Teams return to action after the NHL All-Star break

Saturday, February 3^rd – 3 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91

The annual NHL All-Star Game goes this afternoon from Toronto.  It’s the ninth time the capital city of Ontario has hosted the All-Star Festivities.  This time around, there are four different All-Star squads that feature lineups that were drafted this past Thursday.  Catch all the 3-on-3 action between Team Matthews, Team McDavid, Team Hughes, and Team MacKinnon.  The games will consist of two 10-minute halves.  In the event of a tie, a shootout will decide the winner.  The victorious teams in the opening two games meet up in the All-Star Game final.

Sunday, February 4^th – NO GAMES TODAY

The rinks are all quiet today as the players enjoy the last day of the NHL All-Star Game Break.

Monday, February 5^th – 7 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs

Two games tonight as the 2023-24 NHL regular season gets going again after the All-Star Break. Who are the New York Islanders, now that Hall-of-Fame goaltender Patrick Roy is their head coach?  His installment behind the bench has not led to an explosion of points, and the Islanders are in the midst of a real battle for a playoff spot in the jammed-up Eastern Conference.  As of the All-Star break, the Isles sit 6 points back of the final Eastern wildcard position.  As for the Maple Leafs, they begin play as the first Eastern wildcard team, just a point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for third place in the Atlantic Division.

Tuesday, February 6^th – 10 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights

This Pacific Division showdown would have been enticing all on its own, as the Knights currently hold down second place in the division, 5 points up on the resurgent Oilers.  And that resurgence has resulted in 16 straight wins for Edmonton, one off the all-time NHL record of 17, which is held by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins.  Do the Oilers match that impressive streak?  Do the Golden Knights increase their lead over Edmonton?

Wednesday, February 7^th – 9:30 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks

It hasn’t been a season to remember for the Wild, who remain in the wildcard hunt in the Western Conference, but they begin play 7 points off the pace for the final post-season invite.  There is still time to make up ground, and tonight is a key 2 points against a rebuilding Blackhawks’ roster who are still missing rookie sensation Connor Bedard.

Thursday, February 8^th – 7 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins

At the All-Star break, these two teams each had 71 points after 49 games played.  Good enough for first place in their respective Conferences.  Anytime there’s a battle between the top two teams in the NHL, it’s worth your attention.  Is this a Stanley Cup Final preview and a repeat of the 2011 Cup Final, which the Bruins took in a tight seven-game series?  It’s not often that the top two teams in the NHL meet up for all the marbles come mid-June.

Friday, February 9^th – 10 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks

If the Oilers defeat the Golden Knights on Tuesday, then this is the game where they go for the all-time NHL record of 18 consecutive wins in one regular season.  If they dropped that game in Vegas, then time to start a new winning streak.  They face a young Ducks team that is still in the midst of rebuilding and, as a result, sits near the bottom of the league standings.