It's the best day of the week for hockey fans, with 12 games on the NHL schedule, including multiple afternoon (ET) games.
In fact, the very first game on the calendar might have the most juice, as the Ducks visit the Flyers -- who tried to sign away superstar center Leo Carlsson via an offer sheet this summer. (The Ducks ultimately matched the offer.)
And we say this a lot, but be sure you have a way to watch on multiple devices -- or with multi-view via the ESPN App -- because there are seven games beginning at the same time.
Here's a look at what you need to know for that one, and each of Saturday's games, including betting info and broadcast details:
Odds are provided by DraftKings and subject to change.
Anaheim Ducks at Philadelphia Flyers
1 p.m. ET (NHL Network) | PHI -122, O/U: 5.5
We'll cede our time here to Greg Wyshynski, who highlighted this game as a "must-see" in his weekly column:
"Almost-Flyer Leo Carlsson plays in Philadelphia for the first time since the Flyers made him the highest-paid player in the NHL this season thanks to their offer sheet. On the undercard: The always interesting matchup between Flyers star Trevor Zegras and his former team. He scored two goals against Anaheim at home last season."
Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils
3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | NJ -166, O/U: 5.5
It's a rematch of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final -- the Kings' first win, and the Devils' most recent brush with a near-win. And technically, these two teams could meet again in June for another go-round; of course, they'd both need to start winning a lot more frequently to qualify for the postseason.
Kings forward Artemi Panarin has played 38 games against the Devils in his NHL career, and has 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists). That includes a one-goal, two-assist effort this past season after being traded over from the Rangers. Does he have more magic in store for his latest trip to North Jersey?
The Devils were the big newsmakers on Friday, trading for Connor Hellebuyck. Will he be in the building on Saturday?
San Jose Sharks at Boston Bruins
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | BOS -192, O/U: 6.5
The Macklin Celebrini tour has become something akin to when the Beatles first came to North America, with boisterous fans seemingly everywhere one looks. Indeed, listen to the reaction when he scored a shootout goal against the home team in Nashville recently.
Celebrini has more history in Boston than most other cities, having starred for Boston University prior to taking over the NHL. In total, he has seven points (two goals, five assists) against the Bruins in five games so far in his career. How many does he add on Saturday?
New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators
7 p.m. ET (NHL Network) | OTT -125, O/U: 5.5
These two teams have some acrimonious history with one another on the ownership level. Back in Dec. of 2024, Senators owner Michael Andlauer accused the Rangers of soft tampering over a report from legendary New York Post reporter Larry Brooks that indicated Tkachuk was a primary trade target of the Blueshirts.
Fast forward to now, and Tkachuk did in fact get traded, but down to Florida instead of New York. Aside from that backdrop, this is a game between two teams battling near the top of the Eastern Conference; the Sens enter the game with 14 points through 11 games, while the Rangers have 15 points through 12.
Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | PIT -142, O/U: 6.5
It's been tough sledding for the Penguins following their somewhat surprising run to the playoffs last season. There have been highlights -- an opening night blanking of the Flyers, 7-0, and extra-time wins over the Canadiens and Stars -- but they lost four straight prior to a win over Florida, and are still allowing more goals on average than they're scoring.
On the other side, Nashville heads to the Steel City after earning points in five of its past seven games.
Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | WSH -125, O/U: 6.5
The Sabres will see a very familiar face in the opposing team's uniform in this one, as Alex Tuch was traded to the Caps this offseason (and signed a new contract). Tuch has been a big part of the Capitals' attack this season, leading them with five goals on the season, as they push to return to the playoffs.
Buffalo's leading scorer is Jack Quinn, who has broken out with 10 points through the team's first 10 games.
Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | VGK -135, O/U: 6.5
In the Golden Knights' inaugural season, the club was essentially on a "Revenge Tour" every night, as their roster was made up of players who had been exposed in the expansion draft by their prior club. One of the last remaining "Golden Misfits" on the roster is William Karlsson, who -- you guessed it -- was previously with the Blue Jackets.
