The first Friday of the 2023/2024 season will feature only two games, as the Crosby/Ovechkin rivalry approaches its 19th season. This will mark the 66th career matchup of the two future first ballot Hall of Famers. Crosby has gotten the better of Ovechkin in both wins and production.

Crosby’s Penguins hold a 38-27 record against Ovechkin’s Capitals and in their previous 65 games Crosby has scored 86 points to Ovechkin’s 63.

2023 3rd overall pick Logan Cooley will make his NHL debut Friday night as his Coyotes take on the New Jersey Devils in the only other game on the NHL slate. Here are three bets I like for tonight’s games.

Carlson averaged more than three shots in 63% of his games in the 2022/2023 season and had 7 shots against the Penguins in their last matchup.

Matias Maccelli to score a point at -110. My $12.50 bet would return $24.01.

Maccelli ended last season with a bang scoring 24 points in his last 27 games propelling him all the way to fourth place on the Calder ballot. Maccelli will start the season on Arizona’s number one power-play unit and I expect the sophomore to continue his ramped production into the 2023/2024 season.

Arizona to beat New Jersey at +200. My $12.50 bet would return $37.50.

Yes, this is definitely the riskiest bet we’ve taken all season. I like the line too much though, New Jersey despite the win against the Red Wings looked a bit off. The Coyotes will be making their season debut against a New Jersey team playing on a back-to-back.

I expect a solid effort between the pipes from Karel Vejmelka and the Coyotes to pull off an early season upset.

Leon Draisaitl to register over 2.5 shots at -167. My $12.50 bet would return $20.12.  – MISSED

Evan Bouchard to record a power play point at +125. My $12.50 bet would return $28.12. – HIT

Conor Garland to score a point at +120. My $12.50 bet would return $27.50. – HIT

One Draisaitl shot away from going three for three. We risked $37.50 and returned $55.62, we are now up $35.55 (2.84 units) on the year.