The 2023/24 National Hockey League kicks off tonight with 3 games on the slate!
Blackhawks @ Penguins (8:00pm EST)
We finally get to see the Chicago Blackhawks #1 draft pick, Connor Bedard, take the ice tonight against his hockey hero and idol…Sidney Crosby! The Blackhawks have high hopes for Bedard, but let’s not forget who the Blackhawks really are. They’re a team that finished last in the Western Conference / Central Division with just 26 wins in a long 75 game season. They finished their last 10 games of last season 2-7-1 and I see that trend continuing tonight!
Predators @ Lightning (5:30pm EST)
Jonas Johansson replaces Andrei Vasilevskiy (back surgery – out 2 months of the season) between the pipes tonight for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Johansson spent nearly all of last season with Colorado’s AHL affiliate, playing well (14-9-2, 2.33 GAA, .920 save percentage) in the process. The 27-year-old Swede became an unrestricted free agent in July, ultimately signing a two-year, $1.55 deal with the Lightning to serve as the backup to Andrei Vasilevskiy.
On the flip side, Juuse Saros, the Predators #1 goalie will be on the ice looking to improve Nashville’s “mid” 2022/23 season where the Nashville Predators failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 2014. Saros had another stellar season as the Predators’ No. 1 goalie in 2022-23, posting a 33-23-7 record with a 2.69 GAA and a .919 save percentage in 64 contests.
Kraken @ Golden Knights (10pm EST)
Say what you will about the Seattle Kraken but I think they have the sexiest uniforms in all of hockey! The Kraken managed to squeek into the playoffs last year and had the misfortune of matching up against the Avalanche in the first round. To our surprise, the Kraken took care of business and ousted a very talented Colorado Avalanche from the playoffs 4-3. With that said, there hasn’t been a lot of big time improvements in Seattle as they’re hoping their rising young talent starts performing at the next level. They’re only hope (despite making the playoffs without him…) is having a healthy and productive André Burakovsky back on the ice this year.
The Golden Knights are….well…the DEFENDING NHL STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS! With that being said, they’re only a modest favorite tonight (-156 FanDuel). It’s not official yet, but it appears that Adin Hill will get the start tonight for the Knights. “Hill started 2022-23 as backup to Logan Thompson and did well in that role with a 16-7-1 record, a 2.49 GAA and a .914 save percentage over 27 regular-season games. By the end of the campaign, Laurent Brossoit had also passed Hill on the depth chart, but Brossoit suffered a lower-body injury in the second round of the playoffs. Hill became the playoff hero with an 11-4 record, 2.17 GAA and .932 save percentage in 16 postseason games for the Stanley Cup champions. He faces significantly less doubt about his role entering 2023-24 — Hill likely has a slight edge over Thompson to start Opening Night” – Rotowire.com
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