How to Get NHL Tickets for Less

For fans of the NHL who want to attend a game or two this season, getting NHL tickets at a reasonable price is usually the hard part. There is good news for 2026-27, however: the league moves from 82 games to 84, so all 32 teams now play 42 home dates instead of 41. That means more chances to find the match-up you want.

Maybe you want your home team against its division rival. Maybe you want to catch a game while visiting another city. Either way, a bit of planning and a bit of luck should get you into the building.

In this article, we go through the strategies that actually work to get NHL tickets at a good price: timing your purchase, picking the right city, and watching for presales. We also cover how paying with the right credit card lets your points absorb part of the bill. For the wider picture, see our roundup of the best credit cards in Canada.

Fan cheering for their team in the stands during an NHL game

NHL Basics

The NHL is made up of 32 teams (7 in Canada and 25 in the US) split evenly across 4 divisions within 2 conferences.

The 2026-27 regular season runs from September 29, 2026 to April 10, 2027, with a short pre-season in the weeks before opening night. This is the first year under the new collective bargaining agreement. It changes a number that has held since 1995: each team now plays 84 games instead of 82, split into 42 at home and 42 away. Across the league, that adds up to 1,344 regular season games.

The two extra games went into divisional play, because several clubs wanted a fairer split of dates against their closest rivals. Here is how the 84 games break down for every team:

28 divisional games: two at home and two on the road against each of the 7 other teams in your division.
24 conference games: three against each of the 8 teams in the other division of your conference.
32 inter-conference games: one at home and one on the road against each of the 16 teams in the other conference.

In practice, the Montreal Canadiens now play 42 dates at the Bell Centre. They face each Atlantic Division rival 4 times, meet each Metropolitan team 3 times, and see every Western Conference club twice. Since every team visits every other team at least once, your local arena will host all 31 opponents at some point during the year.

Finally, once the regular season ends and the 16 playoff teams are set, the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in mid-April, and the winner lifts the Cup in June.

NHL Teams

Atlantic · East	Metropolitan · East	Central · West	Pacific · West
Boston Bruins	Carolina Hurricanes	Chicago Blackhawks	Anaheim Ducks
Buffalo Sabres	Columbus Blue Jackets	Colorado Avalanche	Calgary Flames
Detroit Red Wings	New Jersey Devils	Dallas Stars	Edmonton Oilers
Florida Panthers	New York Islanders	Minnesota Wild	Los Angeles Kings
Montreal Canadiens	New York Rangers	Nashville Predators	San Jose Sharks
Ottawa Senators	Philadelphia Flyers	St. Louis Blues	Seattle Kraken
Tampa Bay Lightning	Pittsburgh Penguins	Utah Mammoth	Vancouver Canucks
Toronto Maple Leafs	Washington Capitals	Winnipeg Jets	Vegas Golden Knights

Where to Buy NHL Tickets

Most NHL teams sell through Ticketmaster, an official partner of the league. Four clubs sit outside that arrangement, however, and going to the wrong site costs you time on an on-sale day when minutes matter:

SeatGeek: Florida Panthers, Utah Mammoth, and the Minnesota Wild, who moved over on July 1, 2026.
AXS: Vegas Golden Knights, at T-Mobile Arena.

On the official platform, how you pay already changes the bill: RBC Avion points apply directly to the purchase.

Each team also sets its own on-sale calendar. Releases generally start with season tickets, then move to presales for fan clubs and partner groups, and only then open single regular season games to everyone.

Prices swing by opponent and by date. A rivalry game, a Saturday night, or a long weekend will cost more than a low-stakes match-up on a Tuesday in January. That gap is where you have the most room to act, and most of the strategies below come back to it.

So how do you actually get into a game without overpaying? Below are five approaches that work, starting with the one that gets you face value.

Ticket Sales sign above an arena box office window

Buy Early

The simplest way to get NHL tickets at a good price is to buy them at face value. The catch is that seats for the most popular games sell out fast. You are then left choosing between an obstructed view in the last row and a front-row seat well beyond your budget.

