The Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes will open the season Friday night in Raleigh, N.C., with aspirations of again being among the elite teams in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

Connor Hellebuyck stifled one of the most dangerous attacks in the NHL in the season opener for his Winnipeg Jets. On Friday, the goaltender will seek to stay hot against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.

The Philadelphia Flyers kick off the new season with a road swing through western Canada that begins on Friday in Vancouver, where they will face a Canucks team hoping to prove its dramatic 26-point improvement last season was no fluke.

The St. Louis Blues will try to complete a season-opening three-game road sweep when they oppose the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday in Las Vegas.