Toronto Maple Leafs at Nashville Predators (Saturday; 7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews will return from a two-game suspension he received for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic on Sunday. He leads the NHL with 45 goals and is the most complete NHL forward in my book. William Nylander (23 goals), Mitchell Marner (23), John Tavares (20) and Michael Bunting (20) also each has scored at least 20 goals for the Maple Leafs (39-17-5).
Roman Josi has found another level for the Predators (35-22-4), which is saying something considering he won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL two seasons ago. He leads Nashville in scoring and has set his NHL career high with 72 points (17 goals, 55 assists) and is plus-20. Forward Matt Duchene has scored an NHL career-high 31 goals and with 61 points in in 57 games is on pace to set his NHL career high in points (70, in 2013-14 with the Colorado Avalanche). Juuse Saros (29-19-3, 2.46 GAA, .923 save percentage) is giving Nashville exactly what it needs in his first season as the undisputed No. 1 goalie.
New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning (Saturday; 8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin could win the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player in the NHL; he's been that important to the Rangers this season, going 29-8-3 with a 2.07 GAA and .938 save percentage. Forward Chris Kreider scored his 40th goal of the season in a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday and could reach 50. Forwards Artemi Panarin (71 points), and Mika Zibanejad (61) and defenseman Adam Fox (61) are the others who have led the way offensively. Gerard Gallant has done an excellent job in his first year as coach, and the Rangers (38-18-5) have been one of the best defensive teams in the League. They are a Stanley Cup contender.
Lightning center Steven Stamkos has been rejuvenated this season, scoring 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 59 games. Defenseman Victor Hedman has scored 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) in 60 games, and forward Nikita Kucherov (32 points in 25 games) and Brayden Point (44 points in 46 games) are as steady as ever. Andrei Vasilevskiy (32-11-4, 2.37 GAA, .919 save percentage) is the best goalie in the world and keeps the Lightning in every game, even when they have trouble scoring. There's a reason that they are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions and haven't slowed down at all this season. Tampa Bay (39-15-6) has lost to New York twice this season and this will be a big test for them.
