The so-called Original Six era ended with the 1967 expansion, but even in today’s 32-team NHL, it remains something truly special for a national video game “Hockey Night in Canada” between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, both older and older. championship. the most winning teams (7 pm ET; CBC, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS, ESPN +, NHL LIVE). These historic opponents are separated by 41 points and are heading for their 760th race in the regular season. However, regardless of their divergent fortunes in the Atlantic Division in 2021-22, there will be tremendous energy at the Bell Center with the Maple Leafs (40-18-5) preparing for the Stanley Cup playoffs, to the applause of many of them. their fans and from the Canadians. (17-37-10) continuing a remake for next season and beyond. Toronto center-back Auston Matthews is approaching his first season in the NHL with 50 goals. Rocket defending winner Richard Trophy leads the NHL with 46. Montreal will be without injured forwards Brendan Gallagher (lower body), who will miss a week, and Jonathan Drouin (upper body), who is out for a while. indefinitely and was reserved for the injured on Friday. The Canadians also lost defender Jeff Petry, who is out indefinitely after a lower back injury in a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday. – Dave Stubbs, columnist Fleury is set for Wild’s debut against the Blue Jackets Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to make his Minnesota Wild (38-20-4) debut when he hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets (32-29-4) at the Xcel Energy Center (8 p.m. ET; ESPN +, HULU , NHL LIVE). Acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks before the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday, Fleury is the active NHL goalkeeping leader in regular season wins and playoffs, and three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins who also did a lot The deep postseason runs during its four seasons with the Golden Knights of Vegas. Aside from the pressure of his first game with his new team, Fleury will have a tough move to follow as Wild Cam Talbot goalkeeper wins consecutive games, including a shutout, after Fleury’s trade with 54 rebounds in 56 shots. 964 savings rate). – Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor Stars trying to climb The Dallas Stars (36-24-3) have been high and low in games this season. They had three winning streaks of four games, and one that lasted seven games throughout the season. But immediately after the seven consecutive victories from November 20-Dec. 6, lost five in a row from December 8-17, the biggest losing streak of the season. Now they are on another roll, looking for their fourth consecutive victory when they host the Vancouver Canucks (31-26-9) at the American Airlines Center (7 pm ET; SN360, SNP, BSSW, ESPN +, NHL LIVE). The Stars hold the second wild card in the playoffs from the Western Region. They are three points behind the Nashville Predators for the first wild and are trying to prevent the Vegas Golden Knights from losing a point. Dallas came away with a 4-3 victory on penalties for the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, when goalkeeper Scott Wedgewood, making his Stars debut after his acquisition in exchange for the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday, made 44 saves. Let’s see if this winning streak continues. – Tracey Myers, personal writer Saturday program New York Islanders in Boston Bruins (12:30 pm ET; NHLN, SN1, TVAS, NESN, MSG +, NHL LIVE) The Bruins (40-19-5) have three consecutive wins and are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. Striker David Pasternak’s hat-trick in Boston’s 3-2 win over Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday was the 12th in his NHL career. The Islanders (28-25-9) have 4-1-0 in their last five. Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings (12:30 pm ET; BSDET, BSSUN, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) The Lightning (39-18-6) have 2-6-0 in their last eight and have lost each of their last three games by one goal. The Red Wings (26-31-7) are 2-7-1 in their last 10. Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights (3 p.m. ET; ABC, SN, SN1, TVAS, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) Striker Alex DeBrincat has scored 36 goals this season for the Blackhawks (24-32-9), five less than his NHL career high of 41 in 2018-19. The Golden Knights (35-28-4) defeated the Nashville Predators 6-1 on Thursday after being eliminated from their two previous games (3-0 at Minnesota Wild on Monday and 4-0 at Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday). Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars (7pm ET; SN360, SNP, BSSW, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) Defender Quinn Hughes is just one point away from the 53-year-old draw in his 2019-20-20 season as the Cannibals, who have a 1-2-2 record in their last five games. Goalkeeper Jake Oettinger is 22-10-1 with an average of 2.49 goals, 0.917 rebounds and a shutout of 35 games (33 starts) this season for the Stars. Toronto Maple Leafs in Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) It is the first of the back to back for the Maple Leafs, which will host the top Florida Panthers of the Atlantic Division on Sunday. Against the Canadians, defender Mark Giordano will play his 1,006th regular season game, the second for the Maple Leafs since being acquired in exchange for the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. Florida Panthers at the Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, BSFL, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) Striker Jonathan Huberdeau will play in his 655th game for the Panthers (43-14-6) and will overtake Stephen Weiss for most of the games played in Florida history. Hubberdo leads the Panthers to score with 88 points (21 goals, 67 assists) in 63 games this season. The Senators (23-36-5) have 4-10-0 in their last 14 games. New Jersey Devils at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, MSG +, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) Center Nico Hischier has scored eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last four games for the Devils (23-36-5). The Capitals (36-20-10) are 5-2-0 in their last seven after a 4-3 victory at the Buffalo Sabers on Friday. Carolina Hurricanes at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSSO, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) This is the first of a three-game road trip for the Hurricanes (42-15-7), who have won 1-3-2 in their last six games. Striker David Peron has 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in a series of eight points for the Blues (35-19-9). Columbus Blue Jackets at Minnesota Wild (8pm ET; ESPN +, HULU, NHL LIVE) It is the second half of the back to back for the Blue Jackets, who lost 4-3 in shots to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. The Wilds won four games to advance to second place in the Central Division, one point ahead of the Sts. Louis Blues. Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames (10pm ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) Center Leon Dreisitl has scored 44 goals this season for the Oilers (36-24-5), second only to Maple Leafs center Oston Matthews (46). The Flames (38-17-8) were 31-0-2 when they were ahead two seasons before their 4-3 defeat by the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Seattle Kraken at the Los Angeles Kings (10:30 pm ET; BSW, ROOT-NW, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) The Kraken (20-38-6) have two consecutive wins and are 3-1-0 in their last four. Center Trevor Moore scored his fourth goal from close range for the Kings (35-22-9) in their 4-3 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. Moore has scored six goals from close to 189 NHL games. Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks (10:30 pm ET; NBCSCA, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) The Ducks (27-28-11) will try to end a series of eight defeats of the season (0-6-2). Striker Timo Meyer has scored 62 points (27 goals, 35 assists) in 59 games this season for the Sharks (28-28-8), four points away from the 66 (30 goals, 36 assists) he scored in 2018. -19.
