A busy Thursday night in the NHL features 10 games and five Canadian teams in action. Here are the major story lines we’ll be tracking.
Calgary, Gaudreau look to keep flame alive
If you waived Johnny Gaudreau from your fantasy team after the Minnesota Wild smashed his finger, now would be a good time to curse your own impatience.
The Flames sniper has returned from injury early and is scoring often. Johnny Hockey has found the net in each of his last three games and has four points in the two games in which he’s worn a funny-looking glove with extra padding.
Suddenly hot after a miserable start, Calgary flies to the desert to take on their GM’s former club, the Arizona Coyotes. An excellent chance to scoop another two points and continue their ascent from the Pacific Division doldrums.
Road warrior Oilers head to Philly
We needn’t remind you that it was against the Philadelphia Flyers that Connor McDavid suffered a serious injury last season — one that derailed his Calder Trophy bid.
This season, the 19-year-old McDavid has bigger prizes in mind — the Hart, Art Ross, and (gasp) even a playoff spot for the Edmonton Oilers are all achievable goals.
The last time a player under 20 led the league in scoring this deep into the season was in 2006-07, when a 19-year-old Sidney Crosby won the scoring race.
In the most recent Oilers-Flyers tilt back in March, Cam Talbot gobbled up 35 shots and shut out the Flyers 4-zip.
The Oilers own the league’s best road record (8-4-3) but they’ll need to solve Steve Mason and the NHL’s hottest team. The Flyers netminder has won each of his last five starts, accumulating a .947 save percentage in that stretch.
Slow-starting Philadelphia has now won six straight games, leaping into the second wild card position in the Eastern Conference.
Canadiens try to fill massive void in the middle
The good news is, neither Alex Galchenyuk nor David Desharnais needs surgery. The bad news is, both centremen for the Montreal Canadiens will be sidelined six to eight weeks due to injuries suffered earlier this week, creating a significant void up the middle for the Eastern Conference leaders.
After a two-week roadie, Montreal hosts the New Jersey Devils tonight in the first of four meetings between these teams.
New Jersey has dealt with its share of key injuries up front as well, as its most dynamic forward, Taylor Hall, missed weeks with a banged-up knee.
Now sitting just three points outside of a wild card spot, Jersey is keen to take advantage of a depleted Montreal side and improve a dismal 4-7-4 road record.