When you first look the Philadelphia Flyers 2025-2026 regular season schedule, it’s easy to get that “thrown into the deep end of the pool” feeling.
The club’s first season under the direction of Rick Tocchet will see them face the Florida Panthers, the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions, twice in their first three games.
They play the Panthers in their season opener in Sunrise, Florida on October 9 and the following Monday in their home opener at the newly christened Xfinity Mobile Arena.
This will mark the sixth time in franchise history the Flyers have opened their season against a defending Stanley Cup Champion.
Sandwiched between those games will be a Saturday October 11 match-up with the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina recently added winger Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman K’Andre Miller to a deep lineup.
That is a difficult to kick things for a young team hoping to start their season right. With that, let’s take a look at some of the interesting match-ups, schedule quirks, and important dates.
Scheduling Quirks and Important Dates
The Flyers will play 14 back-to-back games this season, compared to 13 back-to-backs in 2024-25. They will also play three games in four nights 19 times. They will play four games in six nights 24 times throughout the 2025-26 season.
-Nine of the Flyers’ first 12 games will be on home ice to start the season (through November 2), which almost reads as an apology for the degree of difficulty for the opening three games.
-Nine of the Flyers’ ten games from December 14 to January 3 will be on the road.
-For the first team in years, they will play their traditional Black Friday game on the road, playing the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on November 28.
-The Flyers’ traditional Northwest swing through the New Year is back. They play in Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton between December 28 and January 3. None of the games will be “Flyers After Dark” contests with Calgary being the latest start time at 7:30pm ET.
-A strange quirk: back to back scheduled home games against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 10 and 12.
-There will be a gap of 18 days in February between games, with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The games take place from February 6-24.
-The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline will be on March 6. The Flyers final game before the deadline will be at home vs the Utah Mammoth on March 5.
Interesting Match-Ups for Flyers
October 16 vs Winnipeg: Coming off of the first three games, the Flyers don’t get a break as the Jets come to Philadelphia. Jonathan Toews is the newest edition to a Cup contending team.
October 28 vs Pittsburgh: The first Keystone Rivalry game with the Penguins. How many more games will we see Sidney Crosby in black and gold?
November 1 and 2 vs. Toronto and Calgary: A former Flyer reunion at the end of a five game home-stand has Scott Laughton, Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee coming to town. Recent signing Dan Vladar could see action against his former team.
November 4 at Montreal: A match-up against the rising Canadiens with young stars Matvei Michkov and Lane Hutson. Christian Dvorak will get his first look at his old club.
November 12 vs Edmonton: A mid-week game against the two time defending Western Conference Champions, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. A measuring stick game for a young roster.
December 22 vs Vancouver: Rick Tocchet’s first game coaching against his former team.
January 6 vs Anaheim: Recent history and trades between the Flyers and Ducks has turned these games in must watch events. Trevor Zegras will play his former teammates for the first time. Cutter Gauthier likely receives a “friendly greeting” from the Philly crowd.
February 5: vs Ottawa: The final game prior to the Olympic break sees the Flyers play former captain Claude Giroux at home. The 37 year old Giroux is currently on a one year deal. At this point of his likely Hall of Fame career, it’s not a stretch to wonder how many more games we’ll see with him.
Possible Playoff Gauntlet?
Following the trade deadline, the portion of the schedule from March 7 to April 14 could very well be the start of a playoff run test for the Flyers.
After playing the Penguins in Pittsburgh on March 7, the Flyers will play the New York Rangers for the final time this season on March 9. They will face division rivals Washington and Columbus twice. A three game California swing in mid-March (Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose) lies beween them.
The Detroit Red Wings play them three times, including two games at Little Caesar’s Arena. If the Flyers are in the midst of a wild-card race, expect some heated contests with a Steve Yzerman-led team desperate to make the playoffs.
Their schedule wraps up at home against the Hurricanes and the Canadiens on April 12 and 14.
In short, there will be no easing into the playoffs.
If the Flyers are able to succeed during this season closing stretch, it will say a lot for how Tocchet’s work helped them get out of their recent postseason rut.
