Halloween is one of the most hockey holidays there is. (If we’re allowed to use “hockey” as an adjective.)
Big, scary guys committing acts of violence, along with masks, missing teeth … and mascots terrifying children.
So before heading out to parties or handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, read up on all 10 matchups on the NHL calendar today.
Here’s a look at what you need to know for each game, including betting info and broadcast details:
Odds are provided by DraftKings and subject to change.
Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins
1 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | BOS -225, O/U: 5.5
The team from the land of “Candyman” heads toward the domain of myriad Stephen King novels for a scary matinee.
The B’s have won four straight games at home coming into this matchup and are led by superstar David Pastrnak. The Czechia native has seven goals and 11 assists through 14 games. Rookie James Hagens is tied for third on the team in scoring, with five goals and five assists.
Chicago is led in scoring by Patrick Kane — what year is this? — who has a goal and seven assists in 13 games. Connor Bedard is right behind, with three goals and four assists in seven games played after his start was delayed by injury recovery.
St. Louis Blues at Detroit Red Wings
1 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | STL -112, O/U: 5.5
At one point, this was one of the NHL’s most bitter rivalries, with the two clubs both in the Norris Division. The Red Wings hold a slight edge in regular-season record (130-119-47) and have a 24-16 edge in playoff games.
Detroit has 15 points through 13 games, which makes it last in the Atlantic but would put it in a tie for third in the Central. St. Louis is two behind.
Amid the uncertainty as Dylan Larkin‘s trade request/injury/now-suspension proceeds, Alex DeBrincat is doing lots of Alex DeBrincat things, with six goals and nine assists through 13 games.
On the other side, goaltender Joel Hofer has taken over as the clear No. 1, and is top 10 in the league in goals-against average (2.24) and save percentage (.923).
Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators
2 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | TB -170, O/U: 6.5
Although it’s more magical when Predators forward Steven Stamkos makes return visits to Tampa, it’s always fun when he welcomes his old teammates to Music City too.
Stamkos is having another strong season for Nashville — seven goals, eight assists through 13 games — but was blanked the past two games against the Lightning. Will that trend continue?
For Tampa, Brandon Hagel is leading the way on the scoresheet with eight goals and eight assists in 12 games.
Edmonton Oilers at New York Islanders
2 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | EDM -135, O/U: 6.5
Back in the early 1980s, these two teams had a baton-passing moment. The Isles won the Stanley Cup four straight years (1980-83), including a sweep of the Oilers in the final year. The next year, the Oilers beat the Isles 4-1 in the Cup Final, beginning a four Cups in five years streak for them, along with another in 1990.
Neither team has won the Cup since, and the teams enter this matchup with opposite problems. The Oilers are scoring an absurd 4.23 goals per game but are 18th in goals against; the Isles are fifth best in goal prevention but 18th in goals per game.
So it’s a toss-up which side comes out on top. What is certain, though, is that fans will get to see a handful of the most dynamic players on the planet in Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, along with the Isles’ Matthew Schaefer.
Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings
4 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | BUF -122, O/U: 5.5
Can Buffalo pull off the California hat trick? The Sabres won 2-0 against the Sharks on Tuesday, then 7-6 in a wild one over the Ducks on Thursday.
The Kings, meanwhile, have struggled to a 4-6-2 record out of the gate, with goals seemingly hard to come by on some nights, then flowing like a faucet on others (like in the recent 6-5 win over Ottawa and 6-3 decision over the Rangers).
Buffalo leading scorer Tage Thompson authored a hat trick in the game against Anaheim; what does he have in store for L.A.?
Ottawa Senators at San Jose Sharks
4 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | OTT -130, O/U: 6.5
In the second biggest trade of the offseason for the Senators, they landed 24-year-old left wing William Eklund from the Sharks. This game would have been Eklund’s first game back in San Jose, but he is out injured.
Instead, Tim Stutzle (eight goals, 11 assists) and the Sens will skate Eklund-less in the matinee against Macklin Celebrini (five goals, 11 assists) and the Sharks.
