As the forecast starts to predict more and more sweater weather, many of us are left wishing we could spend all day inside, curled up with our hot cocoa or even a hot toddy. Fortunately enough, with the MLB postseason heating up this week and the beginning of the 2016-17 NHL regular season on Wednesday, there are more reasons than ever to stay in and kick back.
The 2016-17 NHL Season begins Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. ET when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators. Following the early evening matchup, the Chicago Blackhawks will take on the St. Louis Blues at 8 p.m. ET.
Later Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings will face off against Stanley Cup runners-up, the San Jose Sharks, and the Calgary Flames will play the Edmonton Oilers.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will also be jammed-packed with professional hockey, including the season debut of the 2016 Stanley Cup winners, the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, making it so you never have to leave the couch—or sports bar.
The Daily Beast has compiled a schedule of the first week of NHL games and made a list of the top players to watch as the 2016-17 NHL season begins.
How to Watch the 2016-17 NHL Regular Season:
Fans can live stream the games online on NBCSports, (or app for mobile viewing), but access requires a valid login through a cable provider. You can find ways to watch without a cable login from Cut Cable Today.
You can also find the full 2016-17 season schedule, along with the latest hockey news at NHL.com.
NHL 2016-17 Season Week One Schedule
The 2016-17 NHL Season begins Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. ET when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators.
Later that night, the Chicago Blackhawks will take on the St. Louis Blues, the Los Angeles Kings will face off against Stanley Cup runners-up the San Jose Sharks, and the Calgary Flames will play the Edmonton Oilers.
Wednesday, Oct. 12
7:00 p.m. ET Toronto Maple Leafs v. Ottawa Senators
8:00 p.m. ET Chicago Blackhawks v. St. Louis Blues
10:00 p.m. ET Calgary Flames v. Edmonton Oilers
10:30 p.m. ET Los Angeles Kings v. San Jose Sharks
Thursday, Oct. 13
7:00 p.m. ET Montreal Canadiens v. Buffalo Sabres
7:00 p.m. ET Boston Bruins v. Columbus Blue Jackets
7:00 p.m. ET New York Islanders v. New York Rangers
7:30 p.m. ET Detroit Red Wings v. Tampa Bay Lightning
7:30 p.m. ET New Jersey Devils v. Florida Panthers
8:00 p.m. ET Carolina Hurricanes v. Winnipeg Jets
8:00 p.m. ET Minnesota Wild v. St. Louis Blues
8:00 p.m. ET Washington Capitals v. Pittsburgh Penguins
8:30 p.m. ET Anaheim Ducks v. Dallas Stars
Friday, Oct. 14
8:00 p.m. ET Chicago Blackhawks v. Nashville Predators
9:00 p.m. ET Edmonton Oilers v. Calgary Flames
10:30 p.m. ET Philadelphia Flyers v. Los Angeles Kings
Saturday, Oct. 15
7:00 p.m. ET Boston Bruins v. Toronto Maple Leafs
7:00 p.m. ET Detroit Red Wings v. Florida Panthers
7:00 p.m. ET San Jose Sharks v. Columbus Blue Jackets
7:00 p.m. ET Anaheim Ducks v. Pittsburgh Penguins
7:00 p.m. ET New Jersey Devils v. Tampa Bay Lightning
7:00 p.m. ET Montreal Canadiens v. Ottawa Senators
7:00 p.m. ET New York Islanders v. Washington Capitals
7:00 p.m. ET Winnipeg Jets v. Minnesota Wild
8:00 p.m. ET New York Rangers v. St. Louis Blues
8:30 p.m. ET Nashville Predators v. Chicago Blackhawks
9:00 p.m. ET Dallas Stars v. Colorado Avalanche
9:00 p.m. ET Philadelphia Flyers v. Arizona Coyotes
10:00 p.m. ET Calgary Flames v. Vancouver Canucks
Sunday, Oct. 16
6:00 p.m. ET Anaheim Ducks v. New York Islanders
7:00 p.m. ET Buffalo Sabres v. Edmonton Oilers
10:00 p.m. ET Carolina Hurricanes v. Vancouver Canucks
Players to Watch
Sidney Crosby
Following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup victory in June and his gold medal performance in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Penguins captain Crosby is the obvious choice for top player to follow in the 2016-17 NHL season.
“Sid is unbelievable,” Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Mike Babcock, who has coached Crosby at the Olympics and World Cup, “he just wins.” Crosby was also voted the World Cup MVP by a unanimous vote.
Brent Burns
The bearded, front tooth-less defenseman for the San Jose Sharks has emerged as one of the top players in the league, helping the Sharks win the Western Conference and make it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016. One of the major reasons Burns will be one to watch is that he’ll need a new contract from the Sharks by the end of the season or he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.
Patrick Kane
After becoming the first American to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, the Chicago Blackhawks’ right wing is set to wow again in the 2016-17 NHL season. The only player to break the 90-point mark last season, Kane finished the season with 106 points, many of which were part of a midseason 26-game points streak—the longest for any player since the 1992-93 NHL season.