Because of that, buying on the day tickets go on sale is your best shot at face value. Every team announces its single-game on-sale date before the season starts. If you have a specific game in mind, be logged in and ready at the exact minute the sale opens.

Beyond that, many teams give early access to fan clubs, partner groups, and select credit card holders. That is the next strategy to look at.

Promotions and Partnerships

Another good strategy for getting your hands on NHL tickets for a good price is to watch for promotions, partnerships, and special access opportunities.

First, most teams let fans sign up for SMS alerts covering presales, ticket drops, contests, and exclusive offers. It is free, and it puts you in front of the general public. Plenty of other fans sign up too, so you are still competing. Even so, the alert does something useful on its own: it stops you from forgetting an on-sale date and missing the window entirely.

An additional option for accessing presale tickets is with an eligible American Express credit card. Eligible cardholders get presale access through American Express Front Of The Line in Canada and American Express Experiences in the US. Sign up for alerts through either service and you will hear about upcoming events before they open to everyone.

A third option, admittedly a niche one, suits fans who already know they want several games in a season: a partial season ticket package. It gets you seats before the single-game on-sale dates, which locks in the dates that would otherwise sell out first.

Finally, some teams run promotional packages or theme nights aimed at families and groups. The saving there is rarely on the ticket itself. Instead, it comes as a free jersey, a discounted meal, or a drink included, which still lowers what the evening costs you overall.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express Cobalt^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$191.88	Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months Up to 15,000 points Get 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express^® Gold Rewards Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$250	Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months Up to 60,000 points After $12,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express Platinum Card^® Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$799	Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months Up to 100,000 points After $10,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

Pre-Season Tickets

If you mainly want to see NHL hockey live, a pre-season game is worth a look. You give up the marquee match-up and the tension of a late-season night, little else.

Pre-season tickets usually cost less than regular season ones, and the arena experience is much the same, though the crowd is quieter than in a game where the standings are on the line. In 2026-27, those games fall in the weeks before opening night on September 29.

Pre-season NHL games can be a particularly good idea for families who need to buy multiple tickets and financially factor in for the high cost of food and drinks at the game.

Last Minute Tickets

This next strategy suits fans with a tolerance for risk, or at least those who can live with missing the game entirely. In exchange, it occasionally lands you seats below face value, which is why many people consider the gamble worth it.

If you have the flexibility, waiting until the last minute (usually the day of the game) to purchase tickets through resale portals can sometimes provide access to below-face-value tickets or can even just provide access to resale ticket prices that are lower than they were weeks earlier.

The reason is simple: with puck drop hours away, a reseller would rather take a low price than eat the ticket entirely, so listings soften. You can track those prices on resale sites such as SeatGeek, StubHub, and Gametime. It is even worth checking after the game has started, since that is when sellers cut the most.

Another solid last-ditch option is to check the in-person box office (if one exists at the arena you’re visiting) or online ticket portal to see about last minute ticket releases/availability. Many events, including NHL games, hold some tickets back for VIPs or special groups and then release these tickets to the public if they’re not used come game time. This can result in some pretty decent last-minute seats quietly being released to those who are still looking.

Choose Your Locations Wisely

Where you watch matters as much as when you buy. The Fan Cost Index, published by Team Marketing Report and charted below via Statista, measures what one game night costs a family of four: four tickets, parking, two beers, two soft drinks, and four hot dogs. It is a useful yardstick because it captures the whole evening rather than the ticket alone.

On the 2025 index, the New York Rangers sat at the top, where a family of four could expect to spend close to US$1,400 at Madison Square Garden. At the other end, the Buffalo Sabres came in as the cheapest night out in the league. The chart below shows where every club falls in between.

Gaps that wide are worth planning around. A game in a nearby market, or in a city you have wanted to visit anyway, can cost a fraction of what the same evening runs at home. If you are pricing out a single market in detail, our breakdown of the real cost of a game night in Toronto walks through the full bill.

