NHL Schedule: Sharks and Lightning Highlight Packed Week

Welcome to Top Shelf TV, a preview of the week’s national NHL schedule and television listings. We comb through what’s airing on NBC, NBCSN, and NHL Network to tell you which games are worth your time and which ones to skip.

As the calendar turns to November, The Scheduling Gods™ give us one of our most packed weeks of the year. Thanks to a crazy European vacation (no, not that European Vacation) the national NHL schedule and TV listings include not one, not two, but four doubleheaders. There’s also a busy week on the West Coast for all you night owls.

It starts slow, but it picks up quick, so let’s get to it!

Tuesday

Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres (7 P.M. ET/ 4 P.M. PT on NBCSN)

Why you should watch: The Capitals have had an up and down season so far, but they’re back above .500 and hold the second wild card in the East after last night’s win over the Arizona Coyotes.

That game – where the Capitals spotted an atrocious Coyotes team a 2-0 lead – might trouble some Caps fans. But it was fun to watch. As is this team. Alex Ovechkin is no longer on pace for a 246-goal season, but he’s still a human highlight reel. Anytime the Great Eight plays, you should watch. Cherish him.

Skip it if: You hate to see wasted potential. The Sabres are bad. They were bad the last time they appeared here. They’ve won one of their last four (against the Coyotes, coincidentally). We can only post so many Jack Eichel highlights.

The Caps might be an exciting team chasing a Cup before their window closes, but they also come in on short rest. As much fun as the OT win was last night, that kind of emotional drain plus travel does not bode well.

Verdict: Skip it.

Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks (10 P.M. ET/ 7 P.M. PT on NBCSN)

Why you should watch: The Battle of California heads south as these two division rivals duke it out.

We expected these teams to be about where they are in the standings: one leading the division, one mired in mediocrity. We didn’t expect the Kings to be that division leader. They were supposed to come back down to Earth after an Oct. 19 injury to Jeff Carter, but they’re keeping their collective heads above water.

Things aren’t all puppy dogs and ice cream in LA, but the team has gone 5-2-1 since losing Carter.

Also, we’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Anze Kopitar is a wizard. Look at the patience on that assist. Kopitar isn’t quite Harry Potter, but he’s at least one of those other good quiditch players.

Skip it if: You hate missing star players. The Ducks struggles in the standings mirror their injury report. Ryan Getzlaf is back on the IR after taking a puck to the face last week.

Verdict: Worth watching if you’re on the West Coast, but not worth staying up for after that early dud in the Eastern Time Zone.