Free agency may still be buzzing, but there’s another date fans circle with just as much excitement: schedule drop day. With rosters being reshaped, excitement and anticipation for the 2025-26 NHL season are building, and now, Flames fans can officially start planning their lives around puck drop. From rivalries (both new and old) to long road trips, here’s a closer look at the Calgary Flames schedule for the upcoming season.
2025-26 Flames Schedule
October: Straight to Ignition
Season Opener: October 8
The Flames ring in the 2025-26 regular season on the road with a Battle of Alberta showdown against the Edmonton Oilers. After a roller coaster 2025 playoff run that saw Edmonton fall short of the Stanley Cup, all eyes will be on whether the Oilers can carry that momentum into the new season. Alternatively, can the Flames deal a heavy blow to the runner-ups with fresh legs and renewed energy?
Country Roads Take Me Home
The Flames will play 12 games in October, with seven of those on the road and two sets of back-to-backs. It’s a travel-heavy start that will test the team’s depth and conditioning early. Following their season opener in the provincial capital, the Flames head straight to the West Coast for a quick visit with the Vancouver Canucks the next night.
Home Opener: October 11
The Flames return to Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday, October 11, with a matinee matchup against the St. Louis Blues — one of the last home openers the team will host in the iconic building as construction continues on their new arena set to begin operation for the 2027-28 season.
The Dome, Calgary’s home since 1983 and the oldest arena in the modern NHL era, this season marks the beginning of a long farewell to a building that has been the site of countless historical moments from Stanley Cup runs to the 1988 Olympics.
November: No Rest for the Wicked
November is one of the busiest months on the Flames’ calendar, with 15 games packed into 30 days. The month begins with the tail end of a four-game road trip, featuring a back-to-back weekend against the Nashville Predators on November 1 and the Philadelphia Flyers the following night. After that, the Flames return home briefly to host the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks before hitting the road again.
This pattern continues throughout the month, as Calgary plays 10 of its 15 games away from home, including five matchups against Eastern Conference teams. One of the toughest tests comes on November 28, when the Flames face the reigning two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in Sunrise.
December: Home for the Holidays
The Flames finally get a much-needed stretch at home in December, with nine of their 13 games taking place at the Dome. After a travel-heavy start to the season, this month offers a chance to regroup, rest, and, more importantly, opportunities to rack up some points before the calendar flips to 2026.
Battle of Alberta: A Christmas Home-and-Away
The month wraps up with a festive edition of one of sports’ fiercest rivalries. The Flames head north to face the Edmonton Oilers on December 23, then take a brief break for the holidays. After three days off, the rivalry resumes with a rematch in Calgary on Dec. 27 — a perfect post-Christmas gift for fans eager to see some sparks fly on home ice.
December 27 also marks the first time Flames fans will see former Flame, Andrew Mangiapane, in a dreaded Oilers jersey.
New Year’s Eve
We say goodbye to the year with a home game hosting the Flyers.
One of the marquee games on the schedule, the Flames event staff always do it big with indoor fireworks at the end of the game to welcome the new year with fans.
This game also marks former backup goalie Dan Vladar’s return to the Saddledome.
January: Halfway There
January is a demanding stretch for the Flames, with 14 games on the calendar, but only three of them against divisional opponents. That scarcity of Pacific Division matchups makes every point critical as Calgary tries to keep pace in the playoff race.
The month begins with a milestone: the halfway point of the regular season lands on January 5, when the Flames host the Seattle Kraken at the Dome. It’s more than just another home game — it serves as a natural checkpoint for the team and its management, who will be closely evaluating performances, chemistry, and consistency.
With the trade deadline looming in early March, this stretch could determine whether the Flames double down on their current roster or consider further retooling. January’s slate includes a mix of Eastern Conference and Central Division opponents, providing a solid test of how the Flames stack up outside the West.
By the end of January, the playoff picture will begin to sharpen — and so will the stakes for what comes next.
February: Off to Italy
February opens with a bang but quickly slows to a pause. With two big games under the roof of the Dome, the Toronto Maple Leafs make their much-anticipated visit to Calgary on February 2. Two nights later, the Flames will look to wrap up the 2025-26 Battle of Alberta Series on February 4 with serious implications for playoff positioning and bragging rights on the line. With the season series potentially on the line, both teams will be looking to make a statement before the League pauses for three weeks.
While a majority of NHL players will use the time off to rest and recover, others will find themselves representing their countries on the world stage. The Olympics are set to open on February 6, but the men’s tournament is scheduled to start on February 11, with the gold medal game on February 22.
By the time Calgary returns to action on February 25, only a handful of games remain before the March trade deadline. At this point of the season, general manager Craig Conroy and Flames management could decide to fully gear up for a playoff push or look ahead to how they can transition into preparing for the draft and 2026 free agency.
March: Divisional Match-Ups
As this regular season hits its final stretch, March’s 16-game schedule will prove to be the ultimate test for the Flames. This final full month of play could make or break their playoff ambitions. With several valuable divisional match-ups shuffled in with an important six-game homestand and a challenging six-game road trip, there will be several defining moments of this season for Calgary. Will they make a triumphant return to the playoffs, or will their hopes slip away again?
On March 7, the Flames welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to the Dome, featuring the newly acquired Nikolaj Ehlers. Later in the month, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, make their annual visit to Calgary. Beating a powerhouse like Florida late in the season could give the Flames a huge statement win.
The Final Homestand: March 18 to 28
In a season that rarely sees the Flames play more than two games at home as they must share ice time with two other teams, they finally get a highly anticipated six-game homestand. It’s a golden opportunity to capitalize on home ice advantage to pick up some crucial points in front of the Flames faithful, especially with playoff races tightening up.
Hitting the Road for the Last Time: March 30 to April 11
The Flames may face their largest hurdle in the final games of the season: a grueling six-game road trip with stops against divisional rivals like Colorado, Vegas, Anaheim, Dallas, and Seattle. It’s a tough stretch at a critical time, especially if Calgary finds themselves in the same spot as last season: fighting for a wildcard spot.
April: Finishing Strong at Home
Coming off a long road trip, the Flames will need to dig deep for a final burst of energy, knowing the slim margins between writing their playoff chapter and being knocked out of playoff contention could come down to these final games. April sees Calgary return from their Western road trip to welcome three more divisional matchups at home against the Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, and LA Kings.
Whether they’re locking in playoff positioning or building for 2026–27, Calgary will be looking to close the year on a high note.
Main Photo: Sergei Belski- Imagn Images