Photo Credit: Ken Boehlke, SinBin.vegas

Every year, there are 82 games on the schedule (though that’s changing to 84 soon), but when looking through the calendar, it’s clear a few pop off the page. Here are the five most intriguing matchups on the Golden Knights’ schedule this year.

at Toronto Maple Leafs
January 23rd, 2026

Didn’t take much thought to select the first game on this list. Everyone remembers the return of Jack Eichel to Buffalo and this one could have a similar feel. The schedule makers did their best to mitigate the buildup of Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto with the two teams facing off just eight days earlier in Vegas and both games as the second night of a back-to-back for the Golden Knights. Nonetheless, the atmosphere in Toronto will be electric, both teams should be in the thick of the playoff chase, and Marner will have likely settled in with his linemates. It’s an out-of-conference road game as part of a back-to-back, so it’s a game Vegas will be expected to lose, but there may not be a game on the schedule the players will want to win more.

vs. Los Angeles Kings
October 8th, 2025

Not only is it Opening Night and the debut of Marner in a gold sweater, but it’s a division rival that will likely be challenging the Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific. The Golden Knights are elite on Opening Night historically, posting a 7-1-0 record all-time and the Kings have a game the night before in Los Angeles. So, this one could easily look like last year’s Opening Night when Vegas blew the doors off Colorado. It really is a significant game though to set the tone for what is a tricky month of October schedule-wise. Win it, and VGK should be off and running once again, lose it, and that three-game road trip starting the next night will become a bit more nervy.

vs Utah Mammoth
March 19th, 2026

I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for a new logo and uniform. The branding on the new Utah Mammoth is pretty darn cool, and it’ll be neat to see them step on the ice in Vegas wearing the new gear for the first time. Plus, Utah spent a lot of money trying to improve their team and could easily be a playoff contender this season. The game falls a few games on the other side of the Trade Deadline too, so don’t be surprised if each roster looks a bit different then than it does right now.

vs Nashville Predators
December 31st, 2025

The Predators were the winners of free agency in 2024. However, it did not translate on the ice at all as they were a trainwreck basically from start to finish. However, the roster still has a lot of great players, and the Golden Knights’ Conn Smythe winner is still looking for some revenge on his old team. It’s a New Year’s Eve afternoon game too, which is always a party in Vegas.

at Florida Panthers
October 25th, 2025

There’s no better measuring stick than facing the back-to-back defending champions in their home building early in the season. The Panthers returned just about everyone so they should be a well-oiled machine. The Golden Knights have a four-day break leading into this game, which could allow them to make some tweaks and/or build off what has been going right or wrong in the first seven games. Right now, everyone considers the Golden Knights to be a clear Cup contender, if they want to continue keeping that moniker, they’ll need a good performance in Sunrise.