Oct. 21 has been circled on calendars by Senators fans, and many other hockey fans, since the 2026-27 NHL schedule was released. Wednesday night, Brady Tkachuk makes his return to Canada's capital to skate with his new club, the Florida Panthers, following an offseason trade. What kind of reception will he receive, and who wins a game that seems to matter more than just the two points in the standings?
The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, with Buffalo favored at -192 (O/U 5.5). The resurgent Flyers have won two straight, both against teams that made the 2026 playoffs, Ottawa and Colorado, after nine losses to begin the campaign. The Sabres are off to a pedestrian 4-3-2 start. Their problems are both offensive and defensive: goals scored are down to 3.00 per game from 3.45 last season, while goals allowed have risen to 3.67 from 2.93.
In the simultaneous matchup, the Panthers face the Ottawa Senators at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with Ottawa at -115 (O/U 5.5). The circumstances of Tkachuk's departure have left real hard feelings, despite his success with the club early in his NHL career. Both teams are tied in the Atlantic Division with 12 points apiece. Florida enters on a heater, having won its past three games by an aggregate 18-8, while Ottawa has been inconsistent, losing two of its past three after winning five of its first six.
Fans can catch all the action in the NHL streaming hub and on the ESPN App. Odds are provided by DraftKings and are subject to change.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing