Up to this point, the Hurricanes have lived up to their pre-season expectations, sitting right smack dab in the middle of the crowded race for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The same was expected of the Flames in the Pacific Division, but uneven play to this point has Calgary fighting instead just to stay close to the top three teams in the division.
It’s been a good first quarter of the season for the Kings, who tonight face a Senators team that has been one of the big disappointments to this juncture in the campaign. Ottawa loaded up in the summer, but those additions have failed to translate to points, and they find themselves living life in the lower echelons of the Eastern Conference.
Has there been a bigger surprise, a more pleasant story so far, than the young, exciting New Jersey Devils? They are fast, they are committed to team defence, and they are loaded with top-notch talent who like to fill the net with pucks. That’s why a quarter of the way through the 2022-23 NHL regular season, you’ll find New Jersey at, or near, the top of the Metropolitan standings. As for the Rangers, after last season’s progress, some New York fans are worried that the team has regressed somewhat, but they still have one of the best goaltenders on the planet, and there have been recent signs the Broadway Blueshirts are rounding into form.
This one has been circled on the calendar for months now; the return to Southern Alberta of forward Matthew Tkachuk. These two teams met up in South Florida back on November 19th, with the Flames emerging with the 5-4 win via the shootout. Now the shootout moves to Cowtown, and the Calgary faithful will have a much-anticipated opportunity to serenade their prodigal son. The next time these two teams meet up this season? It would have to happen in the Stanley Cup Final.
Defenceman Erik Karlsson looks like the EK of old, with an impressive amount of points a quarter of the way through the season. While the Sharks are not expected to make a playoff push this time around, it’s all about building for the future. Will Karlsson be a part of that future, or will his hefty contract be dealt with before the trade deadline? The Maple Leafs need some help on the blue line, but that contract…
Looks like the Lightning are back after what was a slow start for them. Tonight, they’re in Philly to clash with a Flyers team that appears to be headed in the opposite direction after a surprisingly good start.
The Jets have served notice to the league that last year was an aberration, and the boys from Manitoba are back in the thick of things. On the other hand, the Blue Jackets have been one of the bigger letdowns so far in the NHL, and don’t want to fall too far out of the post-season race in a competitive Eastern Conference.
RELATED CHANNELS
SCREAM Radio, SiriusXM’s destination for chills and thrills, returns to fill the airwaves with a spooky soundtrack for Halloween.
On the 5th anniversary of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Turtle Island Talks returns for its fifth year on The Indigiverse.
On Monday, September 28, Jimmy Kimmel returned to The Howard Stern Show.
The Beatles Channel (Ch. 18) is celebrating the new, expanded Special Edition of Rubber Soul with an entire week of exclusive programming devoted to the landmark 1965 album.
Join NHL Network Radio's Mick Kern as he previews the 2026-2027 NHL season that kicks off this Tuesday.
Ella Langley is bringing her music to an intimate stage in Denver for a special SiriusXM performance that will air on The Highway.
