Welcome to the NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they are most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their choices from six games Wednesday.
Gaudreau set for Blue Jackets debut
Johnny Gaudreau will make his debut for the Columbus Blue Jackets when they play the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena (7 pm ET; BSSO, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW). The 29-year-old left wing signed a seven-year contract on July 13 after scoring an NHL career-high 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) in 82 games for the Calgary Flames last season. Gaudreau can join a short list of players in NHL history to have 100-plus points for different teams in consecutive seasons (Wayne Gretzky, Jimmy Carson, Mike Rogers). Columbus has never had a player score at least 100 points in a season; the current record is 87 by Artemi Panarin in 2018-19. Brent Burns will make his debut for Carolina. The 37-year-old defenseman was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on July 13 for forward Steven Lorentz, goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Burns had 54 points (10 goals, 44 assists) and was third in the NHL averaging 26:09 in ice time in 82 games last season. — Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Jack Campbell era begins in Edmonton
The Edmonton Oilers have had Stanley Cup aspirations for several seasons now. They’re hoping the acquisition of goalie Jack Campbell, who signed a five-year contract July 13, gets them further in the postseason after they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final in four games last season. Campbell makes his debut for the Oilers when they open the season against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday (10 pm ET; SN, ESPN+, SN NOW). The 30-year-old was 31-9-6 with a 2.64 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and NHL career-high five shutouts in 49 games (47 starts) with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. He’s 71-39-14 with a 2.53 GAA, .916 save percentage and nine shutouts in 135 career games (125 starts) with the Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings and Maple Leafs. Offense has rarely been a problem for the Oilers. Now they’ll see if Campbell makes them just as strong in net. — Tracey Myers, staff writer
New Bruins coach, new Capitals goalie make debuts
The Washington Capitals look to extend the longest active season-opening winning streak in the NHL when they host the Boston Bruins (7 pm ET; TNT, SN NOW). Washington has won five straight season-openers dating to 2017-18 and they also hold the League’s longest active points streak in season-opening games, with a 6-0-2 record since 2014-15. Jim Montgomery makes his Bruins coaching debut and begins his second tour behind an NHL bench. The former Dallas Stars coach replaced Bruce Cassidy who was fired June 7. Goalie Darcy Kuemper makes his Capitals debut and plays in his 300th NHL game. Washington signed Kuemper, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche last season, to a five-year contract July 1 and Charlie Lindgren to a three-year contract the same day, hoping to stabilize their goaltending. Both teams are without key players due to injuries: forward Brad Marchand (both hips) and defensemen Charlie McAvoy (left shoulder) and Matt Grzelcyk (shoulder) for Boston and forwards Nicklas Backstrom (left hip), Carl Hagelin (hip) and Tom Wilson (left knee) for Washington. — William Douglas, staff writer
Wednesday games
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; TNT, SN NOW)
Boston won the season series 2-1 against Washington last season. TJ Oshie (upper body) and defenseman Dmitry Orlov (lower body) are optimistic about being ready for the opener after being injured in the preseason.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Carolina forward Max Pacioretty, acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights on July 13, needed surgery for a torn Achilles tendon and is expected to be out until February. Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins is ill and will not play. Daniel Tarasov will start for the Blue Jackets.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, ESPN+)
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens play in a mutual season-opening game for an NHL-high 20th time. Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, will make his NHL debut for the Canadiens. Toronto center Austin Matthewswinner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL most valuable player last season, has his sights set on becoming the second active player to have at least four straight 40-goal seasons (Alex Ovechkin, Capitals, 2005-10).
Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET; TNT; SN NOW)
The Avalanche have the second-highest points percentage (24-11-7, .655) in season openers in NHL history among teams with a minimum of 10 games played (Tampa Bay Lightning, 19-9-2, .667). Luke Richardson will coach his first game for the Blackhawks after being hired on June 27 following four seasons as an assistant coach with the Canadiens.
Seattle Kraken at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, ROOT-NW; ESPN+, SN NOW)
Shane Wright, the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, will make his NHL debut for the Kraken after scoring 94 points (32 goals, 62 assists) in 63 regular-season games with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League last season. Mason McTavish, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and named the most valuable player in the IIHF 2022 World Junior Championship, will make his NHL debut for Anaheim.
Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; SN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Brock Boeser, who had hand surgery Sept. 26, is expected to play in the season opener for the Canucks. This is the start of a season-long, six-game homestand at Rogers Place for the Oilers.
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