Lightning-Sharks, Flames-Oilers highlight weekend schedule
NHL Network, ESPN analyst Weekes picks games to watch
© Amanda Cain
New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes(Friday, 7 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSSO, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Rangers (26-10-4) have gotten great goaltending this season. Igor Shesterkin (18-4-2, 2.03 goals-against average, .938 save percentage, three shutouts in 24 games) continues to sparkle and made 35 saves in a 6-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. New York was trailing 3-1 and came back to win, which showed grit against a high-octane offense. Forward Ryan Reaves has brought a physical presence the Rangers had been missing for a long time, and they've been getting carried offensively by center Mika Zibanejad (37 points; 14 goals, 23 assists in 40 games) and forwards Chris Kreider (36 points; 25 goals, 11 assists in 40 games) and Artemi Panarin (40 points; 10 goals, 30 assists in 35 games).
The Hurricanes (26-8-2) are a great puck-possession team and know how to control games. Like the Rangers, they have received great goaltending, especially from Frederik Andersen (20-6-0, 1.99 GAA, .930 save percentage, one shutout in 26 games). Offensively, Carolina is led by center Sebastian Aho (39 points; 16 goals, 23 assists in 33 games) and forwards Andrei Svechnikov (30 points; 13 goals, 17 assists in 33 games) and Teuvo Teravainen (30 points; 11 goals, 19 assistgs in 36 games). Defenseman Tony DeAngelo, a former Ranger, is having a great season with 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) in 29 games and is plus-14.
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers(Saturday, 10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Oilers (18-16-2) have been absolutely sliding, and their latest loss was a 6-0 shutout against the Florida Panthers on home ice Thursday. Edmonton is 0-5-2 in its past seven games and 2-11-2 in its past 15. If there ever were a game to turn things around, it's the latest installment in the Battle of Alberta. Will the Oilers get improved play throughout the lineup and get the penalty kill (77.5 percent, tied for 22nd in the NHL) back on track? They need more than just their big stars to show up in order to start moving in the right direction.
The Flames (18-11-6) are 1-4-0 in their past five but defeated the Panthers 5-1 on Tuesday and hope it's the sign of a turnaround. With 35 games, they have games in hand on every team in the Western Conference with the exception of the Minnesota Wild (35), so their schedule will be pretty busy. Forward Johnny Gaudreau is having himself a strong season (43 points; 15 goals, 28 assists in 35 games) and goalie Jacob Markstrom (13-8-5, .218 GAA, .926 save percentage, five shutouts in 26 starts) is having a Vezina Trophy-type season, although he has regressed a little bit. Calgary is playing hard under coach Darryl Sutter and is willing to pay the price to get to the hard areas.
Tampa Bay Lightning at San Jose Sharks(Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Timo Meier is having a whale of a season. The forward scored five goals in a 6-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday and is heading to the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas on Feb. 5. The Sharks were unable to carry the momentum of Meier's big game in a 3-2 loss at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday and now get a tough test with the two-time Stanley Cup champion Lightning. I'm curious to see how San Jose stacks up against an elite team. The Sharks have played well and have surprised many teams. Defensemen Brent Burns (27 points; four goals, 23 assists in 41 games) and Erik Karlsson (26 points; eight goals, 18 assists in 33 games) each is having a bounce-back season.
Tampa Bay just continues to roll along. The Lightning are tied with the Panthers for the NHL lead in points (59) and everything is clicking up and down the lineup, from goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (23-6-3, 2.20 GAA, .923 save percentage, two shutouts in 32 starts) to defenseman Victor Hedman (43 points; nine goals, 34 assists in 41 games) to centers Steven Stamkos (48 points; 19 goals, 29 assists in 40 games) and Brayden Point (27 points; 15 goals, 12 assists in 27 games) and forward Nikita Kucherov (15 points; five goals, 10 assists in nine games). Tampa Bay has the fifth-best road record in the NHL at 13-5-2.
