This is the Weekend Watch. It’s a guide of what to watch this weekend.
Tonight: Philadelphia at Anaheim, 10pm ET
Check out these tweets from Eric Stephens of the OC Register:
The term “culture change” gets thrown around a lot, but it might actually mean something in Anaheim. For as good a coach as Carlyle is, he was regarded as a guy that — because of his gruff personality and grumpy demeanor — wore players down. Don’t get me wrong, Boudreau will probably wear out the Ducks in a similar manner. But for now, weeeeee! No meetings!
Saturday: Toronto at Boston, 7pm ET
The Bruins didn’t lose a game in regulation last month. The last time they did that was January 1969, when Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, Johnny Bucyk and Bobby Orr were wearing the black and gold. Needless to say, the Bruins are on some kind of roll right now. They demand your attention. And if you don’t give it, Milan Lucic will run you over. (Joking.) (I think.)
It’s also worth mentioning that the Bruins were 3-7-0 on Oct. 31, dead last in the Northeast Division and Eastern Conference. On Dec. 1 the Bruins were 15-7-1, first in the Northeast and second in the conference.
Saturday: New York Rangers at Tampa Bay, 7pm ET
The Torts Bowl! Well, sorta. This won’t be the first time John Tortorella returns to the city where he won a Stanley Cup, but it will be the first time he goes back coaching ex-Lightning star Brad Richards, the 2004 Conn Smythe winner.
Gotta think Torts had this one circled on the calendar. In addition to the “return to T-Bay” angle, his Rangers lost all four games against the Lightning last year.
Saturday: Chicago at St. Louis, 8pm ET
One of the best divisional rivalries in hockey, dating all the way back to the old Norris Divison (see: St. Patrick’s Day Massacre, Mar. 1991 — yeah, you have to watch the whole thing.)
This particular game will hold extra meaning for the Blues, however. It marks the return of LW David Perron, who has missed the last 97 games with a concussion.
“What we talked about last July is that our best free agent signing this year would be getting a healthy David Perron,” Blues GM Doug Armstrong said. “We’ve waiting a little bit into the season, but his talent and his skill set is not easily replaceable in the lineup.”
Sunday: Calgary at Vancouver, 9pm ET
Expect this to be asked in advance of every Canucks game for the foreseeable future: Luongo or Schneider?