001004 Ice hockey, Eishockey NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA 2000-2001, Dallas Stars - Colorado Avalanche: Joe Sakic L and Peter Forsberg of Colorado Avalanche. Photo: BILDBYRAN / 40389 40389 scanx ishockey ice hockey NHL national hockey league Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche season 2000-2001 2000/01 2000-01 2000 bbeng dia *** 001004 Ice Hockey, NHL 2000 2001, Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche Joe Sakic L and Peter Forsberg of Colorado Avalanche Photo BILDBYRAN 40389 40389 scanx ishockey ice hockey NHL national hockey league Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche season 2000 2001 2000 01 2000 01 2000 bbeng dia PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: BILDBYRAN BB001004BB021
001004 Ice hockey, Eishockey NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA 2000-2001, Dallas Stars - Colorado Avalanche: Joe Sakic L and Peter Forsberg of Colorado Avalanche. Photo: BILDBYRAN / 40389 40389 scanx ishockey ice hockey NHL national hockey league Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche season 2000-2001 2000/01 2000-01 2000 bbeng dia *** 001004 Ice Hockey, NHL 2000 2001, Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche Joe Sakic L and Peter Forsberg of Colorado Avalanche Photo BILDBYRAN 40389 40389 scanx ishockey ice hockey NHL national hockey league Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche season 2000 2001 2000 01 2000 01 2000 bbeng dia PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: BILDBYRAN BB001004BB021
The NHL just released its schedule for the 2026-27 season on July 16 and is clearly digging at one of the longest-standing rivalries in the league.
The league paired the Colorado Avalanche against the Dallas Stars for two home-and-home series. This definitely pushes the rivalry that has defined the last two postseasons.
The first set of games comes in early. Dallas hosts Colorado on Oct. 13, then Colorado hosts Dallas the very next night on Oct. 14. The season repeats itself in January, with Dallas at home on Jan. 22 and Colorado on Jan. 24.
The schedule is posted on NHL.com. If either of them loses in the first game, they have a chance of making a comeback in the second. So both the October and January finales could turn into major games for either side.
001004 Ice hockey, Eishockey NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA 2000-2001, Dallas Stars - Colorado Avalanche: Peter Forsberg of Colorado Avalanche. Photo: BILDBYRAN / 40389 40389 scanx ishockey ice hockey NHL national hockey league Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche season 2000-2001 2000/01 2000-01 2000 bbeng dia *** 001004 Ice Hockey, NHL 2000 2001, Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche Peter Forsberg of Colorado Avalanche Photo BILDBYRAN 40389 40389 scanx ishockey ice hockey NHL national hockey league Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche season 2000 2001 2000 01 2000 01 2000 bbeng dia PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: BILDBYRAN BB001004BB011
001004 Ice hockey, Eishockey NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA 2000-2001, Dallas Stars - Colorado Avalanche: Peter Forsberg of Colorado Avalanche. Photo: BILDBYRAN / 40389 40389 scanx ishockey ice hockey NHL national hockey league Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche season 2000-2001 2000/01 2000-01 2000 bbeng dia *** 001004 Ice Hockey, NHL 2000 2001, Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche Peter Forsberg of Colorado Avalanche Photo BILDBYRAN 40389 40389 scanx ishockey ice hockey NHL national hockey league Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche season 2000 2001 2000 01 2000 01 2000 bbeng dia PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: BILDBYRAN BB001004BB011
Colorado and Dallas also happen to be two of the best teams in the league. The Avalanche finished by leading the league with 121 points last season, claiming the President's Trophy. Dallas finished second in the Central Division with 112.
Recently, the Dallas Stars defeated Colorado in the second round of the 2024 playoffs. They won again in a seven-game first-round series in 2025. Stars’ Forward Mikko Rantanen contributed significantly, since he left Colorado in a trade and ended up starring for Dallas by the 2025 series.
Dallas' franchise-record 10-game winning streak came to an end in March when the Colorado Avalanche claimed a 5-4 shootout win at American Airlines Center.
The Oct. 13 opener also falls on one of only two days when every NHL team plays. Avalanche-Stars will hold a lot of attention due to their iconic rivalry across the league.
The rest of the schedule
The rivalry games are just a part of a bigger schedule. The NHL grew to 84 games per team, up from 82. It now totals 1,344 games across all 32 teams. The season starts on Sept. 29 and ends on April 10, when every team plays on the same day.
The full schedule is now available on NHL.com. Like the Dallas and Colorado rivalry, the Battle of Alberta will be played four times during the 2026-27 season, with the Calgary Flames visiting the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 28 and Apr. 5, while hosting the Oilers on Mar. 3 and Mar. 23.
Winnipeg Jets host the Montreal Canadiens for the Heritage Classic on Oct. 25.
The All-Star Game also comes back on Feb. 6 at UBS Arena after a two-year break. Fans also get a Stanley Cup Final rematch set early, with games in Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 21 and in Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 17.
Television coverage is split between ESPN and TNT for alternate national broadcasts in the U.S., while Sportsnet leads the coverage in Canada.
What are your thoughts on the 2026-2027 schedule? Let us know in the comments.
Read more at NHL Fan Central.
Written by
Aadhya Nalla
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar