It is finally here! The day has been highly anticipated for a few weeks now. All 32 teams are playing on the same night for only the second time ever. The first/last time was on April 8th, 2023 but it was a Saturday. This is the first time that it is taking place on a weeknight.
This is also the first time where there are going to be different start times for every single game. Not a single game is dropping the puck at the same time. Hockey fans across the world are in for a treat with this kind of schedule.
ESPN is helping make it even better as they are having the Frozen Frenzy show. It is going to be a “whip around” style show where all 16 games are going to get some shine throughout the night. It will be hosted by the great John Buccigross.
The first start of the night will be the game played between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs. This is the all-time greatest goal scorer in Alexander Ovechkin taking on the current best goal scorer in Auston Matthews. It should be an outstanding match.
The last matchup of the night is a bright young Philadelphia Flyers team taking on the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights. It has been an incredible start for the Flyers who are building toward a brighter future. As for Vegas, their 6-0-0 start is the best start for a defending champion in NHL history.
The NHL Frozen Frenzy is going to be spectacular theatre for all hockey fans.
There are plenty of other amazing games in between. Fans can check out the number one pick in the 2023 NHL Draft Connor Bedard as he is at home with the Chicago Blackhawks set to take on the Boston Bruins.
The number two pick in that draft (Leo Carlsson) and the Anaheim Ducks will take on the number three overall pick from that draft (Adam Fantilli) and the Columbus Blue Jackets. These two are going to be compared for a long time because of that. This is their first meeting in the NHL.
The New Jersey Devils are going to take on the Montreal Canadiens. Fans can watch Jack Hughes as he is making an early case for the Hart Trophy. Montreal was one of two teams to play one night ago as they defeated the Buffalo Sabres.
Speaking of the Sabres, they are going to take on the Ottawa Senators in Canada’s capital. That is going to be a battle of good young clubs trying to take a big step this season. Neither of them has been in the playoffs for a while.
The two Florida teams are each hosting a game tonight. The Lightning will be taking on the Carolina Hurricanes which is a battle of two teams with Stanley Cup aspirations. Meanwhile, the defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers are going to try and avoid giving the San Jose Sharks their first win.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are going to be part of all this. Hockey fans are lucky to be able to witness two all-time great players like that. They will be taking on the Dallas Stars who are one of the favorites to win the Western Conference.
The Colorado Avalance are 5-0-0. The 2022 Stanley Cup champions are as dynamic as ever and it is going to be hard to beat them. The New York Islanders play a style that might be able to slow them down but it is going to be hard.
Are the Detroit Red Wings for real? They very well might be. The Seattle Kraken are heading to Michigan to try and slow them down. Up in Manitoba, the Winnipeg Jets are hosting the St. Louis Blues. These two teams have a lot to prove this year.
Connor McDavid is injured. Can Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers take down the Minnesota Wild on the road? Both of these teams believe that they can play better than they have so far this year.
Speaking of teams from Alberta, the Calgary Flames have the New York Rangers in town which should be a great battle of two teams trying to get on a roll.
The only team more western in Canada, the Vancouver Canucks, is actually in Tennessee for some country music and a date with the Nashville Predators.
The second-to-last start of the night is going to be very interesting. The Arizona Coyotes are a much-improved team and they have shown it so far this year. The Los Angeles Kings have to be at their best if they want to beat them during the Frozen Frenzy.