Opening Day NHL Odds, Lines and Schedule – October 12th-13th

• The two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning are -170 home favorites over the Pittsburgh Penguins in their NHL season opener on Tuesday, October 12th, 2021
• Seattle will also be welcomed to the NHL on the same night. The Kraken are +180 underdogs as they visit the Vegas Golden Knights
• Reigning Stanley Cup finalist Montreal Canadiens are +155 underdogs at Toronto facing the Maple Leafs in their opener on Wednesday, October 13th, 2021

They’ll hoist a championship banner and display the Stanley Cup to the faithful for the second year in a row as the Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their 2021-22 NHL regular-season bow.

There will also be something shiny and new on display in Vegas, as the expansion Seattle Kraken play their first official NHL game under the bright lights of Sin City against the Golden Knights.

NHL betting lines show Tampa Bay and Vegas as the co-second choices in the 2021-22 Stanley Cup odds.

Opening Day NHL Odds

Odds as of October 4th at DraftKings

NHL Odds & Betting Lines for October 12th

There are two matchups set for opening day of the 2021-22 NHL season. The Lighting are heavily favored against the Pens, while the Kraken debut against the Golden Knights.

Penguins vs Lightning Odds and Early Pick

On paper, this appears to be a sensational showdown in the NHL odds. It’s the Lightning vs the Penguins. The only teams in this century to win back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.

There’s just one problem with this matchup. Two of the key names will be missing from the marquee. Penguins stars Sidney Crosby (wrist) and Evgeni Malkin (knee) figure to be missing in action after undergoing offseason repair work.

Can confirm: Vasy is still a brick wall. 🧱 pic.twitter.com/4XZIt1gd7M

— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 4, 2021

There’s also a massive mismatch between the pipes. The Lightning still have Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal, while the Penguins are continuing to go with Tristan Jarry. This news only looks to be good for Tampa Bay.

Pick: Lightning Moneyline (-170)

Kraken vs Golden Knights Odds and Early Pick

Another intriguing game is pitting the NHL’s last two expansion additions in opposition on opening night. Can the Kraken make like the Golden Knights did in 2017-18, their inaugural campaign, and defy the NHL playoff odds by making the postseason?

Probably not. Seattle didn’t fare as well as Vegas in the expansion draft. Rival NHL GMs learned from the mistakes they made in helping the Golden Knights quickly assemble a contender.

Is it October 12 yet?

Check out the full #SeaKraken schedule → https://t.co/gcOBMxQqiu pic.twitter.com/dxfNG4kqr2

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 4, 2021

However, expansion teams often rise to the occasion in openers. The Golden Knights will be playing without their Talisman, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, for the first time. His replacement, Robin Lehner, is stirring up internal strife. He’s making accusations on social media that some NHL teams are dishing out unprescribed drugs and pressuring players to play through injury. The Kraken might be the play here as they debut as underdogs.

Pick: Kraken Moneyline (+185)

NHL Odds & Betting Lines for October 13th

Two marquee matchups are featured on the second day of the 2021-22 NHL season. The Habs taking on the Leafs as road underdogs, while the Capitals host the Rangers.

Canadiens vs Leafs Odds and Early Pick

What’s the difference between Maple Leafs and maple tree leaves? The former falls in the spring, and the latter in the fall. The Leafs get to pick up where they last failed, trying to beat the Canadiens.

Leafs. Canadiens. Game 8.

The table is set pic.twitter.com/ZY5nu8tjgs

— Petrov McGuire (@McguirePetrov) September 25, 2021

With Canada online sports betting now available, NHL public betting will most likely favor the Leafs with their aggressive fan base. This time, they’ll be right. It’s the season opener. It isn’t Game 7. Take the Leafs moneyline.

Pick: Leafs Moneyline (-190)

Rangers vs Capitals Odds and Early Pick

When these teams were last seen on the ice together, the Rangers were seeking to enact revenge on Capitals tough guy Tom Wilson for liberties he’d taken in the previous game with Rangers players Pavel Buchnevich and Artemi Panarin.

Since that time, the Rangers have increased their arsenal, adding enforcer and known Wilson despiser Ryan Reaves from Vegas. It’s unfortunate the NHL lines aren’t offering an over/under prop on total penalty minutes for this game.

The Rangers are a young and talented team on the rise. Reaves will make them braver. The Capitals are heading in the opposite direction. Take the Rangers as one of your first NHL picks of the new season at valuable odds.

Pick: Rangers Moneyline (+115)