When Do Bruins Play: The Schedule Secrets Most Fans Miss

So, you’re trying to figure out exactly when the B's are hitting the ice. I get it. Between the weird afternoon starts, the West Coast road trips that ruin your sleep schedule, and this year’s massive Olympic-sized hole in the calendar, keeping track of the Boston Bruins schedule is basically a part-time job.

If you’re looking for the short answer: The Bruins play next on Saturday, January 17, 2026, against the Chicago Blackhawks. That game is an 8:00 PM EST puck drop at the United Center. But if you’re a real fan, you know that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The 2025-26 season is turning out to be one of the most chaotic schedules we’ve seen in a decade. We’ve got jersey retirements, a stadium game in a football jersey, and a three-week stretch where the NHL basically vanishes.

When Do Bruins Play This Month?

January is usually the "dog days" of hockey, but the Bruins are actually spending a lot of time at home right now. If you've been living under a rock, you might have missed the big emotional night on January 15 when they finally retired Zdeno Chara’s No. 33. That was a heavy one.

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Looking forward, here is the immediate slate of games you need to clear your calendar for:

• January 17 (Saturday): At Chicago Blackhawks. This is an 8:00 PM EST start. Honestly, watching the B's try to contain Bedard is always worth the price of admission.
• January 20 (Tuesday): At Dallas Stars. Puck drops at 7:30 PM EST. This one is nationally televised on TNT, so no blackouts to worry about for once.
• January 22 (Thursday): Back home at TD Garden against the Vegas Golden Knights (7:00 PM).
• January 24 (Saturday): The big one. Montreal Canadiens at the Garden. 7:00 PM. It doesn't matter how the standings look; these games are always a bloodbath.
• January 26 (Monday): A quick trip to MSG to face the Rangers at 7:00 PM.

The team has a weird "home-heavy" January where they play 9 out of 14 games at TD Garden. It’s a massive chance to bank points before the league takes its mid-winter nap.

The Olympic Sized Hole in February

Here is what most people are getting wrong about the schedule this year. If you look for a game between February 5 and February 25, you aren't going to find one.

None. Zero.

The NHL is officially shutting down for 19 days for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Since NHL players are finally back in the Games, guys like Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak are going to be overseas representing their countries.

The Bruins' final game before this break is February 4 at Florida. After that, the Garden goes quiet until February 26, when the Columbus Blue Jackets come to town. It’s a weirdly long gap. You're basically going to have to find a new hobby for three weeks, or just watch the Olympic highlights and pray nobody gets injured on the bigger ice.

The Stadium Series and the Florida Sun

Before the Olympic break, though, there is one marquee game that everyone is circling: The 2026 NHL Stadium Series.

On Sunday, February 1, the Bruins are heading down to Tampa to play the Lightning outdoors. But it's not at a baseball park—it's at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Buccaneers.

This is kind of a big deal for a few reasons. First, it’s the Bruins’ first-ever appearance in the Stadium Series (they usually stick to the Winter Classic). Second, playing outdoor hockey in Florida is always a gamble with the humidity. The game starts at 6:30 PM EST on ESPN. If you're planning a trip, the "NHL PreGame" fan fest is supposed to be massive, featuring country duo LOCASH. Just don't forget the sunscreen, which feels weird to say about a hockey game.

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Watching the B's: TV and Streaming Guide

If you’re wondering "when do Bruins play" because you’re trying to find the right channel, it’s getting complicated. NESN is still the primary home, but the national TV schedule is crowded this year.

• ABC/ESPN: They have the Bruins for several big Saturday slots, including the upcoming games against the Flyers (Feb 28) and the Capitals (March 7).
• TNT: They picked up the Dallas game (Jan 20) and a few others later in the season, like the Penguins matchup on March 8.
• ESPN+: If you’re out of market, this is your best friend. They stream almost 1,000 games a season, but blackouts still apply if you're in New England.

Key Matchups to Watch in the Second Half

Once we get past the Olympic break, the schedule gets frantic. The league is trying to make up for lost time, so the games come fast.

March 17 (St. Patrick's Day): The Bruins are actually in Montreal. Usually, Boston is the place to be for St. Paddy's, but a rivalry game in Canada on that day is going to be electric (and probably very loud).

April 11: The final big home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This is a 12:30 PM matinee on ABC. These late-season afternoon games at the Garden are always a coin flip—sometimes the energy is insane, sometimes the team looks like they haven't had their coffee yet.

April 14: The regular season finale. They host the New Jersey Devils. If the playoff race is as tight as it looks, this game could decide whether they get home-ice advantage or a Wild Card spot.

Tips for Planning Your Garden Trip

If you're actually going to a game, remember that the "puck drop" time isn't when the game actually starts. If a game is listed for 7:00 PM, the national anthem usually starts around 7:08 PM, and the first puck hits the ice at 7:15 PM.

Tickets have been hovering around $130 for balcony seats and jumping way up for the Montreal and Rangers games. If you're looking for a deal, the Tuesday night games (like Nashville on Jan 27) are usually the cheapest way to get into the building.

Actionable Steps for the Season

1. Sync your calendar: Go to the official Bruins website and use their "Sync Schedule" tool. It’ll put every game, including the TV channel, directly onto your phone so you don't have to keep Googling it.
2. Plan for the Break: Remember that from Feb 5 to Feb 25, there is no NHL hockey. If you have "Bruins season tickets" or a partial plan, check your account; those Olympic dates are dark.
3. Check NESN 360: if you’ve cut the cord, make sure your subscription is active before the Montreal game on the 24th. That’s a regional broadcast and won't be on the big national networks.
4. Watch the Standings: With the Atlantic Division being a meat grinder this year, every game against Florida and Tampa is basically worth double. Keep an eye on those February and March matchups.

The Bruins are in a weird transition year with some aging vets and young guns like Khusnutdinov really stepping up. Catching them live at the Garden is still the best experience in Boston sports, but you've got to be smart about the timing. Stay on top of those 1:00 PM starts—they'll sneak up on you every single time.