The NHL features a 13-game slate for Saturday, including the season opener for the Ottawa Senators. As of Saturday morning, 31 of the league’s 32 teams have played at least one game, a start highlighted by six shutouts and a goal scored by goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
Several games are scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with many contested simultaneously. Betting odds for these matchups are provided by DraftKings and are subject to change.
Toronto Hosts Ottawa in the Opening Battle of Ontario
- Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs: The first “Battle of Ontario” of the 2026-27 season. Toronto is favored at -130 with an over/under of 6.5. While the Maple Leafs won a six-game playoff series against Ottawa in 2025, the Senators held a 3-1 edge in the previous regular season.
- Chicago Blackhawks at Buffalo Sabres: Buffalo is favored at -230 (O/U 6.5). The game marks the first time Bowen Byram returns to Western New York following a predraft trade where Chicago acquired Byram and Jordan Greenway in exchange for Louis Crevier and the No. 4 and No. 45 draft picks. Byram has since signed a long-term contract, and Crevier signed an extension with Buffalo this week.
- Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins: Montreal is favored at -125 (O/U 6.5). The Canadiens enter the game coming off a run to the Eastern Conference finals last season, while the Penguins are led by veterans Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, and Evgeni Malkin. Montreal’s young core includes Lane Hutson, Ivan Demidov, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky.
- Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa Bay is favored at -155 (O/U 6.5). The Lightning are coming off a 5-1 season-opening loss to the Rangers, whereas the Capitals are playing 24 hours after defeating the champion Hurricanes. The matchup is a throwback to the NHL’s old Southeast Division.
- Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers: Carolina is favored at -130 (O/U 5.5). The Flyers have lost their first two games, including a 7-0 shutout by Pittsburgh and an overtime loss to the Devils. In the overtime game on Thursday, the Devils outshot Philadelphia 44-25. Carolina recently lost to Washington on Friday.
- Utah Mammoth at Columbus Blue Jackets: Utah is favored at -112 (O/U 6.5). Columbus recently scored six goals against Buffalo, including two from Matthew Knies, who was acquired in a preseason trade that sent Kirill Marchenko to Toronto. Utah’s Karel Vejmelka has already recorded a shutout this season, while Dylan Guenther scored two goals in a recent Utah victory.
Western Conference Highlights
The Seattle Kraken face the Edmonton Oilers at 7 p.m. ET on the NHL Network. Edmonton is favored at -205 with an over/under of 6.5. In their first two games of the season, Oilers goaltenders have allowed a total of 13 goals. This follows a trend of high scoring between Edmonton and the Canucks, who combined for 27 goals across two games.
Additional Matchups
The Dallas Stars face the Nashville Predators at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Dallas is favored at -142 with an over/under of 5.5. Jesper Wallstedt will start in net for the Wild, while Jeremy Swayman, a Vezina Trophy candidate, backs up the Bruins. To address salary cap constraints, Dallas traded defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and forward Mavrik Bourque to Nashville for draft picks in 2028 and 2027.
It remains unknown how many goals will be conceded by the Oilers in their matchup against Seattle.
Worth a look