The Leafs visit the league-leading Avalanche + more NHL Games of the Week
Saturday, January 10th – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 167
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers
The condensed schedule due to the upcoming Winter Olympics has been a major factor in the crazy playoff traffic jam in both Conferences. In the Pacific, both the Kings and Oilers are in the running for the top spot in that division, even though every team in the bracket has recently allowed more goals than they have scored. Meaning this race is wide open. Of course, Kings’ fans can tell you all about the playoff barrier that the Oilers have represented to Los Angeles over the past few springs. Will these two teams meet up, yet again, in the first round of the postseason? Suffice to say, a “clean” two points tonight will go a long way in determining seeding in the Pacific.
Sunday, January 11th – 8:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks
Will the real Golden Knights please stand up? Sure, they’ve been right in the middle of the mix for top spot in the Pacific Division, but nobody would claim that this season’s edition of the VGK has looked like a powerhouse…yet. They visit a young Sharks team that is way ahead of schedule in terms of competing for a playoff spot, in large part because of their impressive youth, in particular because of young superstar forward Macklin Celebrini.
Monday, January 12th – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Toronto Maple Leafs at Colorado Avalanche
The league-leading Avalanche recently lost a couple of games in a row. Shocker! They’re still next to unbeatable at home, and tonight welcome in a Maple Leafs team that has finally been playing better hockey, as they slowly move up the Eastern Conference standings. It helps big time that captain Auston Matthews appears to have regained his potent goal-scoring touch.
Tuesday, January 13th – 7:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals
The young Canadiens just made the playoff cut last season, and this time around, it’s not a stretch to suggest they could challenge for top spot in the Atlantic Division. As for the Capitals, they surprised a lot of people last season, and then proceeded to eliminate the Habs in the first round. Washington’s team defence is still good, and goaltender Logan Thompson is having another fine season. Montreal currently have three goaltenders on their roster, and there’s widespread speculation that one may be moved soon (or rookie Jacob Fowler gets sent back to the AHL) in order to get back to a more manageable two-man rotation.
Wednesday, January 14th – 7:30 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers
Speaking of goaltending, the Senators don’t have any, and the Rangers recently saw All-Star netminder Igor Shesterkin have to leave a game due to injury. Both of these clubs are immersed in the muddled mushy mix for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, so once again, a big two points (maybe three) are up for grabs even though it’s only mid-January. But about that goaltending…
Thursday, January 15th – 7:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins
Talk about two surprising teams, the Keystone ain’t the Keystone Cops so far this season. The persnickety Penguins have remained in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt despite not having future Hall-of-Fame forward Evgeni Malkin in the lineup due to injury, but by the time you read this, he may well be back. The entire team has played well, especially captain Sidney Crosby, who continues to be a difference maker on the ice. The Flyers have been getting very good goaltending this season, and new head coach Rick Tocchet has his charges playing competitive hockey. Do they both make the playoffs this April? The hockey world is a better place when this rivalry matters.
Friday, January 16th – 7:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings
Do you believe in the Detroit Red Wings? They haven’t had to make playoff plans for almost a decade now, a horse with no name dry spell for a franchise that likes to call itself Hockeytown. It’s been more Golftown, but that could finally be changing. They’ve been at or near the top of the Atlantic Division for most of the season. But here comes Tampa, and Montreal, and Florida, and Toronto…and Buffalo! The Red Wings clash tonight with the overachieving San Jose Sharks.
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