Written by Scott on Thursday, October 9th, 2025
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4 games yesterday.
The Leafs – Habs game was closer than the scoreboard showed as the Leafs scored twice on the empty net for the 5-3 win. The Bruins beat the Caps 3-1 and it was another close game with an empty net goal and Swayman played great making 34 saves for Boston.
The Battle of Alberta didn’t disappoint as the Oilers were up 3-0 but the Flames tied it and won it 4-3 in a shootout and the Kings beat the Knights 6-5 in a shootout spoiling Dorofeyev’s hat trick and Marner’s debut.
14 scheduled for tonight.
Blackhawks vs Bruins
The Hawks lost their first game against the Panthers on opening night. They managed to stay with the Panthers until midway through the 3rd. Knight looked good in the loss.
The Bruins played yesterday against the Caps and won with Swayman having a good outing.
Easy pass here for me.
Islanders vs Penguins
Horvat, Palmieri, Drouin, Lee and Barzal are going to supply the team with offense but is it enough to get the Isles back into the playoff picture.
The Pens got their season off to a good start with a 3-0 win against the Rangers. Brazeau scored twice and Malkin picked up 2 assists. Now that they have their home opener will the momentum carry over?
I’m not sold on the Pens after one game. Sure they looked good but again it was only one game.
Canadiens vs Red Wings
The Habs played against the Maple Leafs yesterday and lost 5-3.
The Red Wings didn’t really bring in any help and are hoping that at least one of their youngsters can step up this year and help Kane, DeBrincat, Raymond and Larkin.
Original six matchups are always fun but I’m not touching it.
Rangers vs Sabres
The Rangers come in to this game after getting shutout 3-0 by the Penguins. They ran into Silovs who wasn’t going to be beat stopping the 25 shots they threw at him.
This is the Sabres first game of the season. They are without Power, Kesselring and starting goalie Luukkonen so it’s going to be a tough start to the season for them.
Rangers didnt look very good in theirnforst game and this is the Sabres first so not comfortable tipping either at this point.
Flyers vs Panthers
The Flyers have a decent group of promising players but as always it comes down to their goaltending.
The Panthers are coming off of that win against the Hawks but I’m not sure that is something to brag about.
I want to see how the Panthers play facing a tougher team than the Hawks. Sure they are good but missing Barkov and Tkachuk is going to catch up to them.
Senators vs Lightning
Another game that should be a fun watch
The Sens are moving along nicely in their rebuild. They have a nice mix of vets and youngsters on offense and defense and have Ullmark in goal.
The Lighting are still the offensive powerhouse we have come to expect. Kucherov is joined by Hagel, Point, Guentzel and Cirelli. Hedman leads the defensive side and Vasilevskiy is one of the best in the league in nets.
First game for both so it’s a pass but am curious to see how the Sens do this year.
Devils vs Hurricanes
This is yet another game that is going to be a fun watch and good game. These are the top 2 teams in the Metro in my opinion.
Jack Hughes, Bratt, Hischier, Meier, Noesen, Palat and Mercer the Devils are a strong offensive team if they stay healthy.
Just as deep are the Canes who have Aho, Svechnikov, Ehlers, Hall, Jarvis, Blake and Stankovan.
This early in the season this game could go either way so I’m passing.
Jackets vs Predators
Either team gives me any hope for the upcoming season.
The Jackets are hoping that some of the young players they have start improving so they can build from within the organization.
The Predators didn’t do much in the off season so they are hoping a bounce Stamkos and others can regain their scoring touch.
Not touching this game.
Stars vs Jets
Two of the top teams in the Central here.
The Stars, I think, will be the better team at the end of the season but it should be a close battle. These teams are similarly built with the Stars having a deeper offensive lineup.
Both have great goaltending and both have decent but not great defense. Should be a good game but with it being both teams first its an easy pass for me.
Wild vs Blues
The Wild have a decent team this season and it’s time for Kaprizov to start to earn the insane money they are paying him.
The Blues aren’t a team that is to be feared when looking at them on paper. Binnington is their best player but he can only do so much.
