Might be easier to just knock the weekend’s slate out at once, so let’s to it:
First Screen Viewing
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens – Saturday, 6pm
I don’t like it anymore than you, but of this weekend’s offerings, the Auld Rivals from Up North is probably as good as you’re going to get. And with the way both teams are playing, it’s even better. The Habs took it to Winnipeg last night for their fourth win in five games, their eighth in 10, the Leafs have won four of five, and only a point separates these two in the standings, which means the world may finally get the Leafs-Canadiens playoff series they realigned 25 years ago to get. No really, that’s why they did it. With that in mind, this usually pretty spicy affair gets a little more ghost pepper.
Second Screen Viewing
Penguins vs. Lightning – Saturday, 6pm
The Lightning have gone into something like autopilot lately, trading wins and losses for the last nine games as they’ve run away and hid from the division and conference. You know when you get shut out at home by the Blues that your give-a-shit meter isn’t near the red. The Pens are still fighting off the Jackets and Islanders and Caps in the Metro, and suddenly there’s a big, red thing in the rearview from Raleigh. Losing five of their last seven isn’t helping their case. and suddenly things are getting a touch desperate in Iron City. The visit of Sid and Co. you would think would snap the Lightning out of their doldrums, if only for a night.
Other Games
Saturday
Kings vs. Bruins – 12pm
Red Wings vs. Sabres – 12pm
Wild vs. Devils – 12pm
Avalanche vs. Islanders – 12pm
Ducks vs. Flyers – 12pm
Predators vs. Blues – 1pm
Jets vs. Senators – 1pm
Stars vs. Coyotes – 3pm
Sharks vs. Oilers – 6pm
Panthers vs. Capitals – 6pm
Flames vs Canucks – 9pm
Jackets vs. Knights – 9pm
Sunday
Blues vs. Predators – 11:30am
Avalanche vs. Bruins – 2pm
Jets vs. Sabres – 2pm
Hurricanes vs. Devils – 2pm
Wild vs. Islanders – 2pm
Lightning vs. Panthers – 6pm
Maple Leafs vs. Rangers – 6pm
