Each Friday, NHL Network and ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes will provide readers with three games he is looking forward to that weekend:
Tampa Bay Lightning at Winnipeg Jets (Friday, 8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSSUNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Lightning (24-12-1) are back to being themselves. Andrei Vasilevskiy (16-9-1, 2.42 goals-against-average, .921 save percentage) continues to be the best goalie in the world. Brayden Point (22 goals) and Nikita Kucherov (13) are each healthy and leading this team offensively. Steven Stamkos is two goals away from 500, and Brandon Hagel (15), Nicholas Paul (14) and Alex Killorn (12) have also chipped in with double-digit goals. With the departure of defenseman Ryan McDonagh this offseason, Mikhail Sergachev has gotten more ice time and responsibility and has impressed both offensively and defensively.
Coach Rick Bowness has done a great job with the Jets (24-13-1) as they’ve exceeded all outside expectations. Connor Hellebuyck (19-9-1, 2.31 GAA, .928 save percentage) has played like a Vezina Trophy contender this season, and Josh Morrissey (seven goals, 36 assists) has been one of the best defensemen in the NHL this year and is in the Norris conversation. Winnipeg could get a big boost Friday with the return of forwards Blake Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers, Cole Perfetti and defenseman Nate Schmidtwho each practiced Thursday.
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSGSN, MSG)
The Rangers (22-12-6) have won three straight and are 11-2-1 in their past 14 games, playing like the team that went to the Eastern Conference Final last season. They’re 13-5-2 on the road this season for 28 points, fourth most in the NHL. They’ve allowed an average of 2.20 goals per game on the road, which is the best in the NHL. Forward Artemi Panarin has 45 points (11 goals, 34 assists) in 40 games, but I’d like to see him play with the same center. We know how good of a player he is but he’s capable of even more if he had chemistry with a center like he did with Ryan Strome the past few seasons. Center Vincent Trocheck has quietly had a solid season for them (13 goals, 17 assists in 40 games), and is their best face-off man, having won 56.1 percent of his draws.
Forward Jack Hughes has found another level this season for the Devils (24-12-3). He has 24 goals, two shy of his NHL career high from last season, including six goals in his past four games. He’s not only scoring but he’s creating for his teammates. Forward Ondrej Palat returned Thursday in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, but his addition was a welcome one. He’s a veteran who knows how to win, having won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. The Devils were one of the hottest teams to start the season but have three wins in their past 13 games (3-8-2). and have lost eight straight games at home (0-7-1), so hopefully for them, they can have a big game against their rivals.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers (Saturday, 10 pm ET; CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS2, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (19-15-3) are just trying to keep pace right now. They’ve lost five straight (0-4-1) and have been decimated by injuries this season. Center Nathan MacKinnon recently returned, which is huge for them, but the Avalanche are still without forwards Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Valery Nichushkin (ankle), Evan Rodrigues (upper body), defensemen Bowen Byram (lower body) and Josh Manson (lower body), and goalie Pavel Francouz (lower body). Alexander Georgiev (15-10-3, 2.69 GAA, .915 save percentage) has been great for them this season as the No. 1 goalie, and players like forward Mikko Rantanen (48 points) and defenseman Cale Makar (35 points) have kept them in the playoff race despite the difficult circumstances.
Oilers forwards Connor McDavid (75 points) and Leon Draisaitl (60) are the two top scorers in the NHL to no one’s surprise. But forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (48) and Zach Hyman (42) have also given the Oilers (21-17-2) scoring depth they haven’t seen in a while. Forward Evander Kane is getting closer to returning, which would be huge for them because of all he does. Although goalie Jack Campbell was signed to a five-year contract this offseason, he has struggled. Stuart Skinner has been very good for them (12-10-1, 2.88 GAA, .914 save percentage). For a team that made the Western Conference Final last season, you’d think they’d have a better record than they do but they’ve had trouble stringing wins together.
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