Five home dates in October and Canadian Tire Centre is already buzzing

Oct 8 vs the Flyers?? I'm driving up from Victoria, no way I'm missing that opener 🤬🔥 you just know the barn's gonna be LOUD 😤

Looks juicy already, the Oct 8 opener vs Philly will likely price the Sens around -150ish moneyline, and I'm honestly more tempted by the puck line at plus money given that 278-goal offence. Check who's in goal before touching anything though, that's cost me a C$100 parlay or two last season 😅 Driving out from Edmonton for the Islanders date on the 15th, bankroll permitting 🍺

Driving from Calgary for a home opener is the kind of financial decision my C$ savings account fears 🤣 someone check on UpsetKingFC, dude's crossing an ocean for Philly 😂🍿

Victoria to Ottawa for an opener. That reminds me of the fella I used to sit beside in the old days who flew in from Whitehorse for every home opener, rain or shine, well, snow or shine up there 😄 so UpsetKingFC, you're in fine company, that's a proper fan right there. I'll be honest, these days I watch most games from my couch in Calgary, but if I were still doing season tickets I'd circle that Oct 13 game against St. Louis myself. Openers are great for the buzz and the giveaways, but the third home date is when you find out what the team really is, the fresh-shirt crowd's gone quiet and you get the real hockey fans back in the building. 99 points last year bought them goodwill, mind you, but October has a way of humbling everyone. Still, if anyone from out west is road-tripping it, give the barn a shout from me 😉

HarryBlues poking at the puck line already, love the discipline 😂 honestly the one I'd circle is Oct 12 in Jersey sandwiched right between two home dates, that little road hop kills half the road trips people plan. Anyone else noticing the barn will basically be sold out for the opener while the Islanders game on the 15th still has seats? That's the sneaky value date if you're driving in 🤡💸

KevReds, that Whitehorse story rings true, old school fans were built different. I drive in from Hamilton for openers and even my wife just shakes her head 😄

Andy, the drive from Calgary for a home opener against Philly is dedication or a cry for help 😂 I'll be at CTC on the 8th myself, Gas Price watching my C$ account.

BadBeatPTSD, your wife sounds like mine 😄 I do the run up the 403/401 from Hamilton for a couple of these and she's long stopped asking what time I'll be back. Oct 8 against Philly is the one for me too, opener crowd at CTC used to have a different feel, back in my day you queued for a coffee that cost pocket change, now my C$ lunch budget barely covers parking. KevReds is right about the road hop on the 12th in Jersey though, that's where the trip planners get caught. Nashville on the 10th and the Islanders visit on the 15th round out a nice little stretch if the weather holds. See some of you there.

Flyers opener then Nashville three days later, Enforcer's right about that Jersey hop being a trap 😂 CTC in October beats freezing outside the ACC any year.

Back in the day we'd pencil in October wins before the puck even dropped, and that's exactly when the season bit you, eh. Watch as long as I have and you'll get it - 99 points buys you nothing once the Zamboni doors open. I'll take my seat at CTC on the 8th with zero expectations and just enjoy it 😄