Ottawa Senators to play 2 games in Düsseldorf, Germany this December

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stützle, right, celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal as Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom, left, reacts during overtime period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The Ottawa Senators will be taking to the ice in Germany this December, as part of the NHL’s efforts to grow the game overseas.

The Sens will face off against the Chicago Blackhawks twice at PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf on Dec. 18 and Dec. 20, 2026.

The league says these games will mark the second and third ever NHL regular season games played in Germany, with the first dating back to Oct. 8, 2011, when the Buffalo Sabres faced the Los Angeles Kings at O2 World in Berlin.

The league, and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), say they plan to bring regular season NHL games to Germany for at least the next three seasons.

The games in Düsseldorf will be taking place a short distance away from the Senators’ leading point-scorer Tim Stützle’s hometown of Viersen.

“I think German hockey has been growing a lot, and there are a lot of great players from there,” Stützle in a news release from the NHL. “Now that they [the NHL] have been committing to playing games there and supporting kids as well. It’s huge. Hopefully it gets even more people to play hockey in Germany. It’s really exciting news.”

This weekend also marks the debut of “Hockey Day in Germany,” which will feature an appearance by the Stanley Cup and a live-viewing of Saturday’s game between the Senators and the Anaheim Ducks.

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