Regular readers of NHL Tonight know that with it being Thursday there will bea lot of hockey games tonight.
Indeed, with a dozen contests, it’s yet another night where it pays to have Power Play on ESPN+, along with a heavy dose of the multi-view option.
Here’s a look at what you need to know for each of tonight’s 12 contests, including betting info and broadcast details:
Odds are provided by DraftKings and subject to change.
Nashville Predators at Boston Bruins
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | BOS -155, O/U: 5.5
There’s another new format for the All-Star Game this season — a round-robin, 3-on-3 tournament with teams composed of players based on nationality. Various players skating in this game could be on the ice in February for that event, including American Olympians Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy, with Czechia native David Pastrnak joining Team Rest of World.
Is there a case for Steven Stamkos to make Team Canada? The future Hall of Famer has 10 points through eight games, after netting 42 goals last season.
New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | NYR -112, O/U: 6.5
If the season was over right now, these are two playoff teams! There are more than 70 games remaining on each team’s calendar so let’s not draw up the parade routes just yet, but it’s notable for the fact that neither was close to a playoff berth in 2025-26.
The Rangers have been the beneficiary of a breakout performance by Dylan Garand, while the Leafs have been paced (unsurprisingly) by Auston Matthews and William Nylander, along with newcomer Kirill Marchenko and 21-year-old Easton Cowan. Who earns the valuable two points out of this one?
San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | OTT -130, O/U: 6.5
Two of the biggest trades this summer included the Senators: the trade sending Brady Tkachuk to Florida, and the subsequent deal to land Sharks winger William Eklund (using the No. 9 pick from the Panthers in that swap). The Sens were reunited with Brady on Wednesday, but the Sharks will not get to see their old pal William on the ice on Thursday — he’s out several more weeks after ankle surgery.
Nevertheless, the healthy Senators will hope to slow down a potent Sharks attack that knocked off the Canadiens earlier this week.
Anaheim Ducks at New Jersey Devils
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | NJ -198, O/U: 6.5
To some degree, both of these teams were expected to be in the playoff picture by season’s end. To do that, they’ll both need to start stringing wins together. The Ducks went oh-fer on their other stops in the NYC metro area, extending their current losing streak to four games.
The Devils have had some impressive wins lately (4-3 over the Avs, 7-1 against the Rangers), but have also been on the wrong side of lopsided losses to the Sens, Mammoth and Islanders.
Florida Panthers at Pittsburgh Penguins
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | FLA -105, O/U: 6.5
If nothing else, Penguins games have been exciting this season. Pittsburgh is scoring 3.30 goals per game, and allowing 3.80; that’s fun for everyone! Florida will be playing this game 24 hours after the emotional high of taking on Brady Tkachuk’s former teammates in Ottawa. Can they summon a second wind against Sidney Crosby & Co.?
Los Angeles Kings at New York Islanders
7:30 p.m. ET (Disney+/ESPN+/Hulu) | NYI -120, O/U: 5.5
It took seven games, but the Kings are finally on the board with a victory in 2026-27! The defiant 5-2 win was emblematic of what they haven’t done much of this season: scoring goals (with just 12 total in the six prior games).
That newfound offense will be put to the test against one of the game’s finest netminders, Ilya Sorokin, who is fourth this season in both goals-against average (1.72) and save percentage (.934).
Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues
8 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | VGK -120, O/U: 6.5
Speaking of scoring, the Golden Knights have two players on the Top-10 scoring leaderboard at this juncture — Jack Eichel and Mark Stone — both of whom are on pace to finish with career highs in points.
Standing in their way is Blues goalie Joel Hofer, who got back on track with a 32-save win against Winnipeg on Tuesday following a five-goals-against loss to the Wild.
8 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | DAL -205, O/U: 5.5
Prior to the trade request/holdout/suspension of Connor Hellebuyck, this game had shaped up to be a showdown between two of the top American goalies of this generation, with Jake Oettinger manning the crease for the Stars.
Regardless, there are still two very important points on the line for both the Stars — who come in on a three-game heater — and the Jets — who have lost three straight after a better-than-expected start.
Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames
9 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | MIN -192, O/U: 5.5
On paper, this one doesn’t look too close. But on some nights, the Flames look like they can play with — and beat — just about anyone. To wit, their recent wins over the Hurricanes and Ducks.
Or, it could turn out like losses to Colorado (7-3) or Vegas (6-2).
Carolina Hurricanes at Edmonton Oilers
9 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | CAR -115, O/U: 6.5
A potential Stanley Cup Final preview? This matchup has a 2.51% chance of occurring, per Stathletes projections. And while those who like “big markets” to be on the biggest stage, there is no shortage of star power in this matchup.
Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard — along with Carolina’s Sebastian Aho — are all among the top point scorers this season.
Utah Mammoth at Seattle Kraken
10 p.m. ET (Disney+/ESPN+/Hulu) | UTA -162, O/U: 6.5
It might be surprising for some to see the Mammoth atop the mighty Central Division standings after 10 games, although their inspired postseason appearance was a clue that something big is being built in Utah.
But the Kraken’s hold on the No. 3 spot in the Pacific? That qualifies as a legitimate shock, given what the franchise had done in recent seasons. This contest will be an important one for both teams to continue building their identity as legit contenders in the West.
Detroit Red Wings at Vancouver Canucks
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | DET -170, O/U: 6.5
After winning two of their first three games this season, the Canucks have regressed back to essentially where many believed they’d be, and lost their next eight.
The Red Wings are trending in the opposite direction, with at least one point in each of their past five (two wins, and three OT/SO losses). Do both trends continue on Thursday?
Reminder: Fans can catch all the action in the NHL streaming hub and on the ESPN App.
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Top stories around the NHL
Here’s what you need to know:
Wednesday’s scoreboard
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Buffalo Sabres 1
Ottawa Senators 5, Florida Panthers 1
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
While this space has typically been reserved for on-ice milestones, why not mark the birthday of one of the most memorable “hockey names” in history?
On Oct. 22, 1974 inTopoany (which is now in Slovakia), Miroslav Satan was born. He would go on to play 15 seasons in the NHL — though sadly never for the Devils — along with five in the Tipos Extraliga (Slovakia) and three in the KHL. He also represented Slovakia at the World Juniors, World Championships and the Olympics.
Where is he now? Since June 2019, he has served as president of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, and is also Capitals draft pick Miroslav Satan Jr.’s dad.
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