Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Winnipeg Jets: Start Time, Live Stream, TV Info
The Winnipeg Jets will host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first game of the NHL season for both clubs.
Wednesday, Oct. 4 marks the beginning of the 2017-18 NHL season. The first game of the season will be between the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop will occur around 7:00 p.m. ET at Bell MTS Place, though expect a bit of a delay thanks to pregame ceremonies.
The Maple Leafs are entering the 2017-18 season with a ton of hope. They’re coming off an impressive playoff appearance. While the Leafs lost to the Washington Capitals in the first round, they challenged them and looked very good doing it.
Led by Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Nazem Kadri, Toronto is looking like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. The addition of long-time San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau should only help. Toronto’s defense is a year older and a year better. Moreover, goaltender Frederik Andersen has proven he’s good enough to win playoff series with.
On the other side of the ice, the Jets are hoping for a better season this year. The addition of goaltender Steve Mason should help them address an issue that plagued them for a long time – goaltending. Winnipeg is led by an outstanding offense. Patrik Laine finished second in the Calder Trophy voting and looks to avoid a sophomore slump. Mark Scheifele is one of the most underrated centers in the NHL.
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Expect a high-scoring affair, as both offenses are quite potent. One matchup worth watching is Matthews versus Laine. The former is the first overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft while the latter is the second. Toronto and Winnipeg have developed a little bit of a rivalry, having some very entertaining battles last season. Don’t expect it to go away anytime soon.
Here’s all the information you need to watch the game.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 4
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Bell MTS Place
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Television: Sportsnet, TVAS
Live stream: NHL.TV (subscription required), Sportsnet (subscription required)
Next: NHL Power Rankings Week 1
This is a matchup between two extremely young and extremely good teams. Ultimately, the game should come down to which goaltender performs better. Expect lots of firepower, most notably from Matthews and Laine. They tend to bring out the best in each other.