How to watch NHL opening night: Matchups, preview and stats - ESPN

It has been nearly four months since the Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup, and two days since they got their incredibly detailed championship rings. It's time to drop the puck on the 2023-24 NHL season, and opening night features a tripleheader simulcast on ESPN and ESPN+: Nashville Predators-Tampa Bay Lightning (5:30 p.m. ET), Chicago Blackhawks-Pittsburgh Penguins (8 p.m. ET) and Seattle Kraken-Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m. ET)

We're here to get you ready for each game, with insights from ESPN Stats & Information for each matchup, and betting lines courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

How to watch the NHL on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and Hulu

5:30 p.m. ET | Watch live on ESPN+
Line: TB -170 | O/U: 6.5

Predators

Last season, the Predators missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013-14, ending an eight-season run. Their streak of eight consecutive postseason appearances was tied for the second-longest active run in the NHL entering last season behind the Penguins' 16, which was also snapped. The last time Nashville missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons was 2012-13 and 2013-14.

New Predators coach Andrew Brunette scored the first goal in franchise history on Oct. 13, 1998, at 5:12 of the first period against Trevor Kidd of the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Predators' disappointing 2022-23 season can be attributed to a lack of scoring. Franchise goals leader Filip Forsberg played in just 50 games because of injury, scoring 19 goals. That was second on the team behind only Matt Duchene's 22. Every other team in the league had multiple 20-goal scorers last season.

The talent is there for Nashville, starting in goal with Juuse Saros. The 28-year-old started the second-most games last season (63) and played more minutes