The 2023-24 NHL regular season got underway Tuesday night with a triple-header that included the debut of No. 1 pick Connor Bedard plus the banner-raising ceremony for the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in front of their home crowd.
Hockey fans get double the action on night two with six games, including the debuts of all seven Canadian teams highlighted by three all-Canadian matchups fans can look forward to.
With that in mind let’s preview the betting lines for the four games involving Canadian clubs, plus take a look at the main notable futures odds for each team North of the border this season.
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Montreal Canadiens (+240) At Toronto Maple Leafs (-300)
Puckline: MTL +1.5 (+100) | TOR -1.5 (-120)
Total: Over 6.5 goals (-120) | Under 6.5 goals (+100)
This is the fourth consecutive year these Original Six rivals have begun the regular season against one another. Toronto were heavy favourites over Montreal in the opening game one year ago yet Montreal pulled off a 4-3 regulation upset at home, although the Leafs won the season series 2-1-1 outscoring Montreal 17-9 in the four games thanks to 5-1 and 7-1 victories in the second half of the season.
This game is available to watch on Sportsnet starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Ottawa Senators (+165) at Carolina Hurricanes (-185)
Puckline: OTT +1.5 (-150) | CAR -1.5 (+130)
Total: Over 6.0 goals (-115) | Under 6.0 goals (-105)
The Senators have elevated expectations this season and they’ll be tested by one of the Eastern Conference’s best rosters in their opener when they visit the Hurricanes. Ottawa won’t have a full contingent of forward lines with Zack MacEwen injured and Josh Norris still out. All three games between Ottawa and Carolina last season featured five or fewer goals.
“We feel like we’re ready to go and we worked on a lot of things,” Sens forward Claude Giroux told reporters in Raleigh, N.C. “You can just feel it in the locker room. Guys are ready to get going here.”
This game is available to watch on Sportsnet ONE starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Winnipeg Jets (+115) at Calgary Flames (-135)
Puckline: WPG +1.5 (-210) | CGY -1.5 (+175)
Total: Over 6.0 goals (-115) | Under 6.0 goals (-105)
Calgary won the season series 2-1 in 2022-23 with all three games ending in regulation and neither team scoring more than three goals against the other in any single game. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, fresh off signing a new contract, has a strong history of success versus the Flames. Hellebuyck is 13-6-1 with a .934 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average in his career playing Calgary.
This game is available to watch on Sportsnet West starting at 10 p.m. ET.
Edmonton Oilers (-165) at Vancouver Canucks (+145)
Puckline: EDM +1.5 (+145) | VAN -1.5 (-165)
Total: Over 6.5 goals (-135) | Under 6.5 goals (+115)
Will Conor Garland’s potential trade request have a noticeable impact on Vancouver in their home opener? Edmonton took two of three games in their season series with the Canucks in 2022-23 with the teams combining for at least six goals in each game. Connor McDavid, big surprise, lit up the scoresheet in those three games with five goals and two assists. McDavid has the shortest anytime goal odds Wednesday at -110 and is projected to begin his season with a multi-point outing. His odds to register over 1.5 points are listed as a chalky -175.
This game is available to watch on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE starting at 10 p.m. ET.
CANADIAN TEAMS 2023-24 FUTURES ODDS
CALGARY FLAMES
Stanley Cup odds: +3000
Pacific division odds: +650
Regular-season points: Over 94.5 (+100) | Under 94.5 (-125)
Playoff berth: Yes (-160) | No (+130)
Notable awards-related prop odds: Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm both have +1400 to win the Selke Trophy.
EDMONTON OILERS
Stanley Cup odds: +900
Pacific division odds: +185
Regular-season points: Over 105.5 (-110) | Under 105.5 (-110)
Playoff berth: Yes (-700) | No (+475)
Notable awards-related prop odds: Just how dominant is Connor McDavid? His Art Ross Trophy odds are -225 and you can get +180 odds if any other player leads the league in scoring. McDavid’s Hart Trophy are an even +100.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Stanley Cup odds: +12500
Atlantic division odds: +10000
Regular-season points: Over 71.5 (-110) | Under 71.5 (-110)
Playoff berth: Yes (+1025) | No (-1800)
Notable team prop odds: Montreal to finish with the worst regular-season record was set at +550.
OTTAWA SENATORS
Stanley Cup odds: +3300
Atlantic division odds: +1000
Regular-season points: Over 91.5 (-110) | Under 91.5 (-110)
Playoff berth: Yes (+110) | No (-140)
Notable awards-related prop odds: D.J. Smith’s Jack Adams Award odds are +1600.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Stanley Cup odds: +800
Atlantic division odds: +190
Regular-season points: 106.5 (-110) | Under 106.5 (-110)
Playoff berth: Yes (-650) | No (+450)
Notable awards-related prop odds: The Maple Leafs begin the season as the odds-on favourites to win the Stanley Cup. Auston Matthews to win his third Rocket Richard Trophy in four years is +350, sandwiched between McDavid’s +250 and Leon Draisaitl’s +500.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Stanley Cup odds: +5000
Pacific division odds: +1600
Regular-season points: Over 88.5 (+100) | Under 88.5 (-125)
Playoff berth: Yes (+130) | No (-160)
Notable awards-related prop odds: Quinn Hughes has the fourth-shortest Norris Trophy odds at +900.
WINNIPEG JETS
Stanley Cup odds: +4000
Central division odds: +850
Regular-season points: Over 91.5 (-110) | Under 91.5 (-110)
Playoff berth: Yes (-140) | No (+110)
Notable awards-related prop odds: Connor Hellebuyck is tied with Ilya Sorokin, Igor Shesterkin and Juuse Saros at +600 Vezina Trophy odds.
(Betting odds above via Bet365 as of Wednesday and subject to change)