NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL schedules come together for sports equinox originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
It may not be a traditional sports holiday like Christmas, Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July, but Thursday will be a mix of all three for fans.
Nov. 3, 2022, is one of the rare dates on the sports calendar that will feature professional football, basketball, baseball and hockey games. From Thursday Night Football to the World Series to the NBA and NHL seasons, there is action across the board.
Just how rare is such an occasion? Here’s everything you need to know about the “sports equinox.”
What is a sports equinox?
The sports equinox occurs when the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL all hold games on the same day.
While the celebration centers around the “Big Four” leagues, other sports can also get involved, too.
How many sports equinoxes have there been?
Nov. 3, 2022, will be the 29th sports equinox in history.
The first one occurred on Oct. 17, 1971, with a World Series Game 7, 12 NFL games, three NBA games and six NHL games. Nine sports equinoxes occurred between 1971 and 1980, another fell on Oct. 27, 1985, and then it was 16 more years before another one happened again on Nov. 4, 2001. There has been at least one sports equinox every year since 2015.
There is a small window where a sports equinox can occur. The NBA and NHL seasons traditionally begin in mid-to-late October, right as the MLB postseason is coming to a close. Because of those schedules, 26 of the 29 sports equinoxes in history have occurred between Oct. 12 and Nov. 4 in its given year.
The only sports equinoxes that fell outside of that window occurred in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the MLB, NBA and NHL seasons and created a busy September. The year featured sports equinoxes on Sept. 10, 13 and 17 with regular season games for the NFL and MLB along with postseason matchups in the NBA and NHL and is the only year with three of them.
Which games are happening on Nov. 3?
Thursday’s sports equinox will include a pivotal World Series Game 5, Thursday Night Football, two NBA matchups and 13 NHL tilts:
MLB
NFL
NBA
-
Warriors vs. Magic, 7 p.m. ET
-
Nuggets vs. Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
NHL
-
Capitals vs. Red Wings, 7 p.m. ET
-
Golden Knights vs. Senators, 7 p.m. ET
-
Hurricanes vs. Lightning, 7 p.m. ET
-
Bruins vs. Rangers, 7:30 p.m. ET
-
Kraken vs. Wild, 8 p.m. ET
-
Islanders vs. Blues, 8 p.m. ET
-
Canadiens vs. Jets, 8 p.m. ET
-
Kings vs. Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET
-
Predators vs. Flames, 9 p.m. ET
-
Devils vs. Oilers, 9 p.m. ET
-
Stars vs. Coyotes, 10 p.m. ET
-
Ducks vs. Canucks, 10 p.m. ET
-
Panthers vs. Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET
Will there be another sports equinox in 2022?
This will be the third sports equinox of 2022 with the first two coming on Oct. 20 and Oct. 23. The third sports equinox was supposed to occur on Halloween, but Game 3 of the World Series was postponed in Philadelphia due to inclement weather.
Because of that postponement, there is also the chance of a fourth sports equinox in 2022. Each game of the World Series was pushed back a day, meaning a potential Game 7 between the Phillies and Astros would take place on Sunday, Nov. 6, a date that also features 11 NFL games, four NBA games and three NHL games.
