For those that have been pining for some hockey action since the Stanley Cup in …, well you’re finally in luck! All NHL franchises have now started their training camps, and have hit the ice to prepare for the new season.
The new NHL season will return to the original October-April scheduling, with the first matchup taking place on October 12. The first matchup will see the reigning & defending Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in Florida.
NHL 2020/21 Stanley Cup Finals
For those who may not be aware (for some reason), the Tampa Bay Lightning surged through the postseason in June, before reaching the Stanley Cup Finals that ran through the start of July. Up against the Montreal Canadiens, the Lightning took a controlling lead throughout.
Going 3-0 up in the series after the first three games, Tampa Bay looked like the much stronger franchise, and were comfortable in the series. After the Canadiens got one back in the series, winning Game 4 in overtime 3-2, it turned out to be just a consolation. The lightning were crowned champions after Game 5, winning 1-0 on the night.
Pre-Season Training Camps
After the pre-season schedule was announced last month, franchises have been back on the ice preparing for the upcoming season. Now back to its original schedule and full 82-game regular season, its safe to say that hockey fans are eagerly-awaiting the new season to start.
The pre-season games start this weekend, with two matchups on Saturday, September 25. The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens, while the St Louis Blues host the Minnesota Wild. Then, there’s plenty of pre-season action as franchises warm up to what will certainly be an exciting season.
Meet The Seattle Kraken
As a brand new NHL franchise, the Seattle Kraken had their expansion draft back in July. Selecting one player from every NHL franchise – except the Vegas Golden Knights. Seattle’s training camp started this week, and with fans in attendance, the practice was a huge success.
The Kraken have a tough opening matchup, as they travel to Nevada to face off against the Vegas Golden Knights, a west coast battle that many fans will have one eye on. If it wasn’t a big occasion anyway, the Golden Knights vs Kraken matchup will be the second game on the opening night of the regular season – we’re highly-anticipating an exciting match!
Upcoming NHL Season – Betting Odds
As we mentioned earlier, the new NHL season will start on October 12, with two matchups that should be very entertaining to watch. There’s a number of pre-season games between now and then, but then the 2021/22 season will get underway!
With an increasing number of US online sportsbooks, there will be plenty of opportunities to place a bet or two across the season. At CaptainGambling.com, you will find everything you need to know about NHL betting! Check our bookmaker reviews – including our BetMGM review, today’s leading online US betting site!
