 9 against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The Blue Jackets kick off their home slate of games on Monday, October 13 with a 7 p.m. ET matchup against Metropolitan Division rival New Jersey Devils.

Columbus will play Metropolitan Division teams a total of 26 times, including 13 games at Nationwide Arena.  The Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals will each visit Nationwide Arena twice.

The Philadelphia Flyers will make a lone visit on January 28, while Columbus will face teams in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division 24 times, including 12 at home. The club will play two home games each against the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, while hosting the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens one time.

Columbus will play its 82 games over 188 days with 42 contests slated for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, including nine Thursday, two Friday and 11 Saturday home games.  The Blue Jackets also will play eight games on Sunday (four at home).  January and March are the team’s busiest months with 16 contests each.

Columbus will host a season-high five-game homestand from January 20-28 (Ottawa, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Philadelphia). The team will play five consecutive road games from November 2-11 (NY Islanders, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Seattle).

The League’s regular season schedule will pause from February 6-24, when the world’s top NHL players gather in Milan and Cortina, Italy for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.