First Screen Viewing
Predators vs. Blues – 7pm
The cream of the Central Division, if that image doesn’t make you barf. The Preds have already beaten the Blues once this year, a 2-0 shutout in St. Louis as this one will be. The Preds needed the break, as they went into it having lost three in a row. That leaves them one off the Blues for the summit. The Blues didn’t exactly roll into the break either, losing five of seven. So clearly both teams needed it. This would be even more enjoyable if not for the dumbass union rule that teams can’t travel until the 27th, so every visiting team will have flown in day of and that usually makes for shit-assed hockey. Hopefully this one can rise above.
Second Screen Viewing
Blue Jackets vs. Penguins – 6pm
Yet another time for the Jackets Nation to claim that this time they’ve got it, as they attempt to beat the team that handed their guts to them on a platter last spring. But they mean it this time! They haven’t been helped by the news that Cam Atkinson is going to miss the next month or so with a broken foot, and along with it is Fifth Feather’s broken heart (that’s two today!). The Penguins are the usual mess, now apparently open to trading Kris Letang, as they try and figure out another reason besides exhaustion and goaltending why they can’t quite get right. Murray will figure it out, the Pens will be fine, and they’ll probably kick the shit out of the Jackets again in the spring.
Other Games
Senators vs. Bruins – 6pm
Red Wings vs. Devils – 6pm
Sabres vs. Islanders – 6pm
Canadiens vs. Hurricanes – 6pm
Stars vs. Wild – 7pm
Oilers vs. Jets – 7pm
Capitals vs. Rangers – 7pm
Coyotes vs. Avalanche – 8pm
Knights vs. Ducks – 9pm