NEW YORK -- The NHL released the full 2025-26 schedule Wednesday, the final 82-game season before the new collective bargaining agreement kicks in and increases it to 84.

The league's 32 teams will combine to play 1,312 games between Oct. 7 and April 16 with the playoffs to run from the following weekend through much of June. Beginning in 2026-27, there will be 1,344 games -- the most in NHL history.

Alex Ovechkin will begin his 21st season Oct. 8 when he and the Washington Capitals host Boston. Ovechkin is at 897 career goals after breaking Wayne Gretzky's record and can add to his total at age 40.

It's even plausible Ovechkin will get No. 900 in the same arena on Long Island in which he scored his 895th to pass Gretzky. The Capitals will visit the New York Islanders in their seco

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