NHL TV schedule: Outdoor game highlights stacked week
Thursday
Pittsburgh Penguins at Vegas Golden Knights (10 P.M. ET/ 7 P.M. PT on NHL Network)
The Good: This will be an emotional night for Golden Knights goaltender Marc-André Fleury. The Penguins made him the number one pick in the 2003 draft, and Fleury spent his first 13 years in black and gold. He won three Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh.
Fleury was the odd man out – and possibly the highest profile selection – in the expansion draft this Summer. Thursday marks his first turn against his old team.
Fleury started the year strong, but a concussion has knocked him out for the last several weeks as the Knights went through a Spinal Tap-esque line of goalies. He returns this week to a team that has performed well above expectations.
The Penguins have survived a rough early schedule and their own goaltending injuries as they fight for a coveted playoff spot in the Eastern Conference
The Bad: Schedule issues aside, the Penguins have been plain inconsistent this year. A Monday night loss to the Colorado Avalanche dropped them to a .500 points percentage; no team made the playoffs last year with less than a .573.
The Verdict: Hard maybe. This one depends on your time zone. Penguins fans will be emotional, but 10 p.m. is a late puck drop on the East Coast. Everyone in the Western Conference should keep an eye on the Golden Knights though.
Not sure if Brinksy was ready for that one, Jonny! #OCaptain https://t.co/waKetxbnec
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 10, 2017
Cord Cutter Special
This is something new we’re trying here at Top Shelf TV. NHL.TV, the league’s streaming service, offers a number of games for absolutely free throughout the week. The Cord Cutter Special will highlight the best of the bunch. Let us know how you like it in the comments!
Chicago Blackhawks at Winnipeg Jets (8 P.M. ET/ 5 P.M. PT on NHL.TV)
The Good: These division rivals come into the week separated by six points. After a sterling November, the Jets sit firmly in the second Central Division playoff spot. While free agent acquisition Steve Mason has struggled on the ice and with injuries, Connor Hellebuyck has emerged as a viable starter for a franchise that has never really had one.
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The revamped Blackhawks are buoyed by a Vezina-worthy season from Corey Crawford. His .932 overall save percentage (.937 at even strength) is eye-popping and has helped prop up an aging and ineffective blue line.
Up front, 19-year old rookie right wing Alex Debrincat has been a revelation. Skating on a top line along center Jonathan Toews and left wing Brandon Saad, Debrincat has 21 points in 30 games. He’s been sheltered a bit, skating just 14:40 a night and starting most of his shifts in the offensive zone. That’s how you shepherd along elite talent though.
The Bad: Speaking of Brandon Saad, this isn’t a great time to look at the trade that brought him back to Chicago. Columbus sent him back to the Windy City for LW Artemi Panarin, and the Bread Man has been on a tear lately. Panarin has 10 points in his last five games, including five assists against New Jersey last week. Saad has been held pointless in three of his last five games.
Both teams have some blue line issues. Chicago’s core is aging, and Duncan Keith’s lack of production is especially scary next to Brent Seabrook’s contract.
The Verdict: Ch-check it out. Not indispensable, but worth keeping an eye on.