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The 2020-2021 NHL season kicks off Wednesday with five games on the schedule, including defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, home of the Chicago Blackhawks.
[PROJECTED LINEUPS FOR TODAY’S GAMES]
PENGUINS (0-0-0) at FLYERS (0-0-0)
5:30 pm ET; NBCSN, SN1
The regular season begins with the first of eight Battle of Pennsylvania games scheduled in the MassMutual East Division. The Philadelphia Flyers have won their last four season opener since 2016-17, including a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Global Series at the O2 Arena in Prague, Republic of. Czech, October 4, 2019. Carter Hart, The 22-year-old Philadelphia goaltender, and Tristan jarry, a 25-year-old who is the new No. 1 goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins, could face that rivalry for a long time. Centers Evgeni Malkin (15 points; five goals, 10 assists) and Sidney crosby (14 points; six goals, eight assists) are respectively third and fourth in Penguins history for points in the season opener behind Mario Lemieux (20 points; six goals, 14 assists) and Jaromir Jagr ( 16 points; three goals, 13 assists).
Situation report
Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen and defender of the Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere are not available due to the COVID-19 protocol.
CANADIANS (0-0-0) at MAPLE LEAFS (0-0-0)
7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, SN, NHL.TV
Joe thornton will begin his 23rd NHL season and the first for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the 41-year-old could make his left-wing debut on a line with Auston matthews and Mitchell marner. Matthews has 11 points (nine goals, two assists) in four season opener and is one of four players to start his NHL career scoring one goal in his team’s opener in four consecutive seasons (Said Clapper, Dave Andreychuk and Sergei Fedorov). Montreal Canadiens unveil overhauled lineup with addition of forwards Tyler toffoli and Josh Anderson, defender Joel edmundson and goalkeeper Jake allen, who will support Carey Price.
Situation report
The Maple Leafs did an optional practice in the morning … The Canadiens had a full practice in the morning.
BLACKHAWKS (0-0-0) at LIGHTNING (0-0-0)
8 pm ET; NBCSN
Defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning to be striker-free Nikita Kucherov for the season due to hip surgery. Forward Steven stamkos will be in the lineup after recovering from an abdominal muscle injury that prevented him from playing in all but one of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. The Blackhawks start the season without a captain Jonathan toews (medical problem), which is indefinitely absent, and focuses Kirby dach (right wrist surgery), which is absent 4-5 months. Forward Patrick kane scored 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 13 NHL season opener, tied with the Washington Capitals forward Alex ovechkin (18 points; 11 goals, seven assists) for most active NHL players.
Situation report
Blackhawks Center Carl Soderberg has had her visa issues resolved and is going through a mandatory seven-day quarantine in Chicago. … lightning ahead Tyler johnson and defender Luke schenn are expected to return to the lineup on Friday after clearing the waivers.
CANUCKS (0-0-0) at OILERS (0-0-0)
10 p.m. ET; SN, SN1, TVAS2, NHL.TV
The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers meet for the second straight season after the Oilers beat the Canucks 3-2 on October 2, 2019. Vancouver is led by a 22-year-old center Elias pettersson and 21-year-old defender Quinn Hughes. They also have Thatcher Demko, a 25-year-old goalkeeper who is expected to start the season in timeshare with Braden Holtby. Leon Draisaitl, voted the Hart Trophy winner last season as the NHL’s MVP, Connor McDavid lead the Oilers after centers were first and second in the NHL in goals last season (Draisaitl, 110 points; McDavid, 97 points).
Situation report
Goalie Mikko Koskinen with departure for the Oilers … Coach Travis Green has not revealed whether Holtby or Demko will leave for the Canucks. … Edmonton signed forward Devon Shore to a one-year, $ 700,000 contract and waived it.
BLUES (0-0-0) at AVALANCHE (0-0-0)
10:30 pm ET; NBCSN
Two of last season’s top Western Conference teams face off in their first of eight scheduled games in Honda’s Western Division, starting with game one at Ball Arena. Torey Krug will make his debut for the St. Louis Blues after the defenseman played seven full seasons with the Boston Bruins. The Blues have also added forward Mike Hoffman, who has scored at least 20 goals in six consecutive seasons and named center Ryan O’Reilly captain after defenseman Alex Pietrangelo signed with the Vegas Golden Knights. The Colorado Avalanche is considered one of the best contenders for the Stanley Cup, and center Nathan MacKinnon, Hart Trophy finalist last season, said he believed they are more than able to earn it.
Situation report
The Blues placed forward Vladimir Tarasenko on LTIR and promoted attackers Jordan Kyrou and Mackenzie MacEachern from the taxi team to the active list. … said avalanche trainer Jared Bednar Erik Johnson did not attend the camp because the defender tested positive for COVID-19. He will come back on Saturday if all goes well.
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