If you do not yet have the NHL Center Ice and or GameCenter packages this is the week to sign up as the weeknight slate of games is among the best of the season thus far. Let’s take a look at the top must see matchups this week.
Tuesday
The surprising and resurgent Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Anaheim Ducks at the Air Canada Center with puck drop set for 7:30 PM ET. Just as they did for the first five months of last season, the Leafs continue to defy the experts and conventional wisdom by winning despite not having a strong back end.
Toronto ranked 26th in the NHL for shots against and 20th for goals against and yet was 17-9-2-1 and in Eastern Conference playoff position thanks to being the highest scoring team in the league. The best example of how the Leafs play and win comes from last Friday’s 2-1 shootout win at Detroit on which they were outshot by the Red Wings 42-19 but were saved by G James Reimer’s spectacular play.
Anaheim is the top team in the Western Conference despite ranking 13th for goal scoring and 10th for goals against. The acquisition of Ryan Kesler from Vancouver is looking better by the minute as Kesler was second on the Ducks in scoring with 10 goals and 13 assists while Ryan Getzlaf powered to 10 goals and 23 assists. Frederik Andersen has been effective in goal in place of the injured Joh Gibson (groin) with a .915 save percentage. The true merits of Anaheim and coach Bruce Boudreau will be at playoff time as strong regular seasons are the norm for the Ducks.
The St. Louis Blues will open an critical home and home series with their Western Conference arch nemesis Los Angeles Kings at the Scottrade Center with a faceoff time set for 8 PM ET. The inconstant Kings were in ninth position in the Western Conference as their thin blue line remains a concern with Slava Voynov indefinitely suspended.
Goaltending remains the perpetual worry of the Blues as number one netminder Brian Elliott remains on injured reserve (lower Body) and young star of the future Jake Allen has proven to be not ready for the full time gig. Future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur was still getting into sync with a save percentage of .904. RW Vladimir Tarasenko is on a rampage and breakout season with 17 goals and 15 assists. Tarasenko is emerging as the offensive finisher that the Blues lacked in the playoffs last year.
Wednesday
The quietly successful Minnesota Wild will host the struggling Boston Bruins at the Excel Energy Center. NBCSN will televise the action at 8 PM ET. Minnesota was 16-11-1 with games in hand against Western Conference teams that were ahead of them in the wild card playoff standings. Each year since taking over as head coach, Mike Yeo has seen his team improve on offense while not sacrificing the defense that the Wild have been known for since joining the league. Leading scorer Zach Parise continues to pay dividends with 11goals and 12 assists.
Thursday
The Kings will host the Blues at Staples Center in the second game of their weeknight home and home series with puck drop set for 10:30 PM ET. Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter have powered “That 70’s Line” into one of the best in the NHL. Jonahtan Quick had a .931 save percentage and the Kings remained tough at home with a record of 11-4-0-1.
Friday
The Detroit Red Wings will host the New York Islanders at Joe Louis Arena with faceoff time set for 7:30 PM ET. This is a great potential matchup for fans that like offense and skill. The Islanders are the talk of the league and rightfully as they were in a neck and neck race with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Metropolitan Division. The Isles are pleasing to the eyes with an up-tempo style of play that had them ranked fourth for goal scoring. That is countered however by a ranking of 24th in the NHL for goals against. Detroit boasts plenty of skill as well as this new generation of young Red Wings will be a prime contender for years to come.
