The New York Rangers and Boston Bruins open the 2026-27 NHL regular season with a high-profile Original Six matchup on Tuesday at TD Garden in Boston. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
This contest marks the 10th time the Rangers and Bruins have squared off in a season opener. This ties Detroit and the Rangers for the second-most opening matchups between U.S. franchises. Last season presented significant challenges for New York. The team finished with a 34-39-9 record and last place in the Metropolitan Division. The Blueshirts endured a difficult start, setting a franchise record by losing their first seven home games. Injuries to key defenseman Adam Fox and forward J.T. Miller also impacted their overall performance.
Seeking to reverse their fortunes, the Rangers enter the new campaign with a revamped roster. They are now under head coach Mike Sullivan, who will coach his 1,000th career NHL game against his hometown team. The offseason brought notable additions to Manhattan. These are highlighted by forward Pavel Dorofeyev-acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights after scoring a postseason-leading 12 goals-alongside defensemen Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson. Former Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo joins the team to back up Igor Shesterkin. Additionally, 18-year-old rookie Alberts Smits, selected fifth overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, made the opening night roster.
Boston enters the matchup looking to build on a successful campaign where they went 45-27-10 for 100 points. They finished fourth in the Atlantic Division before falling in the first round of the playoffs. The Bruins must start the season without star defenseman Charlie McAvoy. He is serving a six-game suspension stemming from last year’s postseason. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman anchors the Boston crease after a stellar season as a Vezina Trophy finalist.
How to Watch and Stream
Fans looking to tune into the opening night matchup can watch via the following channels and streaming platforms:
- Television (U.S.): ESPN (with Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, and Emily Kaplan on the call)
- Streaming: ESPN App, ESPN Unlimited, or live TV streaming services such as DIRECTV (offering free trials) and Sling TV Orange.
- Radio: ESPN 880 AM
Projected Lineups and Matchup Notes
Both squads report relatively clean health sheets heading into Tuesday’s opener. The Rangers project to deploy Mika Zibanejad centering Alexis Lafrenière and Gabe Perreault on the top line. J.T. Miller will center Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand on the second unit. On defense, Vladislav Gavrikov pairs with Adam Fox, while Pettersson and Durzi man the second pairing.
Boston will look to leverage home-ice advantage at TD Garden. However, navigating the early absence of McAvoy remains a primary objective for head coach Marco Sturm’s squad. With both teams eager to set an immediate tone in the Eastern Conference standings, the Original Six battle promises an intense start to the 84-game regular-season schedule.
