Can today’s slate of eight games top the wild and woolly bunch from Friday night? That’s asking a lot, but let’s take a look at what the league has planned. As always, these start times are according to Eastern Standard Time (ET).
12:30 pm
Los Angeles @ Washington
People love to beat up on Mike Green - and sometimes the jokes aren’t even hair related - but you have to commend the guy if he returns this afternoon. Sure, that is par for the course for hockey players, but that’s just it: he is a hockey player.
(Adjusts plaid Herb Brooks suit coat.)
2:00 pm
Ottawa @ Edmonton
Ladies and gentlemen: this weekend’s Tank Bowl features the Senators and Oilers. At least Edmonton has what seems like a more promising future to look toward.
7:00 pm
Toronto @ Montreal
While the Maple Leafs are likely in “auditioning players for the trade deadline” mode, the Canadiens are hoping to avoid their first four-game losing streak of the season. Of course, the toughest Habs loss came on Thursday, when they were slapped around by the Bruins 8-6.
7:30 pm
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
It’s a match between two struggling Southeast Division playoff contenders, as the division-leading Lightning host the ninth-ranked Hurricanes. Carolina hasn’t been scoring much as they lost four of their last five, while Tampa Bay isn’t exactly a stingy defensive squad, so it should be interesting to see which side “wins.”
8:00 pm
Colorado @ Nashville
Will the Avalanche take a risk by playing Peter Forsberg in back-to-back games? Considering their six-game losing streak, it wouldn’t be surprising if Colorado decided to roll the dice. Especially since the defense-first Predators aren’t exactly the perfect elixir for struggling opposing offenses.
Chicago @ Phoenix
The Coyotes are well-rested and playing well, having last beaten the Dallas Stars 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday. Meanwhile the Blackhawks are far from well-rested, having blown a 3-0 lead to lose in a shootout to those same Stars. The deck is stacked against the ‘Hawks, but maybe they can coax to the cozy Coyotes into a run-and-gun game tonight.
9:00 pm
St. Louis @ Minnesota
It’s reflexive to say that the Blues need this one “more” after losing to Minnesota in St. Louis last night, but in the skin-tight West, but teams need every “W.” The Wild only trail the Flames by one point despite playing in three less games, so they have plenty of incentive to sweep this home-and-home series.
10:00 pm
Calgary @ Vancouver
Could this be a top seed vs. bottom seed preview? It would be if the playoffs started today, although the steady stream of changes in the West make that far from a sure thing. Both teams are coming off losses to the Anaheim Ducks, so they should have that extra boost - not that they need it, considering the fact that they are division rivals.