by Vegas Writer
Friday, Oct 11, 2024Friday's edition of the "Morning Skate" takes us out of opening week and into opening weekend, as we've already seen some exciting stuff from several veteran faces and some newer ones. The week of high-scoring games continues will teams are still in search of their defense, as five of the nine games played last night finished with seven or more goals.
Last night's RECAP:
Last night's RECAP:
- Rookie Macklin Celebrini, the first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, became the third-youngest player in NHL history to post multiple points in his debut. Unfortunately for him, the San Jose Sharks blew a three-goal, third-period lead and lost to the visiting St. Louis Blues, 5-4.
- Speaking of St. Louis, the Blues joined the Calgary Flames as the second team this season to overcome a three-goal deficit to win. This time, however, the Blues, achieved the feat in the third period. Last season there were 27 three-goal come-from-behind wins – the second most in a single campaign after 1989-90 (30). Also, there were 10 such victories in the third period last season, which trailed only 2006-07 (12).
- Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar registered his second season-opening hat trick in four years to become the seventh player in league history to net a natural hat trick in his club’s first contest, as the Kings went into Buffalo and won 3-1.
Through the first two nights:
Favorites are 9-8
Overs are 9-6-2
Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):
Tampa Bay at Carolina (-130, 6o, -120)
It's the season opener for both teams, as the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Carolina Hurricanes. Normally I would be excited for this matchup, but something's telling me the Bolts could be on the decline this season, and will eventually be leapfrogged in the Atlantic Division by possibly Detroit or Ottawa.
The Hurricanes, however, will still be a force in a stacked Metropolitan Division, along with New Jersey and the New York Rangers.
Carolina lost the season series last year, going 1-2-0 in 2023-24, and I think this is one particular matchup the Hurricanes want to own. And I'm hoping we'll see Frederik Andersen in net, as he holds a 9-10-1 record, .888 save percentage and 3.24 goals-against average with two shutouts versus the Lightning in his career. Andersen owns a 4-0-0 record, .931 save percentage, 1.45 goals-against average and one shutout against Tampa Bay while with the Hurricanes.
Amazingly, the winning team in this series has recorded a shutout in four of the last five meetings since March 5, 2023, with Carolina going 2-3-0 in that span.
Sebastian Aho, who is creeping up to his 600th career game, has registered 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) in 29 career regular-season games against the Lightning. We could see Aho with a big game to start the season.
PREDICTION: As much as I think the Hurricanes should win this game, I want to see how the Lightning play for a couple of weeks before I go all-in on fading them against upper-tier teams. I like the first period to go Over 1.5 goals (-130), as I think we'll see a fast start by both, with each team looking to establish dominance early on.
