Ryan and I strike again with our furious anger and a new twist on my end this week. Time to see what shakes here.
Top 5 games I’m looking forward to:
1. Devils @ Penguins (Monday)
2. Sharks @ Blackhawks (Tuesday)
3. Blackhawks @ Predators (Saturday)
4. Devils @ Capitals (Saturday)
5. Predators @ Canucks (Tuesday)
Matchup of the Weak:
Flyers @ Lightning (Wednesday)… I just lost my lunch thinking about these two teams on the same ice right now.
Two teams to watch:
1. Chicago Blackhawks
The ‘Hawks have a difficult schedule this week. They’ll host the Sharks before playing Detroit and Nashville on the road. Then they finish the week with a home date against the Preds on Sunday (their last head-to-head meeting of the year). Can the ‘Hawks keep it up??
2. Philadelphia Flyers
When will the Flyers turn it around?? Or will they be able to before another change is made?? Their schedule this week is very favorable for a team that needs to gather momentum. Florida travels to Philly tonight, then the Flyers finish the week with three road games against the Bolts, ‘Canes, and Isles. Is it now or never??
National TV schedule (U.S.):
Tonight
Sabres @ Maple Leafs… VERSUS
Tuesday
Sharks @ Blackhawks… VERSUS
Wednesday
Blackhawks @ Red Wings… NHL Network
Top 5 games I am looking forward to:
1. Devils-Penguins (Monday)
2. Sharks-Blackhawks (Tuesday)
3. Devils-Capitals (Saturday)
4. Blackhawks-Predators (Saturday)
5. Canucks-Flames (Sunday)
Matchup Of The WEAK!
Toronto Maple Leafs @ New York Islanders. (Wednesday) I am feeling nauseated just thinking about Jason Blake in Long Island again. The queasy feeling never gets old there.
Two Teams To Watch:
1. New Jersey Devils. Honestly they got away with a clunker against Atlanta Saturday. Pittsburgh and Washington on the road are actually winnable for them but will not be easy. Both teams have felt the sting of losing to New Jersey on the road already. They will want revenge. Three out of four points for them could push them to the top of the power rankings.
2. New York Islanders. Why? This team has the stigma of being Montreal’d out of house and home literally (see Saturday Night). The young team has the Dipietro distraction coming closer to the forefront and needs to stay in it as far as a playoff berth. All four games this week are winnable. Even the road test in Manhattan is winnable. A 3-1 week could catapult them closer to the 8 seed again.
The Twist:
Who will be the one team you do not want to watch this week? Carolina. With Philadelphia, Montreal and the Rangers coming to town, you can bet there will be some people asleep at the games this week. The biggest thing is can Carolina go a week without losing two or more starters out of their lineup? We shall see but this may be the week that trend gets reversed. I still think Carolina has a long way to go and facing three teams that need wins this week is not the best way to get better so to speak.
Aloha for now.
