With just two contests on the NHL calendar Wednesday, ESPN's preview offers game breakdowns, betting lines and updated stat leaders. After Tuesday's Frozen Frenzy, with all 32 teams in action, the schedule is a much lighter slate, though both matchups are tantalizing.
The early game pits the Montreal Canadiens against the Washington Capitals at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Montreal, last season's Eastern Conference finalist, was anointed the next big thing during the preseason but has stumbled to a 3-2-1 start. Washington was declared the unofficial winner of the offseason after many wise trade and free agency additions, yet sits at 3-3-0. The Capitals are favored at -130, with the over/under at 6.5.
The second game features two Western Conference powers, the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche, in a rematch just 24 hours after their Frenzy meeting. The Avalanche won 3-2 in Dallas on Tuesday, including another fight for Nathan Mac Kinnon. Colorado is listed at -148 with an over/under of 5.5, and the game airs at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT. Both teams finished near the top of the league in 2025-26 and are expected to be in the playoff mix.
Tuesday's results included the Colorado win over Dallas, Brady Tkachuk's three consecutive goals in the second period, and a Carolina win over Washington in which Taylor Hall left with an upper-body injury. Odds are provided by DraftKings and subject to change.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing