Penguins‑Flyers rivalry and Avalanche‑Kings rematch headline NHL opener slate

Two high‑profile matchups highlight Wednesday’s three‑game NHL schedule as the league drops the puck on the 2026‑27 season. In Philadelphia, the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 7:30 p.m. ET, while the Presidents’ Trophy‑winning Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena in Denver at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Penguins chase payback in Keystone State showdown

The rivalry between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia picks up where it left off after the Flyers ousted the Penguins in six games in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. During the 2025‑26 regular season, Pittsburgh had the upper hand, collecting six of a possible eight points with two wins and two shootout losses against Philadelphia.

Their final meeting of that campaign still stings for the Penguins, who squandered multiple third‑period leads before falling 4‑3 in a shootout in Philadelphia. That collapse adds an extra layer of motivation as Pittsburgh looks to start the new season with a statement on the road.

Oddsmakers list the Flyers as home favourites at roughly -142 on the money line at major sportsbooks. The SportsLine Projection Model, however, leans the other way, projecting Pittsburgh to win in 62% of its simulations, which would make the Penguins at +120 an appealing underdog option. Expert Matt Severance targets the total instead, backing the Under on 6.5 goals after the teams stayed below seven goals in three of four meetings last season.

Avalanche heavy favourites in Kings rematch

Out West, Colorado begins its follow‑up to a Presidents’ Trophy season by facing a familiar opponent. The Avalanche swept the Kings in the opening round of last spring’s playoffs after also winning all three regular‑season games against Los Angeles in 2025‑26.

Two of those three regular‑season matchups produced at least six total goals, as did the final two games of their playoff series. While the Kings finished just 29th in the NHL in scoring last year with 220 goals, Colorado led the league with 298 and was driven by Nathan MacKinnon, who scored a career‑best 53 times to win the Maurice Richard Trophy.

Sportsbooks have installed the Avalanche as substantial favourites at about -193 on the money line, reflecting the gap in recent results between the clubs. On the totals market, SportsLine expert Todd Fuhrman is eyeing offence, recommending the Over on 5.5 goals. With Colorado’s high‑powered attack and the track record of six‑goal outings in this matchup, the late game in Denver shapes up as one of opening night’s most intriguing betting opportunities.