*Photo from PensBurgh*
Opening night is finally here. After a quick offseason, teams are back on the ice for a 56 game regular season sprint towards the playoffs, with 30 of the 31 NHL teams trying to knock off the Tampa Bay Lightning from the top of the hockey world after their Stanley Cup win in October. Let's take a look at all the opening day matchups.
*Photo from Sports Illustrated*
Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers
Puck drop: 5:30 EST
How to watch: NBCSN(U.S.) Sportsnet(Canada)
Starting goalies: Tristan Jarry(Pittsburgh) vs Carter Hart(Philadelphia)
Oh baby, the battle of Pennsylvania on opening night? Yes please. Besides the long standing rivalry between these teams, we also get a battle of young goalies, as Jarry took over the number one spot for the Penguins in his debut last season, as did Hart in Philadelphia.
*Photo from TSN*
Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Puck drop: 7:00 EST
How to watch: Sportsnet(Canada)
Starting goalies: Carey Price(Canadiens) vs Frederik Andersen(Maple Leafs)
Both teams are trying to rebound from disappointing seasons last year, as the Canadiens somehow stumbled into the playoffs out of sheer luck and a Pandemic, while the Leafs got bounced in the qualifying round by the Blue Jackets.
*Photo from NHL.com*
Chicago Blackhawks @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Puck drop: 8:00 EST
How to watch: NBCSN(U.S.) Sportsnet(Canada)
Starting goalies: Malcom Subban(Blackhawks) vs Andrei Vasilevskiy(Lightning)
The Blackhawks are in the middle of a rebuild, thus leaving Subban as the starting option amid a teardown. The Lightning just won the cup and are preparing for the title defense. You can do the math and figure out who's likely gonna win.
*Photo from Sportsnet*
Vancouver Canucks @ Edmonton Oilers
Puck drop: 10:00 EST
How to watch: Sportsnet(Canada)
Starting goalies: Braden Holtby(Canucks) vs Mikko Koskinen(Oilers)
Vancouver has a new face in net as Holtby heads to Vancouver after Jacob Markstrom left in free agency. The Oilers have a familiar face in Koskinen after a breakout season last year that saw Edmonton reach the playoffs.
*Photo from NHL.com*
St.Louis Blues @ Colorado Avalanche
Puck drop: 10:30 EST
How to watch: NBCSN(U.S.) Sportsnet(Canada)
Starting goalies: Jordan Binnington(Blues) vs Philipp Grubauer(Avalanche)
Both teams had fantastic seasons last season, with the Blues looking to get back to the finals after winning it all in 2018-2019, while the Avalanche look to get better in their competition window.
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