I expect the Wild to have a decent year in the tough Central and I’m not thinking the Blues have what it takes.
Wild win incl OT/SO
Ontario: 2.05 Odds at Sports Interaction
Rest of Canada: 2.10 Odds at BetOnline.
USA: +110 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 2.05 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
(Odds correct as of 2025/10/09 8:19:14 AM EST but are subject to change.)
Mammoth vs Avalanche
The Mammoth are making their debut with the new team name. It should be a cool site to see the take the ice with a logo on their jerseys.
The Avalanche won their first game 4-1 against the Kings and this is their home opener. They looked good in game 1 so I expect more of the same here with this game in Colorado.
Avalanche win in regulation
Ontario: 1.86 Odds at TonyBet
Rest of Canada: 1.86 Odds at TonyBet
USA: -118 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 1.83 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
(Odds correct as of 2025/10/09 8:19:14 AM EST but are subject to change.)
Ducks vs Kraken
The Ducks made some moves like bringing in Kreider and Granlund to help their young roster and I expect them to have a better season this year.
The Kraken also made some moves bringing in Lindgren and Marchment to also help the young players along.
I see these teams in kind of the same situation in terms of where the are skill wise. I have no idea who wins.
Knights vs Sharks
The Knights played last night against the Kings.
The Sharks are a team thatbhas lotsmof young talent and if a couple of them develop as expected than the Sharks are going to be a team to fear in the coming seasons.
The Sharks brought in 4 defensemen all aged 34 in Ellis, Klingberg, Orlov and Leddy so they are really hoping they stay healthy if not a lot of pressure will be put on Dickinson and Mukhamadullin.
I like the Knights here but it would have to be at least in regulation and playing back to back and on the road I’m passing.
Flames vs Canucks
The Flames played last night in the Battle of Alberta and won 4-3 in a shootout.
The Canucks need Pettersson to stay healthy and get back to putting up the numbers he’s capable of. They brought in Evander Kane who if healthy is a great player to have as it keeps the opposition accountable.
With the Flames coming off of the game against the Oilers you know they are tired but they are probably still amped up too after picking up the win.
Another “ripe for an upset” one came in with the Bruins on the pre-season data which was nice to see.
Lotta bloody games today so quick thoughts based on pre-season data:
– Bruins in reg seems a play except the B2B
– Not seeing much in Rangers/Sabres
– Wings should beat Habs
– Sens might give Tampa a game
– Panthers with edge but odds feel way too high
– Not seeing much in Islanders/Pens. As a home dog I don’t hate Pittsburgh here at all they might be a little value play.
– Devils isn’t “ripe for an upset” territory but it’s close. I could see a win there wouldn’t be surprised.
– Data points to Blues.
– Slight lean towards Preds odds seem on point.
– Very slightest of leans on Stars odds seem right.
– Not spotting anything in Avs/Mammoth
– Canucks look good for the W. Flames will be heartbroken they don’t get to go up against Skinner every night.
– Don’t see anything in Knights/Sharks betworthy.
– Ditto for Ducks/Kraken
I notice in the stat sheet of yesterday’s Knights game that the Marner/Eichel/Barbashev line found their zing in the 3rd period. Eichel had 2 assists in the 2nd Period helping Dorofeyev, and then two more points in the 3rd. I’m thinking the Knights are going to be producing goals this year, and with a few more games to tune up, it’s going to be a bonanza of a goal season. Vegas is on the road tonight, but it’s a chip shot to San Jose, and their road schedule has no back-to-backs before their play at home again.They’ll be confident in their energy.
Tonight, San Jose will have to clarify for me just what they’ll be doing this year. Last season they had the leagues worst defense, at 315 goals against and a goal differential of -105. I have to think the Over 5.0 looks highly likely, though I don’t expect San Jose to contribute more than 1 goal.
I agree with Scott that the Avs to win looks obvious, but it’s the Mammoth’s first game, and a mammoth is a huge creature and it’s their second season, they’ll be feeling the spark even though they’re on the road against a top team. So since this game “might” break the 80-20 rule, I’m off it. I want to see what the Mammoth are going to be this year.