The Pittsburgh Penguins begin their quest for a three-peat when the reigning Stanley Cup champs host the St. Louis Blues in the season opener for both teams.
Wednesday, Oct. 4 marks the official start of the 2017-18 NHL season. There are four games on the schedule, so there’s a matchup for everyone, regardless of one’s hockey palate. NBCSN will be airing two of the games nationally. The first part of the doubleheader will feature the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the St. Louis Blues at PPG Paints Arena. While the puck is scheduled to drop at 8:00 p.m. ET, keep in mind there will likely be a delay thanks to the pregame ceremonies.
For the second straight season, the Penguins home opener will include raising a Stanley Cup banner. It will be an emotional night for the home team, as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, along with the rest of the team, will be celebrated before the game. Look for Kris Letang to make an immediate impact. Though he has trouble staying healthy, when he is, there are very few defensemen in the NHL better than him.
Look for defenseman Kris Letang to make an immediate impact. Though he has trouble staying healthy, when he is, there are very few defensemen in the NHL better than him. Also, Phil Kessel, as fans know, has a flair for the dramatic. So expect some fireworks from him, likely in the form of a goal or two.
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On the other side of the ice, the Blues begin an uphill climb to return to the postseason. They enter the regular season a bit shorthanded, as they will be without Robby Fabbri, Alexander Steen, Patrik Berglund, and Jay Bouwmeester, among others.
Still, the Blues are a feisty team who should give the Penguins a good challenge. They’ll be asking goaltender Jake Allen to build off his strong showing in the postseason to help them overcome their terrible injury luck.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 4
Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: BPPG Paints Arena
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Television: NBCSN
Live stream: NBCSN Live
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Both teams are looking to start the season off strong. The edge goes to the Penguins because they are extremely good at home. Moreover, they’ll be feeding off the high energy from the crowd. Allen will have to be at his best for the Blues to win.