The 5 games we can’t wait to watch from 2020-21 NHL season openers
4. Chicago Blackhawks @ Tampa Bay Lightning, Jan. 13, 2021
Again, I’m more interested in this game for reasons more to do with the storylines surrounding it rather than the actual matchup itself.
I mean, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be raising their 2019-20 Stanley Cup banner for starters, and there will be fans in attendance with Amalie Arena allowing up to 23 percent capacity.
#tblightning sent out note to season ticket members today and said they’d be at 23-percent capacity in the seating bowl of Amalie Arena for home games this season. People can be in seating pods of two or four seats. Home opener Jan. 13. pic.twitter.com/ANIAjb0orn
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) December 24, 2020
That is worth checking in on alone and the Lightning will also be keen to prove that they aren’t suffering from a championship hangover, although they will have to conduct their business without superstar winger Nikita Kucherov who will miss the entire 2020-21 regular season with a hip injury.
On the other hand, the Chicago Blackhawks are entering what appears to be a rebuild and they will start the new season without Corey Crawford in net, while they also traded forward Brandon Saad during the offseason.
However, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are still vital members of this franchise, and the core four will no doubt do whatever they can to ensure that this isn’t a miserable year for Hawks fans, starting on Opening Night by beating the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers, Jan. 13, 2021
In what will be the first of eight Battle of Pennsylvania in a stacked East Division during the 2020-21 regular season, the first chapter in what will be a riveting series should be a mouthwatering one.
After all, it is Opening Night and what better way to pull the curtain back on a new season than by pitting together two arch rivals?!
Plus, this could be a meeting of a fading force against a rising power with the Pittsburgh Penguins perhaps seeing their win-now window close, while the Philadelphia Flyers may well just be entering theirs.
Having finally found their franchise netminder in Carter Hart and mixing youth and skill with experience perfectly, the Flyers are a team to watch and they could be on the cusp of something special.
Therefore, new spice will be injected into this rivalry and it all starts on Opening Night in what could be the most entertaining of the five matchups on the state.
Also, he may have his detractors but I’m a huge Sidney Crosby fan and the Pittsburgh Penguins Captain is always must-watch viewing.