Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

7:00 PM ET | SN-PIT · Sportsnet East / TVA Sports (Canada) · PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh opens its home schedule after a statement 7-0 win in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Sidney Crosby, 39 and in his 22nd season, has 72 points (26 goals, 46 assists) in 55 career games against Montreal.

The Canadiens are 1-0-0 after winning 3-2 in Toronto on opening night and arrive with the young core – Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov – that carried them to the Eastern Conference Final last spring.

Prediction: A high-event home opener – Pittsburgh edges it late.

Washington Capitals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

7:00 PM ET | The Spot / Monumental Sports Network · Benchmark International Arena, Tampa

Tampa Bay’s home opener comes on the back half of Washington’s road back-to-back. The Capitals opened with a 5-2 win in Raleigh on Friday, and Alex Ovechkin, 41, picked up an assist. He is still chasing his first goal of the season – and No. 930 of his career – after leading Washington with 64 points last year.

The Lightning are looking to bounce back from a 5-1 loss at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

Prediction: Tampa Bay responds at home against a tired opponent.

Seattle Kraken vs. Edmonton Oilers

7:00 PM ET | NHL Network (US) · Sportsnet West (Canada) · Rogers Place, Edmonton

Edmonton’s first two games under Mike Babcock produced 22 goals. Evan Bouchard has eight points and Connor McDavid seven; Bouchard had five in a 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver on opening night, McDavid five in a 9-7 win in Vancouver two nights later. No team in NHL history has had a player record five points in each of its first three games.

Seattle arrives 1-0-0 after a 6-1 rout in Calgary on Thursday and will test whether the Oilers can tighten up defensively.

Prediction: Edmonton outscores its problems again at home.

New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders

7:30 PM ET | MSG Sportsnet / MSG · UBS Arena, Elmont

The Islanders open their home schedule in the building that will also host All-Star Weekend in February. After a loss in Toronto on Wednesday, the focus is on Matthew Schaefer, the reigning Calder Trophy winner, and how quickly the young defenseman can take over a game again. New Jersey is 1-0-0 after an overtime win over Philadelphia on Thursday under new general manager Sunny Mehta.

Prediction: The Islanders feed off the home-opener crowd and even their record.

Boston Bruins vs. Minnesota Wild

8:00 PM ET | Wild+ / NESN · Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul

Minnesota plays its first home game after opening with a 3-1 win in Nashville. Boston is 2-0-0 but on the second night of a back-to-back after an overtime win in Winnipeg on Friday.

Prediction: Kaprizov and the Wild take advantage of tired legs.

Around the Rest of the League

Blackhawks at Sabres (7:00 PM): Buffalo’s home opener after a 6-3 loss in Columbus. Chicago is 0-2-0 and has scored twice in two games.

Hurricanes at Flyers (7:00 PM): The champions are still winless at 0-1-1 after Friday’s 5-2 home loss to Washington, and play the second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia is also 0-1-1 after a 7-0 loss to Pittsburgh and an overtime defeat in New Jersey.

Mammoth at Blue Jackets (7:00 PM): Both teams won on Thursday – Utah 6-0 over Chicago, Columbus 6-3 over Buffalo.

Stars at Predators (8:00 PM): Two Central teams looking for their first win, with Dallas on the second night of a back-to-back.

Blues at Avalanche (9:00 PM): The Blues complete a back-to-back against the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners, who opened with a win over Los Angeles.

Flames at Canucks (10:00 PM): A 2024 draft-class matchup on the blue line – Calgary’s Zayne Parekh against Vancouver’s Zeev Buium. The Canucks finally face someone other than Edmonton.

Kings at Sharks (10:00 PM): San Jose is 1-0-0 after an overtime win over Florida; Los Angeles and new coach Peter Laviolette look to bounce back from a loss in Colorado.