The NHL joins MLB, NBA, NFL and MLS for the 32nd edition of the sports equinox on October 27, 2025. This rare occurrence features multiple hockey games, including the Pittsburgh Penguins facing the St. Louis Blues. It marks the fifth straight year all five major North American leagues play on the same day.
The sports equinox, when all major North American professional leagues schedule games on the same day, reaches its 32nd occurrence on Monday, October 27, 2025. Originally a rare event—the first happening on October 17, 1971—this phenomenon has become more common, with at least one equinox every year since 2015. It is the eighth such event since October 20, 2022, and the last prior one was on October 28, 2024.
For hockey fans, the day highlights NHL action with four teams in play. Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the St. Louis Blues at 7 p.m. ET on NHL Network, one of two confirmed NHL matchups. The Boston Bruins also compete, facing the Ottawa Senators on the road at 7:30 p.m. ET.
This equinox underscores shifts in league schedules contributing to overlaps. The NBA began mid-October starts in the 2017-18 season to reduce fatigue, while MLS playoffs now extend into winter. MLB's potential for November games, as seen nine times since 2001, and the NFL's weekly slate further enable these alignments. The NHL is reportedly set to start its 2026-27 season in late September, potentially increasing future equinoxes.
Fans can catch Crosby, a multiple MVP and champion, alongside stars from other sports like Shohei Ohtani in MLB's World Series Game 3 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays at 8 p.m. ET.