To start tonight's NHL parlay, I'm backing the Flyers to get the better of their Pennsylvania rivals. The Flyers took care of the Penguins in the first round of the 2025-26 playoffs. Pittsburgh did not make many changes in the offseason and is only getting older. Philadelphia, on the other hand, is a team that should be on the rise with Porter Martone, Trevor Zegras and others. Philly is younger and faster - and playing at home.
Next, I like the Maple Leafs to bounce back from last night's disappointment with a victory over the Islanders. The Maple Leafs already have a game under their belts. It did not go great (a 3-2 loss to Montreal), but it may serve them well today. A back-to-back situation is not a disadvantage at this point in the season, when legs could not be fresher. For New York, there could be some rust in the season opener. Auston Matthews and company should take care of business at home.
To close out our NHL parlay, I'm taking the Avalanche to win big against the Kings. This is a rematch of a playoff first-round series last season, which Colorado swept. The Avalanche proceeded to get bounced by the Golden Knights, so they should come out with fire in 2026-27 as a team that perennially has Stanley Cup hopes but has fallen short in recent years. It's a new era in L.A. without Anze Kopitar. Colorado, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, looks like the far superior side.
