After easing hockey fans back into the season with just seven games in the first two nights of the regular season, the NHL and its schedulers have put together a massive 14-game slate for Thursday, followed by an off-day for the league Friday, helping to set up for a gigantic 16-game slate Saturday.
I’ll do my best to get through the most relevant notes and thoughts surrounding tonight’s gigantic slate in this article, which will feature 19 teams taking the ice for the first time this season, and also outline my favorite betting side.
Best Bet: Chicago Blackhawks +140 (bet365, play to +130)
After earning a 3-1 win while playing as heavy underdogs in Washington last evening, the Boston Bruins will play their home opener Thursday evening versus the Chicago Blackhawks, who suffered a tough loss in a closely contested game versus the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
BAM AD
A season-opening win over the Capitals suggests this season could be different for the Bruins, who completely fell apart down the stretch last season while playing without top defenders Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm.
The Bruins do deserve credit for Wednesday’s win over a Capitals side that led the Eastern Conference in points last season, but it was far from pretty. They generated next to nothing in what was a fairly ugly game overall, but were able to lean on a dominant performance from Jeremy Swayman to scrape out a win. The Bruins generated just five high-danger scoring chances and were outshot 36 to 21.
This sets up as a good spot to tap into the possibility that the Bruins’ offensive upside will remain quite low this season, given the long price we are getting to back the Blackhawks sneaking out a victory in a favorable spot. David Pastrnak was excellent in last night’s matchup, but as expected, the rest of the forward corps did not look overly threatening.
BAM AD
Swayman was rightfully named the First Star of last night’s matchup but will likely rest in favor of Joonas Korpisalo in this matchup. Korpisalo played to a -1.7 GSAx rating and .893 save percentage in 27 appearances last season.
We don’t need to oversell the Blackhawks to like this bet, as my main belief revolves around the idea that the Bruins may struggle to pull away from even the NHL’s bottom feeders this season due to their lack of offensive depth.
At +140, I see value in taking a shot with a Blackhawks side that played respectably versus the Panthers Tuesday.
Montreal Canadiens vs Detroit Red Wings
Canadiens moneyline odds
+115
Red Wings moneyline odds
-135
Game total
Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 (+100)
Time
7 p.m. ET
The Canadiens will be playing back-to-back after suffering a 5-2 loss last night in Toronto, a game in which they played much better than the final score suggested.
The Canadiens went 3-1-0 versus the Red Wings last season, a key reason Montreal finished with five more points and snuck into the postseason.
Montreal played to a record of 17-19-5 on the road last season, while Detroit owned a record of 22-16-3 on home ice.
Goaltender John Gibson will make his Red Wings debut in this matchup. Gibson held a +15.3 GSAx rating last season with the Anaheim Ducks.
Former seventh-round pick Emmitt Finnie’s stock has continued to skyrocket throughout training camp and the preseason, and he appears to have earned a spot on the Red Wings’ top line entering Thursday’s matchup.
Jakub Dobes is expected to start in goal for the Canadiens. Dobes was excellent in 16 games last season, playing to a +9.0 GSAx rating and .909 save percentage.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Boston Bruins
Blackhawks moneyline odds
+140
Bruins moneyline odds
-165
Game total
Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 (+100)
Time
7 p.m. ET
Boston will play its home opener after a road game in Washington Wednesday. The Bruins went 20-14-7 on home ice last season, while the Blackhawks went 10-26-5 on the road.
Joonas Korpisalo is expected to start in goal for the Bruins. Korpisalo held a -1.7 GSAx rating and .893 save percentage last season.
The Blackhawks’ second line of Frank Nazar, Teuvo Teravainen, and Tyler Bertuzzi combined for six points in the Blackhawks’ 3-2 loss on opening night, with Nazar in particular looking quite dangerous.