The two teams met Oct. 22 in Ottawa, with the Sharks earning a 6-2 win thanks to 41 saves by Yaroslav Askarov, and goals by six different players. How will this game play out?
Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | MTL -155, O/U: 6.5
Of all the arenas in the NHL, perhaps the most special is the Bell Centre in Montreal. And any time Sidney Crosby — one of the most iconic players in hockey history — sets foot on the ice, that ramps up the prestige.
This is the first of two games the Penguins will play in Montreal this season, after defeating the Habs 6-5 in OT in the Steel City on Oct. 3. That was a seesaw of a game; after the Canadiens scored first, the Penguins built a 5-1 lead in the second period, only to relinquish it by late in the third, before Tommy Novak clinched it 1:33 into the extra session.
The goaltending coaches on both teams probably hope there’s a bit less scoring this time around, but an 11-goal game would probably send the fans on hand into delirium.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Vancouver Canucks
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | TOR -162, O/U: 6.5
It’s another early start for a West Coast team hosting the Maple Leafs (after the Oilers took their turn this past Saturday). The leading scorer from each of these teams made Rachel Kryshak’s one-month breakout/rebound list; here’s a snippet of what she had to say about both:
On Toronto’s Auston Matthews: “Matthews’ skating has looked noticeably better. According to NHL Edge, Matthews has jumped from the 52nd and 72nd percentiles in 20-22 mph and 18-20 mph bursts in 2025-26, to the 68th and 93rd percentiles this season. He has been far more involved off the puck, specifically on the forecheck, resulting in his line forcing turnovers, extending offensive zone time and creating more scoring chances.”
On Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson: “Pettersson is drawing penalties at an elite rate, has already equaled his power-play goal total from last season, and is driving play through zone entries, shot assists and excellent defensive play. He’s producing points at even strength that is in line for a top-six-caliber forward, and a fringe top-line player. Pettersson ranks top five in blocked shots among NHL forwards and is much more engaged than the previous two seasons.”
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars
8 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | DAL -185, O/U: 5.5
Let’s pass the mic to Greg Wyshynski, who highlighted this as one of the games of the week in the latest Wysh List column:
“Zach Werenski makes his first visit to Dallas after rejecting a trade to the Stars during the offseason. Multiple reports at the time said that Dallas defenseman Thomas Harley would have been sent back to the Jackets, in a trade many anticipate could be revisited some day down the line.
“Nothing awkward about any of this!”
Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | COL -395, O/U: 6.5
Holy smokes, look at that betting line! Well, given that the Avs are one of the Western powerhouses and the Flames are amid a rebuild, perhaps it’s not that outlandish.
… of course, this is the same Flames team that won five of its last six games, including wins over the defending Cup champ Hurricanes and fellow Western powerhouse Wild.
But they also gave up a touchdown and PAT to the Avs in their previous meeting this season (Oct. 8). If nothing else, this game is the perfect Halloween nightcap.
Reminder: Fans can catch all the action in the NHL streaming hub and on the ESPN App.
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Today in hockey history
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Here’s what you need to know:
Friday’s scoreboard
New Jersey Devils 5, Vegas Golden Knights 2
Florida Panthers 5, Winnipeg Jets 2
Calgary Flames 6, Seattle Kraken 2
1:34
Tyrel Bauer and Bokondji Imama get into it again
NHL scoring leaders
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
NHL goaltending leaders
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Today in hockey history
Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne is typically remembered as a Los Angeles King — and particularly in the purple and yellow version of the franchise from the ’70s and early ’80s — or for his early-career exploits with the Red Wings from 1971-72 through 1974-75.
But he finished his NHL career with parts of three seasons for the New York Rangers, and it was on this date during one of those campaigns that he reached an important benchmark.
On Oct. 31, 1987, Dionne scored goal No. 700 of his career in an 8-2 loss to the Islanders. At the time, he was just the third player to hit that mark — joining Gordie Howe and Phil Esposito — but he has since been joined by Mike Gartner, Brett Hull, Jaromir Jagr, Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin.
