2026-27 NHL Season Openers: Early Betting Picks for Exciting Matchups

The highly anticipated 2026-27 NHL schedule has officially been unveiled, showcasing all 1,344 games set to unfold this season. With each team gearing up for an 84-game battle—an increase from the traditional 82 to accommodate the league’s recent expansion—fans are eager to see how their squads will perform.

As the odds for season openers begin to emerge, I’ve identified some standout early betting picks that could set the tone for the season ahead. One of my top predictions involves the New York Rangers taking on the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, September 29, where I believe the Rangers will come out on top at odds of +115 at Caesars.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will kick off the season against the Florida Panthers on the same day. The Panthers, who have experienced the highs and lows of title defense, are looking to rebound after a disappointing last season that saw them miss the playoffs. Injuries plagued Florida, notably with captain Aleksander Barkov sidelined for the entire campaign. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky also struggled significantly, posting the lowest save percentage of his career. However, with key offseason acquisitions like Brady Tkachuk and Radko Gudkas, along with a promising goaltending duo in Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid, I’m backing Florida at +100 as they aim to start the season strong.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ summer moves may have generated more buzz than those of their rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. Despite the hype, the Maple Leafs’ new netminder Bobrovsky had a lackluster previous season, and it remains to be seen how his three-year contract will play out compared to the seven-year deal given to defenseman Darren Raddysh. On the other hand, the Canadiens, who reached the Eastern Conference Final last season, have a solid core of young talent and don’t need to make big splashes in the offseason. I’m confident in backing Montreal at -125 as they look to build on last year’s success.

The Rangers, coming off a challenging season where they finished last in the Eastern Conference, have made strategic moves that could yield immediate results. Their significant acquisition of Pavel Dorofeyev, who netted a career-high 37 goals last season, along with other additions like Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joe Veleno, enhance their offensive depth. With Igor Shesterkin expected to start in goal, the Rangers will be a formidable opponent for the Bruins, who have made minimal changes to their roster. The Bruins’ major offseason addition, JJ Peterka, will need to step up after scoring 25 goals last season, especially with Viktor Arvidsson departing for Detroit. I’m placing my bet on the Rangers at -110 to secure a win against Boston.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.