Fan Cost Index of National Hockey League teams in 2025 (in U.S. dollars) 2026 Statista

Save Money on Your Tickets with Points

Beyond the strategies above, one thing is left: how you pay. Putting the tickets on the right credit card earns flexible points on a purchase you were making anyway.

Those points then come back as statement credits that cover part or all of what a hockey trip costs you: the tickets themselves, but also the hotel, the flights, and the transit to get there.

The Scene+ program fits this use case well, because its points can be applied to a purchase after the fact rather than only at checkout. With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar on eligible entertainment, the category most ticket purchases land in, along with 3 points per dollar at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Once the points are in your account, you can put them toward groceries, gift cards, and restaurant meals. For NHL trips, the two that matter most are travel purchases and general statement credits.

Compare

Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $150
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $350
Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months: Up to 35,000 points; Ends Nov 1, 2026

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card ^+* Card^MC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Legal

* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Savings at Shell

Get up to 7 cents per litre in instant fuel discounts for a limited time and earn up to 3 cents per litre in Scene+ points value with an eligible Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + card linked to a Shell Go+ Account:

Instant 3 cents per Litre Discount on Fuel Purchases (All Grades): Receive an instant 3 cents per litre discount on purchases of fuel (all grades) (“Fuel Purchases (All Grades)”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank debit card or credit card linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per Scotiabank debit card and per Scotiabank credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per payment card account. This discount is subject to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Instant 4 cents per Litre Discount on Premium Fuel: Between May 26, 2026 and June 1, 2027 (“Promotional Period”), receive an instant 4 cents per litre discount on purchases of V-Power^® gasoline, or V-Power^® diesel (“Premium Fuel Purchases”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per credit card account. This promotional offer, including the Promotional Period, may be changed, extended, or withdrawn at any time without notice. These promotional offer terms are in addition to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Earn up to 3 cents per Litre in Scene+ points Value (Equivalent) on Fuel Purchases: Each time you use your linked Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points on Fuel Purchases (All Grades) at participating Shell locations in Canada, you will earn at least 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent. Plus, as a Scene+ Member you will also automatically earn 1 Scene+ point for each litre in Fuel Purchases (All Grades), and as a Shell Go+ member, automatically earn 1 additional Scene+ point for each litre in Premium Fuel Purchases, made with your linked Scotiabank credit card. This means that for every litre in fuel purchased with your linked credit card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 3 cents of redeemable Scene+ points value based on a redemption value of $10 for every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed for fuel purchases at participating Shell locations. Actual value may be lower depending on how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points. Earn and redemption limits may apply. See the Scene+ Program Terms and Conditions available at sceneplus.ca/terms-and-conditions for full details including redemption options and additional terms.

Note: Highest value of 10 cents per litre assumes a Premium Fuel Purchase made with a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account. Actual value will vary depending on payment card used and whether or not the card is linked, fuel grade purchased, and how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points.

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
2xTransit
2xEntertainment
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650

2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

The most useful Scene+ feature here is timing: you have up to 12 months after the purchase date to go back and apply points to an eligible travel charge. You can also cover only part of a charge, so you do not need a full balance before you start putting points to work.

What your points are worth, however, depends entirely on the category the purchase falls into:

What you apply points to	Rate	Value per point
Eligible travel purchases	1,000 points = $10	1 cent
Groceries and pharmacy, participating stores	1,000 points = $10	1 cent
General statement credit, any other purchase	1,500 points = $10	0.67 cent

We’ve got detailed guides on how to use your Scene+ points to save money on travel, plus a guide that gives you the 6 best ways to redeem your points. Take a look at both to maximize the value and utility you can get from all the Scene+ points you earn.

Credit card merchant categories

Tickets to sporting events usually code as “Entertainment” rather than “Travel” on a credit card statement. In practice, that means covering an NHL ticket with Scene+ points will most often go through as a general statement credit at 1,500 points = $10, not at the better travel rate.

