Although the Stadium Series matchup of the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks dominates the Saturday lineup, there are several other key matchups in the NHL as the pressure packed playoff push continues. It’s an outstanding lineup that will lead into the Stadium Series game that will cap off a sensational Saturday of pucks. Let’s take a look the key matchups for Saturday.
Nashville Predators at Philadelphia Flyers: Faceoff from the Wells Fargo Center is set for 1 PM ET. Few things begin a weekend better than a quality NHL matinee and this one delivers. Nashville is the team to watch in the NHL these days with the best record in the NHL, the world’s best goalie in Pekka Rinne, and the deepest defensive corps in the league. Philadelphia is a long shot for the playoffs, six points out of the final spot in the Eastern Conference. Flyer goaltender Steve Mason is out until next month with a lower body injury. The Flyers rank 24th in the NHL for goals against and 28th for penalty killing. What Philadelphia has really lacked, however, is the goal scoring that made them a playoff team last year. Right wing Wayne Simmonds has been one of the few Flyers bright spots with 22 goals.
Winnipeg Jets at Toronto Maple Leafs: Faceoff from the Air Canada Center is set for 7 PM ET with coverage on CBC Hockey Night in Canada. Winnipeg has become one of the most compelling teams and stories in the game with its refreshing team culture and work ethic. Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien is being taken seriously as one of the top defensemen and hitters in the game. Big Buff can also bring it on offense as a former forward that has 14 goals, 26 assists and a plus-nine. Jets backup goaltender Michael Hutchinson is getting more playing time based on a strong .920 save percentage. The Leafs are the antithesis of the Jets with their selfish, soft and entitled culture. The Leafs have begun their blowup of the roster with a massive rebuild in its beginning stages. It will be interesting to see if Toronto puts up much of a fight against another Canadian team as the nation watches. Winnipeg should roll here based on their better work habits and growing confidence.
Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues: Faceoff from the Scottrade Center is set for 8 PM ET. It’s the second consecutive attractive inter-conference matchup for the Blues who will be coming off a Friday night home game against the Boston Bruins. Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup window with Sidney Crosby is closing fast as they are now merely good but no longer dominant. The Blues are a bona fide Cup contender and one of the better balanced teams in the game. Left wing sniper Vladimir Tarasenko has emerged as one of the top forwards in the game and a key asset for St. Louis. The Blues will have a raucous Saturday night crowd on hand and that should continue to fuel their outstanding home success, with a record at the Scottrade Center of 21-6-1-1. Crosby has been off since last year’s playoff loss to the New York Rangers and one has to wonder if all of the hockey he has played in the past several years, combined with past concussion issues are finally catching up to him. Pittsburgh trails the New York Islanders by four points in the Metropolitan Division while St. Louis trails Nashville by six points in the Central.
Detroit Red Wings at Dallas Stars. Faceoff from the American Airlines Center is set for 8 PM ET. Dallas suffered an ill-timed injury hat trick last Friday when forwards Ales Hemsky, Patrick Eaves, and Tyler Seguin were all lost to injury. The loss of that trio, and in particular Seguin, will likely be the final nail in the coffin to the Stars season. Seguin was fifth in the NHL with 29 goals at the time of his injury. Dallas continues to suffer from a lack of defensive depth with a ranking of 24th for shots allowed and 27th for goals against. Detroit had slowed down with three losses in a row before winning a Wednesday Rivalry Night shootout at Chicago to fall six points behind Montreal for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. The Wings fans travel as well as any group in the game and there will be a lot of red in the stands for this one.