New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes
Devils moneyline odds
+145
Hurricanes moneyline odds
-170
Game total
Over 5.5 goals (-120), Under 5.5 (+100)
Time
7:30 p.m. ET
The Hurricanes bested a shorthanded Devils side in five games in Round 1 last postseason and went 2-2-0 versus the Devils in the regular season.
Nikolaj Ehlers will make his Hurricanes debut and is expected to skate on the top line alongside Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, as well as the top power-play unit.
Carolina went 31-9-1 on home ice last season, while New Jersey actually held a higher points % on the road with a record of 23-16-2.
New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Islanders moneyline odds
-135
Penguins moneyline odds
+115
Game total
Over 6 goals (+100), Under 6 (-120)
Time
7 p.m. ET
The Islanders got off to a 3-5-2 start last season, immediately putting their hopes of a playoff berth in peril. They also played to a record of 16-18-7 on the road, which was another reason for their disappointing finish.
First overall pick Matthew Schaefer will make his NHL debut and is expected to skate on the third defensive pairing alongside Scott Mayfield.
Maxim Shabanov will also make his NHL debut after recording 67 points in 65 KHL games last season. Shabanov could prove to be an important addition for an Islanders side that ranked 27th in goal per game average last season.
The Penguins looked surprisingly solid in their season-opening win over the Rangers, including a shutout performance from Arturs Silovs in his Penguins debut.
New York Rangers vs Buffalo Sabres
Rangers moneyline odds
-115
Sabres moneyline odds
-105
Game total
Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 (+100)
Time
7 p.m. ET
The Rangers will look to bounce back after a lethargic performance in their home opener versus the Penguins, in what was Mike Sullivan’s head coaching debut.
J.T. Miller’s performance in the season opener has already drawn about questions regarding his health.
With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on the IR, Alex Lyon will start in goal for the Sabres. Lyon held a +2.4 GSAx rating and .898 save percentage in 30 appearances last season with the Red Wings.
Ottawa Senators vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Senators moneyline odds
+145
Lightning moneyline odds
-170
Game total
Over 6 goals (-115), Under 6 (-105)
Time
7 p.m. ET
The Lightning are now the betting favorites in the Atlantic Division. They held a record of 29-8-4 last season, as well as the Eastern Conference’s best goal differential.
As Drake Batherson (RW) is sidelined due to injury, Fabian Zetterlund will start the season on the Senators’ top line.
Gage Concalves could be a strong sleeper in both the fantasy and betting worlds early on this season, as the talented 24-year-old is starting the season playing alongside Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel on a high-quality second line.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Florida Panthers
Flyers moneyline odds
+180
Panthers moneyline odds
-220
Game total
Over 5.5 goals (-115), Under 5.5 (-105)
Time
7 p.m. ET
The Flyers will play for the first time under head coach Rick Tocchet. Tocchet was awarded the Jack Adams Trophy following the 2023-24 season but was relieved of his duties after the Vancouver Canucks’ highly disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
Trevor Zegras is expected to play on the Flyers’ second line alongside Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny, as well as on the top power-play unit.
Dan Vladar is set to make his Flyers debut. Vladar played to a +0.8 GSAx rating last season in a backup role with the Calgary Flames and could prove to be an upgrade for a Flyers side that received the league’s worst goaltending last season.
The Panthers displayed their typically well-structured team game to help compensate for the losses of Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk on opening night.
Dating back to the start of last season, the Panthers are 27-12-2 on home ice in the regular season.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Nashville Predators
Blue Jackets moneyline odds
+100
Predators moneyline odds
-120
Game total
Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 (+100)
Time
8 p.m. ET
Jet Greaves will start in goal for the Blue Jackets. Greaves was excellent in a small sample size last season, playing to a +14.5 GSAx and a .938 save percentage in 11 appearances.
The Blue Jackets will stick with a top line of Sean Monahan, Kirill Marchenko, and Dmitri Voronkov, which was among the league’s top units last season in playing to a 29-12 goal differential.
Brady Martin will make his NHL debut and is expected to center the Predators’ top line.
