Dion Phaneuf has skated along both sides of the Battle of Ontario, having served as the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Ottawa Senators last season. Top overall pick Auston Matthews will receive his first taste of the bitter rivalry on Wednesday as the provincial rivals drop the puck to open the NHL season in Canada's capital city.

The St. Louis Blues finally ended their postseason woes in 2015-16, advancing past the first round of the playoffs for the second time since 2001 in reaching the Western Conference finals. St. Louis vanquished a nemesis and a bitter rival in the opening round with a terse seven-game victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, who will host the Blues on Wednesday night in the season opener.

The Calgary Flames already have celebrated a victory of sorts, signing star forward Johnny Gaudreau to a six-year contract extension on the eve of the 2016-17 season opener. With their leading scorer locked up to a deal worth a reported $40.5 million, the Flames will kick off the season with a visit to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

The San Jose Sharks swam in uncharted waters in 2015-16 by advancing to the Stanley Cup final for the first time in franchise history. After dispatching the Los Angeles Kings in five games in the opening round, the Western Conference champion Sharks will look to rediscover the magic of last season on Wednesday when their pesky Pacific Division rival comes calling in the season opener for both teams.