One of the most anticipated debuts in NHL history will take place on Tuesday evening when the Chicago Blackhawks travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at PPG Paints Arena on ESPN, as rookie, Connor Bedard, will make his NHL debut for the Blackhawks on national television.

The Chicago Blackhawks finished last season with a record of 26-49-7 and 59 points which led to a last-place finish in the Central Division as well as a last-place finish in the Western Conference and Chicago missing the playoffs for the 6^th consecutive year. This season, Chicago enters the year with an over/under point total of 71.5 points which is tied for the 3^rd lowest point total entering the season and the Blackhawks aren’t expected to fare any better compared to last season as they are projected to be the worst team in the Central Division. The Blackhawks will start Petr Mrazek at goalie on opening night, Mrazek finished last season with a record of 10-22-3 with a .894 save percentage while allowing an average of 3.66 goals per game.

Pittsburgh finished last year with a record of 40-31-11 and 91 points which led to a 5^th place finish in the Metropolitan Division and a 9^th place finish in the Eastern Conference while the Penguins missed the playoffs since Sidney Crosby’s rookie season during the 2005-06 NHL season. This year, the Penguins enter the year with an over/under point total of 97.5 points which means they are projected to be in the playoff mix as a Wild Card team as they are projected to be the 4^th best team in the Metropolitan Division this year. Tristan Jarry will get the start at goalie on opening night for the Pittsburgh Penguins after finishing last season with a record of 24-13-7 with a .909 save percentage while allowing an average of 2.9 goals per game.

BookMaker has the Pittsburgh Penguins listed as -246 money line favorites at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday evening. Chicago is 7-2-1 in the last ten and 2-1 in the last three matchups in the series while winning by an average margin of 1.7 goals per game over the last ten and .67 goals per game over the last three contests.

Pittsburgh is projected to be the better team this season and will be looking to spoil Connor Bedard’s NHL debut for Chicago. However, the Blackhawks have been the dominant team in the series going 7-2-1 in the last ten and 2-1 in the last three contests. I don’t look for the Blackhawks to get the win, however, they have won by an average margin of 1.7 goals per game over the last ten and .67 goals per game in the last three matchups in the series which is why I am taking the puck line for the Chicago Blackhawks at +1.5 on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Opening Night of the regular season for both teams with the matchup airing live on ESPN Tuesday evening.