NHL Season Begins Tonight

The 2015-16 NHL season begins tonight for one former Sea Dog.

Nathan Beaulieu and the Montreal Canadiens are in Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs this evening at 8 p.m., kicking off a new season of NHL play. The game will air nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

Beaulieu was paired with Tom Gilbert at the Habs’ morning practice, according to the team’s game day blog. In 64 games with Montreal last season, the 22-year-old defenseman recorded one goal and eight assists.

There will be plenty of other former Sea Dogs joining Beaulieu in the NHL this season, including Mike Hoffman, Charlie Coyle, Eric Gelinas, Tomas Jurco, Jonathan Huberdeau, Stanislav Galiev and Simon Despres. Galiev is the only one of the eight that wasn’t a regular in the NHL last season.

Tomorrow, Hoffman and the Ottawa Senators take on Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres at 8 p.m. That game can be seen on TSN5. Meanwhile, Coyle and the Minnesota Wild are in Colorado to take on the Avalanche. Coyle had an impressive seven assists in four pre-season games with the Wild.

On Friday, the Winnipeg Jets are in New Jersey to face Gelinas and the Devils. Friday will also feature the Maple Leafs in Detroit to take on Jurco and the Red Wings.

On Saturday, Huberdeau and the Florida Panthers open up the season at home against the Philadelphia Flyers. Saturday will also feature the Devils traveling to Washington to battle Galiev and the Capitals along with Despres and the Anaheim Ducks facing the San Jose Sharks.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation