Super Bowl weekend has added meaning for fans of the Montreal Canadiens and the National Hockey League. Les Habitants de Montreal have created one of the top new traditions in the sport by hosting matinee games on both Saturday and Sunday of Super Bowl weekend. That weekend doubleheader at the Bell Centre highlights a full post All Star Game return of NHL action. Let’s look at this weekend’s top games.
–Saturday–
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens: Faceoff from the Bell Centre is set for 1 PM ET with coverage on NHLUS and RDS. Montreal is in the thick of the Atlantic Division race for the top spot with the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Habs rank third in the NHL for goals against as they are led by 2013 Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban and goaltender Carey Price. Price has emerged as one of the top netminders in the game with a .929 save percentage.
Subban is among the most mesmerizing players in the NHL as well as one of its most complete defensemen. Subban has 11 goals and 21 assists with a plus-6. Left wing Max Pacioretty has carried an offense that has been a disappointment. Pacioretty has a team high 21 goals with a plus-22. Speaking of players that grab immediate attention the Caps left wing Alex Ovechkin is having a strong rebound season. The Great Eight has 29 goals and is a plus-12. Washington is in the sixth wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. This matchup is a potential playoff preview and must see TV.
New York Islanders vs. Detroit Red Wings: Face off from Joe Louis Arena is set for 2 PM ET. This is a matchup of division leaders. The Islanders lead the Metropolitan Division and have emerged as a great story as they play their final season at the Nassau Coliseum. The Isles will move to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center next year. The man to watch for the Isles is center John Tavares who has a team best 22 goals and 46 points. Tavares is just 24 years of age with plenty of upside. Detroit is leading the Atlantic Division with a well balanced team that ranks eighth in the NHL for both goal scoring and goals against.
The Red Wings have long been a pioneer of stocking their roster with top European talent. Left wing Tomas Tatar leads the Wings with 21 goals while left winger Henrik Zetterberg has 15 goals and 30 assists. The Magician, Pavel Datsyuk, has 15 goals and 20 assists. Goaltender Jimmy Howard has a .920 save percentage in a strong season between the pipes. Both teams are loaded with skill and the Isles are not shy about emphasizing offense. This one is also appointment television.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks: Faceoff from the SAP Center is set for 10:30 PM ET with coverage on Sportsnet. The inconsistent Sharks have lost four out of seven and have the metrics of a team going nowhere fast. San Jose ranked 18th in the NHL for goal scoring and 17th for goals against but did hold the Western Conference’s sixth playoff spot. Chicago right wing Patrick Kane and center Jonathan Toews continue to prove the worth of their huge contract extensions over the summer when they were signed as a top front line pair for the same price. Kane was having a career year with 23 goals.
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–Sunday–
Arizona Coyotes vs. Montreal Canadiens: Face off from the Bell Centre is set for 1 PM ET. The second game of the Super Bowl weekend series should be a blowout for Montreal. Arizona is likely to have a fire sale of high priced players before April.
St. Louis Blues vs. Washington Capitals: Faceoff from the Verizon Center is set for 1 PM ET with coverage on NBCSN. St. Louis goaltender Brian Elliott made the All Star Game thanks in large part to a save percentage of .930 with three shutouts and a 13-5-2 record. Blues left winger Vladimir Tarasenko is another All Star with 24 goals and makes for a great matchup against Washington’s Ovechkin. The Blues have been hot with seven wins in eight games. St. Louis ranks third for goal scoring and fifth for goals against.
