Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators (7:45 p.m. ET; The Spot, FDSNSO)
What a difference a year makes. One year to the day, Oct. 28, 2024, I had the pleasure of covering the emotional return of Steven Stamkos to Tampa in what was his first game as a member of the Predators against the Lightning, the team he had played for his whole NHL career and where he won the Stanley Cup twice. His departure from the Lightning was a huge story during the 2024 offseason when Tampa Bay decided to go in a younger direction. For Stamkos, who hoped to stay, his first season with Nashville didn’t go as planned. In the end, the underachieving Predators lost each game to the Lightning 3-2 in overtime and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 35-year-old forward, who had three assists in those two losses, now has another chance to defeat his former team when the Predators (4-4-2) host the Lightning (3-4-2). That storyline understandably might not be getting anywhere near the hype it did a year ago, but anyone who knows Stamkos knows how much this matchup, specifically defeating the Lightning, means to him. That alone makes this game worth watching. — Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, TSN3)
How could you not love watching one of the most exciting and dynamic goal-scorers in the NHL going up against one of the best, if not THE best, goalie in the NHL? The goal-scorer is Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, who has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 10 games. He got a monster, eight-year, $136 million contract from the Wild (3-5-2) on Sept. 30, and he’s proving to be worth every penny. But he will have to earn his goals against Connor Hellebuyck of the Jets (6-3-0), who not only has won the Vezina Trophy voted as the best goalie in the League the past two seasons, but he also won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP last season. He’s off to a strong start again this season (4-3-0, 2.16 goals-against average, .928 save percentage), and I expect him to be the No. 1 goalie for Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. — Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief
Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues (8:15 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, FDSNDET)
With so many games, you’re going to want to flip around, but keep an eye on this one no matter the score. When these teams played in Detroit on Saturday, the Blues (3-5-1) took a 4-0 lead at 3:12 of the second period. The Red Wings were in danger of losing three in a row after a five-game winning streak. Coach Todd McLellan called time out. What did he say? “I don’t think you want to know,” forward Andrew Copp said. The Red Wings (6-3-0) responded to win 6-4. “We’re in every game until it’s over,” defenseman Moritz Seider said. — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
