Tuesday (Jan. 2)
Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT on NBCSN)
The Good: We get another helping in the battle for Pennsylvania. It’s still a key rivalry, and both teams enter the new year just a few points out of the Wild Card in the East.
Pittsburgh’s sparkling power play has regressed slightly, clicking at 21.86% over the last 10 games entering Sunday’s tilt with Detroit (compared 24.8% for the season). It’s still among the deadliest in the league, and that’s thanks to contributions of Phil Kessel.
The American winger has supplemented his special teams goal scoring with a penchant for playmaking over the last two years. That has him on a greater than point per game pace for the second time in his career.
On the Easterns side of the state, Philadelphia’s Shayne Gostisbehere has bounced back from a sophomore slump to reclaim his spot amongst the most electrifying defensemen in the league.
The Bad: The Flyers are just maddeningly inconsistent. Meanwhile, the Penguins had a tough early schedule and some inconsistent goaltending, but the two-time defending champions need to get their heads back above water in the playoff race. They sit just a few points out of the Wild Card, but enter 2018 in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Verdict: Hard maybe. Despite the standings, this one is important in the Metro.
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET/ 6:30 p.m. PT on NBCSN)
The Good: The Kings may have dropped their premier matchup against the Golden Knights last week, but they still sit solidly in playoff position in the West.
Connor McDavid is just so, so good at hockey.
Here’s the ref-cam view of that absurd Connor McDavid drop pass to Draisatl for an Edmonton goal. Good god. pic.twitter.com/PeKOzj5wRn
— Faizal Khamisa (@FaizalKhamisa) December 28, 2017
The Bad: The rest of the Oilers are so, so bad.
The Verdict: Hard maybe. If you’re still up after the early game, give this one a look, but it’s a pretty lopsided matchup.
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