That said, we have seen tickets show up as eligible travel purchases on some statements. It costs nothing to check your account before you apply points, since the difference between the two rates is roughly one third of their value.

Even when the tickets themselves do not qualify, the travel rate still applies to everything else the trip involves: airfare, hotels, Airbnb stays, transit, and car rentals. On a road trip to see a game in another city, that is usually where most of the money goes anyway.

Bottom Line

Seeing an NHL game live sits on a lot of bucket lists, and the price is rarely gentle. Still, the 84-game season gives you 42 home dates per team to work with, and the strategies above turn that volume into an advantage: buy on the on-sale date, take a pre-season or midweek game, watch the resale market late, or drive to a cheaper market.

On top of that, paying with a Scene+ card such as the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card lets you claw back part of the cost afterwards as a statement credit. Just keep the two rates straight: 1,000 points = $10 on travel, 1,500 points = $10 on the tickets themselves.

Card offers and presale windows move quickly, so sign up for our newsletter to catch the good ones as they land. In the meantime, our destination guides cover many of the cities that host one of the NHL’s 32 teams:

NHL tickets – Frequently Asked Questions

How many games does an NHL team play in 2026-27?

Each team plays 84 games in 2026-27, up from 82 in previous seasons. That works out to 42 home dates and 42 on the road, and 1,344 games across the league.

When does the 2026-27 NHL season start and end?

The regular season opens on September 29, 2026 and ends on April 10, 2027. Pre-season games run in the weeks before opening night, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in mid-April.

How many teams play in the NHL?

The NHL has 32 teams, split into 4 divisions across 2 conferences. Seven of them are in Canada and 25 are in the United States.

Where do I buy regular season NHL tickets?

Twenty-eight of the 32 teams sell through Ticketmaster, an official partner of the league. The Florida Panthers, Utah Mammoth, and Minnesota Wild sell through SeatGeek, and the Vegas Golden Knights sell through AXS.

Is there a resale market for NHL tickets?

Yes. NHL tickets are resold on StubHub, SeatGeek, and Gametime. Prices on those sites often fall in the hours before puck drop, when sellers would rather take a low offer than lose the sale entirely.

When is the cheapest time to buy NHL tickets?

There are two cheap windows. The first is the single-game on-sale date, when seats are still at face value. The second is the day of the game, when resale prices soften. Midweek games against non-rivals are the least expensive dates on any team’s calendar.

Which credit card gets you presale access to NHL tickets?

Eligible American Express cards give early access through American Express Front Of The Line in Canada and American Express Experiences in the US. You can sign up for alerts through those services so you hear about an on-sale before the general public does.

Can I pay for NHL tickets with points?

Not usually at the point of sale, but you can apply points to the charge afterwards. With Scene+, tickets normally code as entertainment, so the rate is 1,500 points = $10 as a statement credit. Travel purchases tied to the same trip, such as flights and hotels, get the better rate of 1,000 points = $10.

To go further

The best Scene+ credit cards (every card that earns the points used above)
The best travel credit cards (when the trip matters more than the game)
The best cash back credit cards (to offset tickets with no points to track)

Maybe you want your home team against its division rival. Maybe you want to catch a game while visiting another city. Either way, a bit of planning and a bit of luck should get you into the building.

NHL Basics

The NHL is made up of 32 teams (7 in Canada and 25 in the US) split evenly across 4 divisions within 2 conferences.

The two extra games went into divisional play, because several clubs wanted a fairer split of dates against their closest rivals. Here is how the 84 games break down for every team:

28 divisional games: two at home and two on the road against each of the 7 other teams in your division.
24 conference games: three against each of the 8 teams in the other division of your conference.
32 inter-conference games: one at home and one on the road against each of the 16 teams in the other conference.

Finally, once the regular season ends and the 16 playoff teams are set, the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in mid-April, and the winner lifts the Cup in June.