November is when hockey becomes part of the weekly routine. The leaves are mostly down, the evenings come early, and the Colorado Avalanche are settling into a season that is built differently from the ones fans here are used to.

According to the Avalanche's official 2026–27 schedule release, the NHL is playing 84 regular-season games this year. It is the first time the league has used that length since the 1993–94 season. That makes this the longest NHL regular season in more than three decades.

Two more games

Two extra games can sound like a rounding error. Spread across a winter, though, they add up to two more nights of travel, two more chances to bank points, and two more games for bumps and bruises to pile up. In a format where playoff races often come down to the final weeks, every added game is another chance for a team to gain ground or lose it.

The practical effect for fans is simple: more hockey. There are more nights to watch from the couch and more chances to catch a game in person. The season also gets a little more room to swing before spring.

Ten back-to-backs test the roster

The release says Colorado has 10 back-to-back sets on the schedule. That means 20 of the Avs' 84 games come on consecutive days.

Back-to-backs are where a team's depth gets measured. The second night leaves little time for recovery, so coaching decisions become part of the storyline. Watch how the Avs manage those stretches: who starts in goal, how ice time is spread through the lineup, and whether the team can still play its game on tired legs. Over a long season, how a team handles its back-to-backs can show up in the standings.

Two dates to circle

The schedule release points to a couple of games worth putting on the family calendar:

Nov. 27 at Minnesota. This is the Avalanche's first afternoon game of the season. It falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which could make it a natural fit for a long holiday weekend with relatives in town.

Game 84 at home against the Wild. The regular season ends with a home matinee against Minnesota. The division rival appears on both of the schedule's afternoon highlights, and Game 84 could carry real weight if the standings are tight.

Afternoon games are good news for younger fans and early risers. They let you catch a full game without a late bedtime on a school night.

A marathon, not a sprint

The big takeaway from an 84-game schedule is patience. Early November is a good time to watch for patterns rather than overreact to any single result. Is the team winning the second half of back-to-backs? Is the lineup holding up as the miles pile on? Those answers tend to matter more in April than any one night in the fall.

How to follow along

For this week's matchups, puck-drop times and broadcast details, the Avalanche's official schedule page is the most reliable place to check. Team schedules can shift, so it's worth a quick look before game day.

With 84 games ahead, there's plenty of season left to enjoy. Pick a back-to-back, pencil in the Nov. 27 afternoon game, and see how this longer road plays out.