The Battle of the Sunshine State is just one of our NHL Games of the Week
Saturday, December 13th – 7:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Edmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Always a big night when Connor McDavid is back in Toronto, especially on a Saturday Night. Especially since the Oilers are still looking for consistency in their game. They take on a Maple Leafs team that has improved its overall defensive game, but at some cost to the offence. The thing is, the Leafs have been winning more games as of late, so the recent adherence to head coach Craig Berube’s style has proven to be effective. And it helps big time that third-string goaltender Dennis Hildeby has been excellent between the pipes for Toronto.
Sunday, December 14th – 3:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Utah Mammoth at Pittsburgh Penguins
Can you believe the Pittsburgh Penguins so far? Right in the thick of the muddled Eastern Conference playoff race. Not what most people expected from a team expected to rebuild/retool/reset. In the Western Conference, there’s more of a separation between the top and bottom teams (though the league-worst Nashville Predators recently beat the league-best Colorado Avalanche). The Mammoth are one of the teams in the post-season mix in the West, and even in mid-December, the two points available tonight will go a long way in determining who makes it past mid-April.
Monday, December 15th – 7:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
The Battle of the Sunshine State features two teams that are like the rest of the Eastern Conference…look good one night, look lost the next. The Lightning appeared in late November as if they were going to run away with the Atlantic Division, and the entire Eastern Conference, for that matter, until a recent four-game skid brought them back to the pack. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Panthers haven’t played that way for most of this season (goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky needs to find his game), but the Cats have played better in recent days. Either of these two teams could end up in first in the Atlantic, end up as an Eastern wildcard team, or miss the playoffs altogether. Crazy times.
Tuesday, December 16th – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks
Suddenly, the Calgary Flames have discovered their winning ways, and most Flames fans aren’t all that happy about it. Look, everybody loves a win, or two, or three. But if it ramps you up the overall NHL standings, and you still miss the playoffs…it means fewer balls in the Draft Lottery Machine. And word has it there’s a lot of top-notch talent to be had at the Entry Draft this upcoming June. The Sharks already have some of that top-notch young talent on their roster, and because of that, are already ahead of schedule in making noise in the Western Conference.
Wednesday, December 17th – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
New Jersey Devils at Vegas Golden Knights
Injuries have affected every team in the NHL so far this season, what with the compressed schedule due to the upcoming Winter Olympics, but the loss of a couple of key players for the Devils has really put a damper on their designs on first place in the Metropolitan Division. Now they have to be concerned that a playoff spot remains within their reach, as the Eastern Conference is as bunched up as one can get. The Devils take on a Golden Knights club that has certainly racked up the points through the first two-plus months of this season, but there’s still a feeling that Vegas has more to give.
Thursday, December 18th – 7:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals
Last season, the Capitals surprised pretty much everybody by finishing on top of the Eastern Conference with an impressive 111 points (only the Winnipeg Jets with 116 points had more in the NHL last season). Many expected the Caps to come back to Earth somewhat this time around, and maybe they have…but they’re still a very good team, and have been sitting in the top three in the Metropolitan Division (often in top spot) for most of this season. They are getting solid goaltending, very good team defensive play, balanced scoring, great coaching, and Alex Ovechkin keeps lighting the lamp.
Friday, December 19th – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Dallas Stars at Anaheim Ducks
Only the Dallas Stars have been able to keep pace with the league-leading Colorado Avalanche so far. Tonight, the Stars take their act on the road to face an improved Ducks’ team that is a real threat to take the top spot in the Pacific Division. This could make for a great Western Conference Final in late May…but we are way ahead of ourselves. Suffice to say, enjoy this top-notch matchup on a Friday night in December.
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