While the rest of the NHL schedule is expected to be released later this week, the NHL did announce who would be playing on the first night of the 2025-26 season. For LA Kings fans, they won't have to wait long as they will be the third game on that first day of the season.
This will be the second time in three seasons that they are opening the season at home and they once again will be doing so against the same opponent they did three seasons ago in the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche have been a problem for the Kings the past two seasons, as they have only won two of their past six meetings. One of those losses was the regular season opener at home two seasons ago. In that game, the Avalanche jumped out to a 3-0 lead, and the Kings never really got close before losing 5-2.
LA Kings don't have to worry about a long road trip to begin the season
Last season, the Los Angeles Kings didn't play a home game for a few weeks into the season as they began on the road for seven straight games. It was a bit of a mixed start to the season as they would win the season opener against the Buffalo Sabres before going 0-1-2 in the next three games.
For the Kings, they are going to want to get off to a fast start in hopes of putting behind them their playoff struggles, which was another first round exit by the Edmonton Oilers.
While there are expected to be plenty of familiar faces this season for the Kings with Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Quinton Byfield, and Darcy Kuemper there are going to be some players making their debut in front of the home crowd. None will be more surprising than Corey Perry, who has had a successful career of getting the better of the Kings over the past two decades.
The Kings game is scheduled for October 7th at 7:30 PM PT on ESPN and will follow the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers.