Zac Electrifly

The Vegas Golden Knights are officially back in action as the 2026-27 NHL season gets underway. September marks the beginning of another campaign for the Golden Knights, and while most of the month will be dedicated to preseason hockey, Vegas will finish September with a game that actually counts in the standings. The Golden Knights have five games scheduled in September 2026: four preseason games followed by their regular-season opener. That gives Vegas a chance to work through its roster, evaluate players competing for NHL jobs, and get ready for another long NHL season before the games start counting for real. For Golden Knights fans, September is always an interesting month. Preseason games provide the first opportunity to see the team back on the ice after the offseason, while the final game of the month brings the excitement of Opening Knight and the beginning of the regular season. The Golden Knights opened their 2026-27 preseason schedule on Saturday, September 19, 2026, against the Los Angeles Kings. The game was played at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, home of the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate. Playing preseason games in NHL-affiliated markets gives teams an opportunity to bring NHL hockey to fans outside of their normal home arenas while also giving players an NHL-caliber environment to compete in. For Vegas, the matchup with Los Angeles served as the first opportunity to begin putting the pieces together for the upcoming season. With preseason games often featuring a combination of established NHL players, prospects, and players fighting for roster spots, these early games can provide an important first look at what the Golden Knights could look like when the regular season arrives.

The Golden Knights continue their preseason schedule on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, when they travel to San Jose to take on the San Jose Sharks. This will be Vegas’ second preseason game of the year and another opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate the roster. The preseason isn’t simply about winning and losing. These games are about getting players back into game shape, experimenting with line combinations and defensive pairings, evaluating younger players, and determining which players are ready to earn a spot on the opening-night roster. The matchup with San Jose should provide another useful test as Vegas works its way toward the regular season. Vegas returns home on Thursday, September 24, 2026, for its third preseason game. The Golden Knights will take on the Utah Mammoth at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This will be the first September preseason game for Vegas at its home arena, giving Golden Knights fans in Las Vegas their chance to see the team back on home ice during the preseason. The matchup with Utah is also an opportunity for Vegas to continue fine-tuning its roster with the regular season getting closer. By this point in the preseason, the number of games remaining is shrinking, meaning every opportunity to evaluate players and combinations becomes increasingly important. The Golden Knights will face the San Jose Sharks again on Saturday, September 26, 2026, but this time the matchup will take place in Las Vegas. This will be the fourth and final preseason game for the Golden Knights. The game will once again be played at T-Mobile Arena, giving Vegas one final preseason opportunity to play in front of its home crowd before the games start counting in the standings. With the regular-season opener only a few days away, this game should represent the final stage of Vegas’ preparations for the 2026-27 campaign. By the end of the preseason, the Golden Knights will need to have their roster decisions largely settled and be ready to transition from preseason evaluation to regular-season hockey.

After four preseason games, the waiting finally ends. The Vegas Golden Knights will officially open their 2026-27 regular season on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena. Unlike the four games that came before it, this game will count toward the standings. Opening Knight is always one of the biggest moments of the season for Golden Knights fans. The excitement of preseason hockey gives way to the regular season, and every point suddenly matters. Vegas will begin its latest campaign in front of its home fans as it starts the long journey toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The matchup against Chicago also gives Vegas a chance to immediately begin establishing the tone for the new season. After an offseason of changes, roster decisions, preparation, and anticipation, September 29th marks the point where everything becomes real.

September is a short but busy month for the Golden Knights. Vegas will play five total games, beginning with four preseason matchups before finishing the month with its regular-season opener. The schedule includes trips to Ontario and San Jose before the Golden Knights return to Las Vegas for games against Utah and San Jose. Then, on September 29, the Blackhawks come to T-Mobile Arena for Opening Knight. For Golden Knights fans, September is essentially the bridge between the offseason and the 2026-27 season. The preseason provides the first look at the new team, while the final game of the month begins the race for the standings. With Opening Knight approaching, the countdown to another season of Vegas Golden Knights hockey is officially over.