Friday’s five-game NHL slate carries the feel of opening-week hockey: new captains, returning stars, division tests and a few fresh faces in new sweaters. Three games are set for national television in the United States, while Canadian viewers have two nationally broadcast matchups to follow.
The Central Division gets an early measuring-stick game in Dallas, where the Stars host the St. Louis Blues at American Airlines Center at 9 p.m. ET. Dallas brings back Jason Robertson after the forward agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal on July 1. Robertson paced the Stars with 96 points last season, scoring 45 goals and adding 51 assists across 82 games. Dallas won 50 games but saw its playoff run end in six games against the Minnesota Wild in the first round.
St. Louis arrives with a different look around its leadership group. Robert Thomas will skate in his first game as Blues captain, while Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael are each preparing for their St. Louis debuts. The game airs on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT and SN1.
Detroit opens at Little Caesars Arena against the New York Rangers at 6:30 p.m. ET, still chasing its first postseason berth since 2016. The Red Wings will start without captain Dylan Larkin, who is expected to miss the club’s opening two games because of an upper-body injury. Defenseman Moritz Seider remains one of the constants on their blue line; he has appeared in 410 straight games since entering the League, the longest such opening-career streak for a European-born player.
The Rangers come in at 1-1-0 after a 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Igor Shesterkin put an exclamation point on that result with the first goal by a goaltender in Rangers history. New York-Detroit is available on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT and SN1.
Ovechkin opens another chapter in Carolina
Alex Ovechkin begins his 22nd NHL season when the Washington Capitals visit the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. The 41-year-old enters the night as the League’s all-time goals leader with 929, and his 1,687 career points rank 10th in NHL history. He has played 1,573 regular-season games and led Washington in scoring a year ago with 64 points, split evenly between 32 goals and 32 assists in 82 outings.
Ovechkin did not appear in the preseason, so Friday will mark his first game action of the new campaign. Carolina is also looking for its first win after falling 1-0 in overtime to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Capitals-Hurricanes starts at 7 p.m. ET and can be seen on HHN, CARNHL, MNMT, SN and TVAS.
In Winnipeg, the Jets play their home opener against a Boston Bruins club that came out of the gate in strong form. Boston blanked the Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday behind Jeremy Swayman’s shutout. Fraser Minten, newly signed by the Bruins, scored the game-deciding goal, while trade addition JJ Peterka delivered what Minten described as a “nasty” finish. Winnipeg hosts Boston at Canada Life Centre at 8 p.m. ET, with TSN3 and NESN carrying the game.
The late game sends Anaheim to T-Mobile Arena to face the Vegas Golden Knights at 10 p.m. ET. Leo Carlsson remains with the Ducks after Anaheim matched an offer sheet signed by the 21-year-old forward with Philadelphia during the offseason. Carlsson enters his fourth NHL campaign coming off personal bests of 29 goals, 38 assists and 67 points in 70 games.
Vegas already has one game behind it, having opened with a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. The Ducks-Golden Knights matchup airs on Prime Video, SCRIPPS, KCOP-13, SN and TVAS.
Friday’s puck drops
| Game | Time (ET) | Television |
|---|---|---|
| New York Rangers at Detroit Red Wings | 6:30 p.m. | HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN1 |
| Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes | 7 p.m. | HHN, CARNHL, MNMT, SN, TVAS |
| Boston Bruins at Winnipeg Jets | 8 p.m. | TSN3, NESN |
| St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars | 9 p.m. | HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN1 |
| Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights | 10 p.m. | Prime Video, SCRIPPS, KCOP-13, SN, TVAS |
