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We're back and I am extremely excited! Welcome to the first full season of House Enterprise's NHL betting guides. Keep it tuned here every Wednesday for your TNT double-header betting guides. This week, I'm doing the Tuesday night games on ESPN in honor of "opening night," but starting next week we'll be switching back to Wednesday.
While this technically isn't opening night, as the NHL season started last Friday with the San Jose Sharks playing the Nashville Predators in the Czech Republic, those games were only televised on the NHL Network, meaning there were many who couldn't watch the game unless you pay for that channel. A true master-class in marketing for the National Hockey League! So, I'm considering tonight my opening night.
(Courtesy of NHL.com)
Game 1: Tampa Bay Lightning @ New York Rangers
It doesn't matter the sport nor the team, there's nothing like a nationally televised opening night under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City. Not only that, but this doubles as a 2022 Eastern Conference Final rematch, after the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated the New York Rangers in 6-games last year.
The big story for tonight's game will be the goaltending. This game features two of the premiere goalies in the NHL today; in net for the Rangers, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Igor Shesterkin. In net for the Lightning, 1x Vezina Trophy winner, and 2x Stanley Cup Champion, Andrei Vasilevskiy. With two guys like that in goal, I'm sure many of you are expecting this game to end 2-1, or even 1-0. Not me. For some reason, I'm fully expecting some opening night rust/jitters from these two teams.
I'll take:
O 5.5
Mika Zibanejad 5+ shots on goal
Nikita Kucherov anytime goal scorer
Game 2: Vegas Golden Knights @ Los Angeles Kings
Now onto our west coast game. Two bitter Pacific Division rivals face off on opening night, as both teams have high hopes for the 2022-23 season. After missing the playoffs last year with the NHL equivalent of a super-team, the Golden Knights have a lot of doubters to silence. This is Jack Eichel's first full season in Vegas, after being acquired by the Golden Knights from the Buffalo Sabres last year. Eichel, widely considered to be among one of the biggest stars in the NHL, has never played in a postseason game. The 25-year old center is hoping to change that narrative this year.
On the flip side of things, the Los Angeles Kings are an up-and-coming team. After missing the playoffs for three straight years, the Kings broke through and made the postseason in 2022, but didn't make it far as they were eliminated in 7 games by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Los Angeles is hoping to build off their success from last season, and use this year to take one more step towards reclaiming the Stanley Cup.
The Pacific Division should be a gauntlet this year. Be sure to keep an eye on that division race.
I'll take:
VGK -1.5 ALT Puck Line
O 6
Jack Eichel anytime goal scorer
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