It’s the first NHL Games of the Week column of the 2025-2026 season
Saturday, October 11th – 4:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames
These two teams finished in a dead heat for the final Western wildcard last spring, but it went to the Blues on the tiebreaker. This time around, most pundits have tabbed St. Louis to once again be in the postseason, but what about the young Flames? They surprised a lot of people last season, and sometimes there is a slight regression before a developing squad makes a permanent home for themselves in the playoffs. Calgary and Edmonton went to the shootout in their first game, with the Flames emerging as the 4-3 winners.
Sunday, October 12th – 7:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers
Alex Ovechkin surprised a lot of the hockey world by lighting the lamp 44 times last season, and his Capitals stormed to the Metropolitan Division crown with a whopping 51 wins. Will both of those totals be duplicated in the 2025-26 season? The Caps visit the Rangers, a team that fell 3-0 on opening night to the rebuilding Pittsburgh Penguins. New York missed the Eastern Conference playoffs this past season by six points, after leading the NHL the season before. Washington dropped their opening game 3-1 to the visiting Boston Bruins.
Monday, October 13th – 4:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs
Canadian Thanksgiving Monday features an Atlantic Division battle between two old Original Six foes. The Maple Leafs begin life without All-Star forward Mitch Marner (now in Vegas), while the Red Wings are looking to qualify for the post-season for the first time in a decade. Will Toronto finish first again in the division? Can the Red Wings pass by the likes of the Senators and Canadiens? As for Toronto, they began “Life After Mitch” with an opening night 5-2 win over the visiting Montreal Canadiens.
Tuesday, October 14th – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Carolina Hurricanes at San Jose Sharks
The one thing the Canes haven’t done as of late is make it to the Stanley Cup Final (because, of course, you have to actually get there before you can win the thing). Is this the year? Does it matter where Carolina finishes in the Metropolitan Division? Will they add to a solid roster? Questions. One question that won’t be seriously asked is if the rebuilding Sharks are ready for the playoffs. Not yet. Soon. And this season will be all about taking baby shark steps towards that goal.
Wednesday, October 15th – 7:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres
A key game already? Sure, for both teams. Ottawa made the playoffs last season, before falling in the first round to Toronto. Buffalo hasn’t had to print (to digitally distribute) playoff tickets in almost a decade and a half. Is this the season? Well, if it is, the Sabres need to get off to a good start and maintain that pace. And that’s just to stay in the crowded race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Thursday, October 16th – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Pittsburgh Penguins at Los Angeles Kings
The Penguins started the season on the right skate, going into Manhattan and emerging in a 3-0 win over a Rangers’ team many expect to make the playoffs. Nobody except the most die-hard Pittsburgh fan honestly believes this team will be a playoff team this season. But there’s always a surprise team, or two, every campaign. The Kings dropped their home opener 4-1 to the Colorado Avalanche, then turned around the next night in Las Vegas, and went toe-to-toe with the Golden Knights, prevailing 6-5 in the shootout.
Friday, October 17th – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
San Jose Sharks at Utah Mammoth
As we were saying, nobody is realistically picking the Sharks to make the post-season cut this time around, but they’re on the rise, and tonight visit a Mammoth team that very well could find themselves with a Western Conference playoff invite once we get to mid-April. In fact, Utah are a trendy pick to make the post-season. It’ll be a battle, as the Western Conference is jammed with good teams.
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