Eight games Anaheim Ducks fans cannot miss in 2026-27

The Anaheim Ducks released their schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 season and absolutely cooked with the format; if you're a fan of the Ducks, a fan of Pokémon, or a fan of throwing out some shade to the opposition, take a couple minutes out of your day and watch this schedule drop.

While the Ducks marketing staff did amazing work with the schedule release and highlighted some key matchups, there are some other dates that did not get the recognition they deserve. Here are eight games Ducks fans cannot miss in the 2026-27 season.

October 4th: vs. the Florida Panthers

The home opener for the Ducks is usually a cannot miss affair, especially for fans living in the So Cal area. Not only is this game one of the few opportunities for fans to secure autographs from the players, but the excitement for the new season is palpable in Honda Center. Aside from the Brady Tkachuk trade to Florida in the offseason and a fully healthy Panthers team dead set on reclaiming the Stanley Cup again, the home opener will be the Radko Gudas' return to Anaheim as a visitor. The former captain of the Ducks may have played his way out of Anaheim, but Gudas is no shrinking violet either. Expect a round of appreciative applause during his inevitable video tribute, but hold your breath, in the hope he does not sideline a Ducks skater with an illegal hit.

October 24th: at the Philadelphia Flyers and January 3rd: vs. the Philadelphia Flyers

For being an Eastern Conference team, the matchups between the Ducks and the Flyers have carried some extra hate lately and Ducks fans should be circling these dates with permanent marker on their calendars. Between the Trevor Zegras trade for Ryan Poehling, the Cutter Gauthier swap for Jamie Drysdale, and the Leo Carlsson offer sheet; there has been no love lost between these conference rivals. Both matchups between the two teams should bring some fireworks and we will get our first taste of the bad blood earlier than expected, before the rematch later in the season.

November 25th: vs. the San Jose Sharks

The history between the So Cal and Nor Cal rivals is well documented and while the Ducks finally took that next step in their progression, the Sharks are not far behind. Outside of Macklin Celebrini nearly carrying the Sharks to a postseason berth last season and scooping up some Hart Trophy votes in the process, this game will be a homecoming for Jacob Trouba as well. Much like the other veteran right shot defenseman that were traded from the Ducks in the offseason, Trouba will no doubt be looking for revenge on the team that (rightfully) did not give him an extension.

December 22nd: vs. the Vegas Golden Knights

Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry. Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. Jacson LaCombe against former Ducks prospect, turned number one defenseman, Shea Theodore. And a tough second round loss to the eventual Stanley Cup finalists in the 2026 playoffs. The matchup writes itself, coupled with the fact that Vegas is roughly a five-hour drive from Anaheim, expect a rowdy game just before the holiday break.

January 14th: vs. the St. Louis Blues

Another homecoming, this time for a player who was once thought to be the future number two center of the Ducks, before having one of the worst seasons of his NHL career; Mason McTavish. In an alternate universe, maybe McTavish would still be a Duck, but once his play slipped way below expectations, the writing was on the wall, as he was shipped off to the Blues on draft night. And Ducks fans should always take the time to appreciate Cam Fowler, one of the most solid blueliners the team ever drafted.

April 3rd: vs. the Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid and the Oliers return to Honda Center, the scene for their most recent postseason disappointment. Outside of the Oilers being Pacific Division rivals and the potential for this late season matchup carrying some extra weight in the standings, this game will be fan appreciation night from the Ducks organization. Much like the home opener, expect some extra excitement from the crowd and a cannot miss event for So Cal residents.

April 6th: vs. the Los Angeles Kings

While the rivalry is not what it once was in the Ryan Getzlaf and Anze Kopitar heyday, there is not a singular opponent that amplifies the hatred from Ducks fans more than the Kings. Between the clash of orange and black jerseys in the stands and the opposing chants of "Let's go Ducks" and "Go Kings go", this last matchup against their So Cal rival is a must watch for Ducks fans and might carry some extra weight too, as this is the second to last game in the regular season for the Ducks and playoff positioning could be on the line for both teams.

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