Games Tonight: October 29th

Another busy night in the NHL.

26 Carolina at 6 New York Islanders
Can't notice everything and here's something: the Isles have been killing penalties - keeping it simple - clear the puck. That should help a team win, they are - 5 - 1 24 GF 13 GA in those games. The Canes are not a team to overly test this penalty kill. Justin Faulk is playing a ton of minutes - this emphasizes how the Canes lack defense depth. I like Faulk and his minutes are solid.
New York Islanders

14 New Jersey at 13 Philadelphia
The Devils can play very tight own-zone hockey. When they do, they do it well. Philly is one of those teams that I have no idea when they will show up playing really good hockey, creating high percentage shots. They will always get a few good chances - which could be enough against New Jersey. New Jersey has a couple of scoring forwards in Henrique and Cammalleri, but that's it. So this is such a toss-up. New Jersey plays their game, they have a chance. Philly gives up many opportunities to Cammalleri/Henrique, they should lose.
Toss-up

28 Buffalo at 16 Pittsburgh
I've been impressed with Buffalo's ability to move the puck. I've seen young teams do this before, Edmonton prior to this season, but usually they give up a lot of easy opportunities as a result. So far Buffalo isn't doing this a lot. Don't get me wrong, they have a lot to improve on but they are better than I expected. Eichel, Reinhart and Girgensons are really good players and have very bright futures. Sabres' fans should be excited. Pittsburgh played a good game last night. They give up more rebounds than they should want - last night Fleury made all the right calls. I don't think he will have to do that tonight. But the if the defense doesn't clear the puck and win the rebounds, Buffalo can hurt them.
Pittsburgh

25 Colorado at 12 Tampa Bay
The Lightning. They haven't scored in over two games of hockey. I don't get it. I can't imagine they won't score tonight. Colorado needs help everywhere. The forwards aren't deep - Landeskog and MacKinnon are producing. On defense, Beauchemin is not enough. Erik Johnson just isn't living up to his number one draft spot in 2007. Hedman should be able to create from the back-end. Maybe, finally, perhaps...I will be right in saying, this game will be a shoot-out, even if it is only the Lightning doing the shooting. Colorado can skate - so it could be end to end. Hmm...watch the Avs win 1 - 0 in OT.
Tampa Bay

29 Anaheim at 7 St. Louis
Anaheim without Getzlaf looked on fire and with something to prove against Dallas. Winning the puck and controlling play in the first period - netting three goals and allowing none. And then Dallas started playing and ultimately won the game. Is this Anaheim? I will be surprised to see them turn it around a lot - they look, at best, like a lot of the middle-tier teams. If only they could even play that well for an entire game. St. Louis is the opposite - already looking like a tough top-tier team, they have been playing even better, despite some key injuries. Who is Parayko? He is a big younger player - he hasn't done anything shining - but he has been somewhat productive for the Blues so far.
St. Louis

5 Chicago at 8 Winnipeg
Chicago is playing well without defensive stalwart Keith Duncan, giving up only 3 goals in those four games, none on two shutouts. The one against Tampa is slightly lessened because they did the same thing against St. Louis. Anyway, Chicago is playing well, Seabrook is continuing to play very well. Kane is leading the way on scoring and Toews is getting the key goals. Seems like they haven't lost much since last season. I think tonight will say a lot more than the previous games. Winnipeg is a really good skating team and they gave LA a real run for it the other night. They will have to keep Chicago from controlling the puck and keep the pressure on the younger untested defensemen. Trevor Daley, coming to Chicago from Dallas, is finding himself.
Winnipeg

23 Vancouver at 4 Dallas
I haven't mentioned Lindy Ruff, the head coach of Dallas. He put some good teams together in Buffalo without a committed owner/management. So when he came to Dallas two years ago, I thought, Watch out for Dallas! He has improved them, but could this be the year they reach that top-tier? He has harnessed a good young core in Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin - easily as dangerous as Kane/Toews and Hossa. He brought in Jason Spezza as the other center last year. And now a couple of known Cup guys in Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya (who I don't really love, but he's put it all out there on a cup winning Chicago team...so if he gets success here, I have to give him some credit.) Vancouver has their work cut out. I don't think Vancouver is deep enough to continually counter Dallas's explosiveness. Dallas has had moments where they don't show up - that to me is Vancouver's only hope.
Dallas

1 Montreal at 22 Edmonton
Ok Montreal has a loss. It isn't a big deal. The thing to note will be - are they back to playing with pride about the front of their net. The first 6 games this season, there were not many clean shots from in front of Carey Price. The last three - they've gotten a little loose and are getting beaten to rebounds in front as well. Teams do this. The Canadiens are solid - they just have to commit to perfect own-zone coverage and let the offense explode from their zone. Plekanec and Pacioretty are true finishers, just give them open ice. There are a lot of crafty, good skating forwards as well. Edmonton would love to make people truly start doubting the Canadiens by stealing this one from them. And the Oilers do have weapons. If the Canadiens are playing their best, Edmonton has a small chance. If it goes like the Canadiens last few, Edmonton will just have to be efficient.
Montreal