With buzz from the World Cup of Hockey having long worn off and the preseason mercifully well in the rearview mirror, the 2016-17 NHL regular season is finally upon us, and there's no shortage of matchups to get excited about right out of the gate.
Here are five games to watch during the first week:
Maple Leafs vs. Senators (Wednesday, Oct. 12)
It's generally difficult to endorse a meeting between two non-playoff teams, one of which finished dead last in the league standings last season.
But this is opening night and all eyes will be on the debut of 2016 first overall pick Auston Matthews, not to mention a host of other first-year Toronto Maple Leafs players - notably William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Nikita Zaitsev, and Frederik Andersen - looking to lift the team out of the basement and back into relevance sooner than later.
At the other end of the ice will stand the Ottawa Senators, who'll be looking to keep Toronto down as the Battle of Ontario heats back up. Look for hometown boy Derick Brassard to make a good impression in the first game with his new club.
Capitals vs. Penguins (Thursday, Oct. 13)
This one will lack some luster due to a Sidney Crosby's unfortunate injury situation, but there's no doubt the Washington Capitals will be looking to exact some revenge on the Pittsburgh Penguins after an early exit from the postseason.
To make things worse, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners will have to watch their division rivals raise a Stanley Cup banner before the puck drops.
Blackhawks vs. Predators (Friday, Oct. 14-Saturday, Oct. 15)
The Music City will be absolutely bumping Friday as the Nashville Predators kick off their season on home ice against the Chicago Blackhawks.
This, of course, will mark the regular-season debut for P.K. Subban, who might just be the piece of the puzzle the Predators have been missing after years of failing to take the next step in the Western Conference.
The schedule makers did hockey fans a solid by adding a rematch in Chicago on Saturday.
Sabres vs. Oilers (Sunday, Oct. 16)
Let's call this one McDavid versus Eichel, Round Two.
The top two picks from the 2015 NHL Draft - namely Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel - will go head-to-head for the second time in their young careers, with the latter out to prove he remains in the same conversation as the NHL's next great one, and both the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres looking to confirm their respective rebuilds are nearing completion.
Panthers vs. Lightning (Tuesday, Oct. 18)
Welcome to the NHL's next great rivalry.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers appear to have distanced themselves from the rest of the Atlantic Division, and both teams enter the season with legitimate hopes of contending for the Stanley Cup.
Rivalries are cemented in the playoffs, but begin to take shape in the regular season.
Hockey is hot in the Sunshine State. Get used to it.
