Six games are scheduled on the regular NHL schedule this Wednesday, October 12. Here are the elements of these matches that will catch our attention.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Carolina Hurricanes
19 h SE; BSSO, BSOH, ESPN +, SN NOW
Johnny Gaudreau he will play his first game in the blue jacket uniform when they face the Hurricanes at the PNC Arena.
The 29-year-old left winger was the most coveted free agent last summer and signed a seven-year contract on July 13, after setting an NHL personal best with 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) in 82 games with Calgary Flames. last season.
Gaudreau could become one of the few players in NHL history to have amassed at least 100 points with different teams in consecutive seasons (Wayne Gretzky, Jimmy Carson, Mike Rogers). Columbus has never fielded a player with at least 100 points in a season. The team record is held by Artemi Panarinowith 87 points in 2018-19.
Video: EDM @ CGY, # 5: Gaudreau draws the game quickly
In the opposite field, Brent Burns will patrol the blue hurricane line for the first time. The 37-year-old defender was signed on in an exchange with the San Jose Sharks on 13 July. He had 54 points (10 goals, 44 assists) and finished third in the NHL with an average ice time per game of 26:09 in 82 games last season.
The Hurricanes have won six of their last seven fights against the Blue Jackets. – Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com journalists
Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals
19 h SE; SN NOW, TNT
The Capitals will look to extend the longest active winning streak in an NHL opening game by hosting the Bruins.
From 2017-18, Washington has won its five throws and the team maintains the longest active opening streak with at least one point, going 6-0-2 since the 2014-15 season.
Jim Montgomery will make his debut behind the Bruins bench and his second term as NHL manager. The former Dallas Stars driver replaced Bruce Cassidy, who was fired on June 7.
And speaking of firsts, the goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper he will defend the Capitals network for the first time, as well as play in his 300th career NHL game. Washington signed him for five years with an average annual salary of $ 5.25 million after winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. Him and his helper Charlie Lindgren it will have the task of bringing stability to the network in Washington.
Both teams will be left without key players due to injury: striker Brad Marchand (both flanks) and defender Charlie McAvoy (left shoulder) will be absent from the Boston team, as will the forwards Nicklas Backstrom (left hip), Carlo Hagelin (hip) e Tom Wilson (left knee) in the Washington field.
the attacker TJ Oshie (upper body) and defender Dmitry Orlov (lower body) hope to be ready for the duel against the Bruins, after missing Washington’s preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. They got injured on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. – William Douglas, NHL.com reporter
Canucks de Vancouver vs Oilers d’Edmonton
22 h LU; SN, ESPN +, SN NOW
The era Jack Campbell will start with the Oilers, kicking off their regular season by hosting the Canucks at Rogers Place.
The Oilers have been wanting to go far in the Stanley Cup playoffs for several seasons now and are hoping the acquisition of goalkeeper Jack Campbell will make a difference. Offense is rarely an issue in the Oilers camp, so it remains to be seen whether Campbell will make them dominant on the net.
The 30-year-old signed a five-year contract worth $ 25 million (average annual salary of $ 5 million) on July 13, after scoring 31-9-6 with an average of 2.64 goals, 0.914 saves and five Shutout career record in 49 games (47 as a starter) with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season.
The bout will mark the Edmonton Oilers striker’s regular season debut Dylan Holloway, drafted in the first round (14th overall) in 2020. He played in the playoffs last season, against the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals. He has had a stellar retirement with six points, including four goals, in six preseason games.
Video: VAN @ EDM: Holloway scores third place of the evening
In the field of Canucks it is the state of health of the attacker Brock Boeser that attracts attention. He underwent one-hand surgery on September 26, but everything indicates that he will be in the starting line-up.
the attacker Andrei Kuzmenko will play his first career game in the NHL. Never drafted, he signed a one-year contract with Vancouver on July 13, having spent the last eight seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia.
The Canucks will be looking to turn things around against the Oilers, who were unable to beat in four games last season (0-1-3). – Tracey Myers, reporter for NHL.com
More matches scheduled on Wednesday …
Toronto Maple Leafs v Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, ESPN +, SN NOW)
Blackhawks de Chicago vs Avalanche du Colorado (21 h 30 HE; TNT, SN NOW)
Kraken de Seattle vs Ducks d’Anaheim (22 h HE; BSSC, ROOT-NW, ESPN +, SN NOW)
