Daily Cross Checks
Saturday October 24
Who’s playing in the NHL tonight? Where can I find it on TV? When should I turn on the aforementioned TV? Most importantly, should I even bother turning on the TV? Here’s a place to find all the games of the night and talk about them to your heart’s content. Don’t worry, tomorrow we’ll start all over. Hockey fans, these are your Daily Cross-Checks.
Toronto at Vancouver
Time: 4 PM PST
TV: CBC (HD)
I’m convinced that this HNIC broadcast is starting early so Leafs fans can abuse alcohol and still go to bed at a reasonable hour. I’ll go out on a limb and say that the “Kyle Wellwood is SO fat” jokes should be in full effect. To put this game into proper perspective: Canucks fans are pissed because their team can’t win on the road. Leafs fans are pissed because they can’t win period.
NY Rangers at Montreal
Time: 4 PM PST
TV: CBC,RDS,NHLN-US,MSG (HD)
After their 7 game winning streak, the Rangers are trying to revert to full-on Rags status. After giving up a 7 spot to the Sharks, they lost a heartbreaker (after falling behind 2-0) to the rival Devils. Meanwhile, the Habs look like they might be righting the ship after their extremely impressive performance against the Islanders. Yes, it was the Islanders—but it was dominating non-the-less. I wonder what will be going through Christopher Higgins and Scott Gomez’s heads before this one?
Boston at Ottawa
Time: 4 PM PST
TV: CBC,NESN (HD)
The Providence Bruins head north of the border to see if half of their AHL team can compete with the NHL’s Senators. This just in: injuries suck. How much do you think the Sens would give up right now to trade for Zdeno Chara? Maybe Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo? Wait, that trade has already been done. Nevermind.
Florida at Philadelphia
Time: 4 PM PST
TV: FS-F (HD),CSN-PH (HD)
Florida gets to deal with the back-end of their Pennsylvanian back-to-back situation against the Flyers. What a brutal two night stretch for ANY team, let alone a team that has been struggling like the Florida Panthers. The Flyers will look to continue the good play as they beat the Bruins in their last outing. At least they don’t have to pimp any Winter Classic gear during the pregame warmups!
Washington at NY Islanders
Time: 4 PM PST
TV: CSN-DC,MSG PLUS (HD)
The Caps bring their 3 game winning streak to Long Island to face the Isles. New York didn’t handle success very well as they got POUNDED in Montreal (a game after their first win of the season). On the other hand, the Caps continue to dominate the Southeast—just like they did last year. Time will only tell if the Islanders can build around Tavares like the Caps have built around Ovechkin.
San Jose at Atlanta
Time: 4 PM PST
TV: CSN-CA
The Sharks play their 5th game in a row on the road as they take the ice against the Thrashers in Hotlanta. In their last 2 games, the hammered the hot Rangers and then followed it up with a huge stinker against the Lightning. We’ll see if they take the Thrashers seriously. If they don’t, the Southeast’s 2nd place team will make it an unpleasant trip to the South. Note to Sharks: don’t take penalties, the Thrashers are tied for #1 in the entire league!
New Jersey at Pittsburgh
Time: 4:30 PM PST
TV: MSG PLUS 2,FS-P (HD)
Atlantic Division rivals go at it as the Devils have to deal with the Gonchar-less Penguins. The good news for Devils fans is that the Pens are in the 2nd game of a back-to-back situation. The bad news is that it’s the Penguins. I’m guessing Martin Brodeur could have picked an easier team to try to tie Terry Sawchuk’s shutout record.
Buffalo at Tampa Bay
Time: 4:30 PM PST
TV: MSG-B
Don’t look now, but the Sabres still only have 1 loss in regulation this season. If that’s not enough to convince you that they’re a good team, they’re sitting on one of the best goal differentials in the NHL as well. People might not be talking about them, but they’re off to a damn good start. They look to continue the winning ways against the Lightning; who laid the lumber to the Sharks on Thursday night.
Carolina at Minnesota
Time: 5 PM PST
TV: FS-CR (HD),FS-N
Second game of a back-to-back for the Hurricanes as they take on another Northwest team in the Minnesota Wild. The road trip started off brutally for the Canes; so they’ll look to right the ship in the State of Hockey. Despite their porous overall record, the Wild are undefeated at the Xcel Energy Center. And the hits just keep on coming for Eric Staal and crew.
Dallas at St Louis
Time: 5 PM PST
TV: KDFI,FS-MW (HD)
Dallas is probably happy that they get to play a team that’s NOT from California for the first time in a week. Going 1-1-1 against the Kings and Ducks, the Stars get to travel back to the Central Time Zone to face a Blues team that has struggled on home ice this year. More good news is that the Blues will be playing on consecutive nights while the Stars have just been hanging out and waiting for tonight’s game. Maybe it will help them find a little more consistency in their offensive game.
Nashville at Chicago
Time: 5:30 PM PST
TV: WGN (HD)
The good news for people in Nashville is that the Predators managed 6 goals against the Senators on Thursday night. The bad news is they might have scored all the goals they will for the rest of October! Then again, if Cristobal Huet is in net, the Preds might be able to build on that 6 goal performance with a few more pucks in the back of the net. Whatever it takes—the might get that goals/game average over 2.00 one of these days.
Los Angeles at Phoenix
Time: 6 PM PST
TV: FS-W (HD)
The Coyotes have pretty much owned the Kings over the last few seasons. I’m not sure it’s very impressive to say that ANY team has owned the Kings over the last 3 years since they’ve had the worst record in the league—but the Coyotes have been right behind them with the 2nd worst record. But for an evening, this is a battle between the top 2 teams in the Pacific Division. We’ll see how long this lasts.
Detroit at Colorado
Time: 6 PM PST
TV: FS-D (HD),ALT (HD)
Remember when these teams were the most bitter of rivals? Maybe it’s because Yzerman and Sakic are gone; maybe it’s because the Avs were the worst team in the West last year—but this rivalry doesn’t have the same feel. But if the Avs continue their hot start, I’m sure the hate will creep right back into the match-up. I’ll just say this: right now one of the teams is on top of the Western Conference and the other is 10th. Go ahead and hate away.
Columbus at Anaheim
Time: 7 PM PST
TV: FS-O,KDOC
This is the first game of a Southern California back-to-back for the Blue Jackets. They’ll look to turn around their current road trip as they’ve given up 6 goals in each of the first 2 games on this Western swing. The Ducks will look to pull their shit together as well as they’ve been outplayed in their last two games (both at home).
Edmonton at Calgary
Time: 7 PM PST
TV: CBC (HD)
Seriously, what the hell is up with the schedule makers? This is the 3rd edition of the Battle of Alberta in only the 3rd week of the season? It’s not like it’s a race to see how quickly they can finish the rivalry games, is it? The Oilers are probably pissed since they’ve lost 3 times this season—and two of those game against the powerful Flames. Of course, the 6-2-1 Flames will be happy to play their Division rivals as many times as they can while their playing as hot as their name says they should be.
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