Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET; TVAS2, BSFL, TSN5, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This will be the first time that Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk will face off against each other this season and the first time ever as division foes. The Senators (4-3-0) are off to a nice start after improving greatly during the offseason. Brady Tkachuk (five goals, five assists) and Drake Batherson (three goals, seven assists) each has 10 points and Alex DeBrincat has eight points (two goals, six assists). However, it's a tough loss that they will be without center Josh Norris for perhaps the rest of the season.
Matthew Tkachuk has done it all for the Panthers (4-3-1) in his first season in Florida, whether it's been scoring (10 points), setting up teammates or getting under the skin of an opponent. Aleksander Barkov (39 goals last season) still is looking for his first goal and Sam Bennett (28 goals last season) has one goal. Florida has lost three of four (1-2-1) and this is an important game before a four-game road trip.
Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Jets (5-3-0) have started much better than we thought they would even largely without coach Rick Bowness, who has been ill. Connor Hellebuyck (2.50 goals-against average, .925 save percentage) looks locked in. Mark Scheifele leads them with six goals and it's only a matter of time before Kyle Connor gets going; he scored 47 goals last season and has at least 30 in four of his five full NHL seasons. We know they are a super-talented team but had some challenges in the locker room last season, which hopefully are behind them.
Vegas (7-2-0) is off to a great start under first-year coach Bruce Cassidy. Logan Thompson (1.69 GAA, .943 save percentage, two shutouts) and Adin Hill (2.00 GAA, .935 save percentage) have been great in goal. Jack Eichel is back to looking like himself and finally is healthy, as is Mark Stone. Vegas is finding different ways to win and is playing like the team that made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of its first four seasons in the League.
