NHL Pre-Season Kicks Off
The NHL is entering a new season as it kicks off its pre-season games this weekend, marking an exciting period for teams and fans alike. This time allows coaches to experiment with player lineups and for organizations to innovate, particularly through the introduction of games at neutral venues.
Neutral Site Games
This year, numerous games are set to take place at locations where neither participating team holds home advantage. For instance, the first pre-season game at a neutral site features the Colorado Avalanche squaring off against the Utah Mammoth on Sunday at the Magness Arena in Denver. Though technically in Colorado’s domain, Magness Arena is distinct from the Avalanche’s usual home at Ball Arena. Opened in 1999, Magness Arena hosts the University of Denver’s NCAA hockey team, the Denver Pioneers, who have claimed three national championships during the last decade (2017, 2022, and 2024).
On the same day, Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, will see the Anaheim Ducks take on their Pacific Division rivals, the Los Angeles Kings. This venue also serves as the home for the AHL’s Ontario Reign, a minor league affiliate of the Kings, situated just a short drive from the Kings’ Crypto.com Arena. This matchup is a repeat of last year’s pre-season contest, which the Kings won 3-2, led by two goals from Alex Laferriere and one from captain Anze Kopitar. The Kings are uniquely participating in multiple neutral-site pre-season games this year, with the encounter against the Ducks being one of three such matches.
Upcoming Games
The upcoming Wednesday will feature another exciting game when the Vancouver Canucks visit the Calgary Flames at Abbotsford Centre—home of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks. The Abbotsford Canucks recently celebrated winning the Calder Cup, marking a historic moment for the franchise since relocating in 2021.
Moving to Thursday, fans can look forward to a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This arena has been a fortress for the Hershey Bears—associated with the Capitals—who have won five Calder Cups since it opened in 2002, including back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.
Also on the schedule is a clash between the Ducks and Kings at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield, California, on the 27th. Although home to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, who affiliate with the Edmonton Oilers, this venue adds to the diverse neutral site experience of the pre-season.
On the 28th, the action will continue as the New Jersey Devils take on the Ottawa Senators at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, which is home to the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. This arena, having been opened in 2015, has not seen an NHL team since the Quebec Nordiques departed 30 years ago, making it a nostalgic site for local fans. Quebec City is often discussed as a potential expansion location for the NHL.
The days that follow will also feature the Florida Panthers squaring off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Kia Center for what’s referred to as the Battle of Florida. Opened in 2010 and renamed this year, the Kia Center also serves multiple teams across different leagues.
Lastly, the Senators will return to the Videotron Centre on the 30th to face off against the Montreal Canadiens, a matchup that should attract considerable attention given the French-speaking demographics in the area.
Conclusion
Concluding the pre-season festivities, the Los Angeles Kings will face the Utah Mammoth at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho, marking another neutral site for the Kings and their second meeting with the Mammoth this season.
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