For there to be 16 games on the NHL schedule on Tuesday, then 11 on Thursday and 14 on Saturday, there must also be days with fewer games.
Friday is such a day, as there are only two games on the docket. On the plus side, they are both superb matchups, featuring interconference matchups between four teams that made the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Here’s a look at the key stats and storylines for each, along with betting info and broadcast details:
Odds are provided by DraftKings and subject to change.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche
9 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | COL -218, O/U: 6.5
Although the Penguins and Avs are not traditional rivals, their matchups will always be fun to watch as long as Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon are facing off against each other. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia natives are future Hall of Famers and friends … and also two of the most passionate competitors in the NHL. The teams traded blowout wins last season (a 7-2 Penguins win on March 16 and a 6-2 Avs win on March 24). Hopefully that trend of high-scoring games continues in this one. (Sorry, goalies.)
Boston Bruins at Anaheim Ducks
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | BOS -120, O/U: 6.5
The Bruins are one game into their California swing, and left San Jose with a 6-3 win. Can the Ducks offer a tougher challenge? For those interested in the next generation of superstars, this game features a handful of them, including Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke and Jackson LaCombe, along with Boston’s Fraser Minten and James Hagens.
Reminder: Fans can catch all the action in the NHL streaming hub and on the ESPN App.
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Today in hockey history
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Here’s what you need to know:
Thursday’s scoreboard
Buffalo Sabres 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
Ottawa Senators 2, New York Islanders 1 (SO)
Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Seattle Kraken 3 (OT)
Florida Panthers 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 7, New York Rangers 1
Detroit Red Wings 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Winnipeg Jets 3 (OT)
San Jose Sharks 3, Nashville Predators 2 (OT)
Minnesota Wild 5, St. Louis Blues 4
Utah Mammoth 4, Edmonton Oilers 2
Vegas Golden Knights 6, Calgary Flames 2
NHL scoring leaders
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
NHL goaltending leaders
Click here for the full list of goaltender stats.
Today in hockey history
On this date 100 years ago, the NHL brought three new teams into the fold, and thus created two divisions for the 10-team league:
The Canadian Division included the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Maroons, New York Americans, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The American Division included the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Cougars, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Maroons won the 1926 Stanley Cup Final over the WHL’s Victoria Cougars. This was the final time that a non-NHL team competed for the Cup, as the WHL ceased operations following the 1926 Final.
