Hockey Night In Canada will start its 2016-17 NHL season coverage with a quartet of games on Saturday. Here are the teams playing in them.Â
For many people, Hockey Night In Canada is as much of a tradition as going to church on Sundays. Since debuting on television in 1952, it has been one of the highest rated weekly programs in Canada. The popular show will be returning for its 64th year on television and it will start the NHL season off with a bang.
Week one will feature a quartet of games on Saturday Oct. 15. Coverage will start at 6:30 p.m. EST. The first game will be an Original Six rivalry when the Boston Bruins travel to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. They will start at 7:00 p.m. EST. Auston Matthews, the 2016 first-overall pick, will be getting a rude welcome to the NHL by the Bruins. The game will be on CBC, NESN, and NHL Network
A battle between two Canadian teams will also be starting at 7:00 p.m. EST when the Montreal Canadiens travel to take on the Ottawa Senators. This is a bit of a fascinating matchup, as Senators head coach Guy Boucher used to coach the Canadiens’ AHL team. Montreal goaltender Carey Price will be making his first start since 2015 and defenseman Shea Weber will be playing in his first game with the Canadiens. The game will be on TVAS and CITY.
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The Winnipeg Jets will travel to the state of hockey to take on the Minnesota Wild at 7:00 p.m. EST. 2016 second-overall pick Patrik Laine will be making his HNIC debut. Meanwhile, Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau will be making his first appearance on HNIC with the Wild. It should be a great game between two Central Division rivals. The game will be on Sportsnet.
Finally, the first night of Hockey Night In Canada will conclude with a classic battle between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks. It starts at 10:00 p.m. EST. The two Pacific Division rivals have had some epic battles in recent years. Saturday’s affair should be no different. The game will be on CBC.