One would imagine that the animosity in Karlsson's heart for the Blue Jackets has since abated, but maybe not!
From the Columbus perspective, the winning needs to start soon, or the whole "let's make the playoffs after narrowly missing the past two seasons" thing is going to be pronounced dead.
Carolina Hurricanes at St. Louis Blues
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | CAR -155, O/U: 6.5
Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters earlier this season that his team will be getting every other team's best effort as the defending Cup champs. And against the Blues, the Canes should be extra prepared; St. Louis won both games against Carolina last season (3-0 on Jan. 13 and 3-1 on March 12). Is there another upset brewing on Saturday?
Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | EDM -180, O/U: 6.5
Why are the Oilers hosting a game with a 5 p.m. local puck drop? Well, one of the very first laws in the NHL rulebook is that the Maple Leafs must play at 7 p.m. ET every Saturday night OR ELSE.
All jokes (?) aside, this will be another showcase of the NHL's superduperstars, with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard lined up for Edmonton, while Auston Matthews, William Nylander and breakout candidate Easton Cowan suit up for Toronto.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Utah Mammoth
9 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | UTA -142, O/U: 6.5
Following a possible Cup Final matchup against the Avalanche on Friday, the Lightning turn right around and face another legit Cup contender in the Mammoth. How likely? According to Stathletes projections, Lightning-Mammoth is the second-most-likely Cup Final pairing (behind Lightning-Avs).
This will be another early test for the Mammoth to prove whether or not they have really leveled up to the top tier of teams.
Detroit Red Wings at Calgary Flames
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | DET -148, O/U: 5.5
Well, not every game on the calendar is going to be a banger. Nevertheless, there are some interesting players to monitor, and this will be the Red Wings' final visit to the Saddledome, which is closing after this season.
Detroit's Alex DeBrincat -- fresh off signing a contract extension -- is pacing the Red Wings with 12 points (six goals, six assists) through 10 games, while former Flyers Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee are leading the Flames in goals and assists, respectively. And for those fans that like to play armchair GM, scouting this Flames team is not a bad place to identify some trade deadline possibilities either.
Minnesota Wild at Seattle Kraken
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | MIN -155, O/U: 6.5
Looking over the current wild-card standings in the Western Conference, there aren't really many shocking ... wait a minute, is that "Lithium?"
Yes, the Kraken are in playoff position right now, right behind the Oilers and Golden Knights. Similar to the Mammoth hosting the Lightning, this will be a strong test for Seattle in facing one of the West's powerhouses.
Reminder: Fans can catch all the action in the NHL streaming hub and on the ESPN App.
Jump ahead:
Top NHL stories
Last night's scores
NHL stats leaders
Today in hockey history
Top stories around the NHL
Here's what you need to know:
The latest Wysh List column, on the rise in fighting this season.
It's a fantasy hockey takeover of the Power Rankings! Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash identify a worthy pickup from each team.
Connor Hellebuyck has been traded to the Devils. Ryan S. Clark grades both teams on the swap.
"This will be a real fun game": How Brady Tkachuk (and the Senators) prepared for his Ottawa return.
"It's obviously been crazy... but it's been a lot of fun." That's Dylan Garand to Wyshynski in Monday's feature.
Patrick Kane set the record for assists by a U.S.-born player with a helper on a Connor Bedard goal.
Friday's scoreboard
Montreal Canadiens 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Colorado Avalanche 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 3
NHL scoring leaders
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
NHL goaltending leaders
Click here for the full list of goaltender stats.
Today in hockey history
Mike Bossy was a Hockey Hall of Famer and a member of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players list. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to injury, or his name would be higher on a number of career lists.
Bossy had two career milestones occur on Oct. 24; one good and one not so good. On this day in 1981, Bossy scored his 250th career goal in his 315th career game. At the time, that was the fastest anyone had reached that benchmark.
Then on Oct. 24, 1988, Bossy announced his retirement due to a chronic back injury at age 31. He finished his career with 573 goals and 553 assists in 752 regular-season games, and won the Stanley Cup four straight seasons with the Islanders.
