It makes sense if they're going to have all 32 teams play the following night. If any games were scheduled tonight, the road teams would all be playing back-to-backs with travel in between.
Drawing up the NHL schedule is a nightmare, so I don't blame them for taking the easy way out once a year.
Last year's 32 team frenzy had teams play the night before and the same will happen this season for the second 32 team frenzy on Oct. 28.