Detroit Red Wings: Top 5 Games to Watch in October
By Daniel Garza
The National Hockey League regular season is almost here and the month of October will be the start of another Detroit Red Wings hockey campaign.
There are 13 games on the schedule for the Red Wings in October. It will be a travel-heavy month as a total of eight away games will be played, which includes a three-game and four-game road trip.
Additionally, Little Caesars Arena will host its first regular-season NHL game in the Wings home opener. There’s plenty to look forward to in the month ahead.
Here are the top five Red Wings games to watch in October.
#5 vs. Buffalo Sabres (Oct. 24)
The Sabres got the better of the Red Wings in their season series last season. All four meetings were decided by one goal, including a shootout and overtime finish. Both of these teams were bottom dwellers at the end of the year and they should be close in the standings this time around as well.
This matchup should be an exciting one if it can match the results from last season. Hopefully, the Wings can come away with a win here to start off their season series against the Sabres on the right foot. They lost both times in Buffalo in the 2016-17 campaign which makes this a key road game in the October slate of games.
#4 vs. Ottawa Senators (Oct. 7)
It was a dream season for the Senators last season as they came close to reaching the Stanley Cup finals. The underdog team is out to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke and will be looking to build off of their impressive run of form.
This will be the Red Wings first away game of the regular season and will be a Hockey Night in Canada featured game which makes it a bit more special. An upset here could give the Wings confidence as they embark on a three-game west coast road trip shortly after.
#3 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (Oct. 16)
With the return of Steven Stamkos to the lineup, the Lightning is sure to be a powerhouse team this season. They already have a tremendous offensive player in Nikita Kucherov and adding Stamkos to the mix will certainly make for a goal-filled season for the Florida team.
This game will only be the second home game for the Wings and whenever they play the Lightning it seems there’s a level of intensity that can’t be matched in other matchups. Any type of result against this club in the 2017-18 season will be a welcome sight.
#2 vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Oct. 13)
The NHL’s newest team will take on the Red Wings for the first time. This Friday night game will start at 10:30 (EST) but it is worth staying up for the first matchup between the two sides. A strong Red Wings contingent should be on hand for this game at T-Mobile Arena as well.
#1 vs. Minnesota Wild (0ct. 5)
Of course, the opening game of the season is always exciting, but this season it will be extra special as Little Caesars Arena becomes the new home of the Red Wings. It will be interesting to see if the Wings can open up with a win against a team they beat a few months ago. Regardless, this is certainly going to be a memorable game.