Dallas Stars vs Winnipeg Jets
Stars moneyline odds
-115
Jets moneyline odds
-105
Game total
Over 5.5 goals (-115), Under 5.5 (-105)
Time
8 p.m. ET
The Jets won three of four in last season’s regular season series versus the Stars, but that success did not carry into the postseason, where the Stars eliminated the Jets in six games.
Sam Steel appears to have earned a role on the Stars’ top line and is expected to skate alongside Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen.
The Jets enter the season with a concerning injury situation, as captain Adam Lowry, Cole Perfetti, and underrated defender Dylan Samberg will miss this matchup.
Minnesota Wild vs St. Louis Blues
Wild moneyline odds
+105
Blues moneyline odds
-125
Game total
Over 5.5 goals (-125), Under 5.5 (+105)
Time
8 p.m. ET
The Wild won three of four versus the Blues last season and averaged 3.75 goals per game in those matchups.
Shutdown defender Jonas Brodin is a game-time decision for the Wild.
After spending the majority of last season on the second line, Marco Rossi is expected to center the top line alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy.
Calder-eligible forward Jimmy Snuggerud is expected to play on the Blues’ top line and top power play in this matchup.
Utah Mammoth vs Colorado Avalanche
Mammoth moneyline odds
+160
Avalanche moneyline odds
-190
Game total
Over 6.5 goals (+100), Under 6.5 (-120)
Time
9 p.m. ET
One of only two matchups with a high betting total of 6.5 on tonight’s 14-game slate.
JJ Peterka will make his Mammoth debut Thursday and is expected to play on the top line alongside Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther.
The Avalanche were highly impressive in their season-opening 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, with their top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Artturi Lehkonen looking particularly excellent.
Anaheim Ducks vs Seattle Kraken
Ducks moneyline odds
+110
Kraken moneyline odds
-130
Game total
Over 6 goals (-110), Under 6 (-110)
Time
10 p.m. ET
Joel Quenneville will make his Ducks debut as head coach, while the Kraken will play for the first time under Lane Lambert.
2024 third overall pick Bennett Sennecke will make his NHL debut. Sennecke recorded 86 points in 56 games in the OHL last season.
The Kraken are dealing with several notable injuries, as Ryker Evans and Kaapo Kakko will miss this matchup due to injury, while Vince Dunn is considered questionable.
Calgary Flames vs Vancouver Canucks
Flames moneyline odds
+175
Canucks moneyline odds
-210
Game total
Over 6 goals (+100), Under 6 (-120)
Time
10 p.m. ET
The Flames will be playing the second leg of a travelling back-to-back after recording an impressive comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
Devin Cooley is expected to start in goal for the Flames. Cooley held a .905 save percentage with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL last season.
Rookie Matvei Gridin was arguably the most impressive Flames forward on Wednesday, recording a goal and five shots on goal while skating on the second line.
Braedon Cootes has earned an opportunity to play at the NHL level after a highly impressive preseason and is expected to center the Canucks’ third line in this matchup.
The Canucks will be playing for the first time under new head coach Adam Foote in this matchup.
Vegas Golden Knights vs San Jose Sharks
Knights moneyline odds
-200
Sharks moneyline odds
+165
Game total
Over 6.5 goals (+100), Under 6.5 (-120)
Time
10 p.m. ET
One of two games with a high betting total of 6.5 on Thursday’s 14-game slate
The Knights will be playing the second leg of a travelling back-to-back after an ugly collapse Wednesday versus the Vegas Golden Knights.
Mitch Marner recorded two points in his Knights debut while playing alongside Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev on a top line that is expected to be among the league’s best units.
Akira Schmid is expected to start in goal for the Knights. Schmid held a +2.4 GSAx rating and .944 save percentage in five NHL appearances last season.
2025 second overall pick Michael Misa could potentially be a healthy scratch in this matchup, which would be a puzzling move after the Sharks have chosen to keep the highly-touted forward up in the NHL to start the year.
