Hockey is back on the local calendar. Here is the first week.

The NHL preseason began September 19, but the New York-area schedule starts a day later. The Islanders visit the Devils on Sunday afternoon, beginning a compact week in which the Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres all play. These games do not count in the standings. They do give coaches their first public look at roster combinations under game conditions.

The regional preseason schedule

Sunday, September 20 — Islanders at Devils, 1 p.m. Eastern. It is the first regional matchup on the league’s official preseason schedule.

Monday, September 21 — Rangers at Devils, 7 p.m.; Sabres at Penguins, 7 p.m. Two regional teams make their preseason debuts at the same time.

Tuesday, September 22 — Blue Jackets at Sabres, 7 p.m.; Islanders at Rangers, 7 p.m. The New York matchup is the Rangers’ first home preseason date.

Thursday, September 24 — Sabres at Red Wings, 7 p.m.; Devils at Rangers, 7 p.m. The league schedule puts both games in the same viewing window.

Friday, September 25 — Rangers at Islanders, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 26 closes the preseason with Penguins at Sabres at 3 p.m. and Devils at Islanders at 7:30 p.m.

The full NHL preseason is shorter this year: 65 games across eight days. The league says the reduced schedule accompanies the move to an 84-game regular season. That makes each exhibition date more concentrated, but it does not turn a September result into evidence of a team’s final ceiling.

What the games can—and cannot—tell us

The useful questions are narrower. Which players are trusted in meaningful situations? Which lines or defensive pairs are tested more than once? Who remains in the lineup as decisions get closer? A strong period can earn attention. It should not be treated as a prediction of an 84-game season.

The regular season opens Tuesday, September 29. The Rangers visit Boston at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, part of the league’s opening-night schedule. That is the first regional game in this guide that affects the standings.

The first game that counts

For attendance and viewing, use the teams’ official schedule pages before making a purchase. Preseason broadcasts can differ from regular-season arrangements, and a listing can change by market or platform. This guide preserves the verified dates and times; it is not a ticket offer or a live scoreboard.