Daily Cross Checks
Wednesday October 21
Who’s playing in the NHL tonight? Where can I find it on TV? When should I turn on the aforementioned TV? Most importantly, should I even bother turning on the TV? Here’s a place to find all the games of the night and talk about them to your heart’s content. Don’t worry, tomorrow we’ll start all over. Hockey fans, these are your Daily Cross-Checks.
Carolina at NY Islanders
Time: 4 PM PST
TV: FS-CR,MSG PLUS (HD)
Ordinarily, a team that only has 2 wins on the season and is playing on the road would be a decided underdog. Then again, usually they aren’t playing one of the only teams that is still winless on the young season (thanks Maple Leafs). While expectations were low and this was viewed as a building-block season for the Isles, the slow start for the Eastern Conference finalist Hurricanes has to come as a shocker. But the season is young. Both teams could really use a win here.
Nashville at Boston
Time: 4 PM PST
TV: FS-TN,NESN (HD)
It should be interesting to see how the Bruins look tonight against the Preds. Chuck Kobasew is gone, Milan Lucic is hurt and there will be even more pressure on Savard (he’s out too) and Ryder to be the offensive leaders. They look to get off to a good start with their new look line-up as the Predators come to town—who have problems of their own. Nashville looked better in their last game against the Capitals, but the fact remains that they’re riding a 5 game losing streak. Couple that with a long road trip and Preds are fighting an uphill battle.
Buffalo at Florida
Time: 4:30 PM PST
TV: MSG-B,FS-F (HD)
In a relatively non-descript game, Buffalo has quietly gotten off to a great start. The 4-1-1 Sabres are averaging about 38 shots per game. 38! You know that has to make Ryan Miller happy. As for the Panthers, they’re coming off their 1st win since opening night—coincidently it was also the first start of the season for free-agent acquisition Scott Clemmensen. We’ll see what happens as Clemmensen get’s another chance between the pipes.
Colorado at Minnesota
Time: 5 PM PST
TV: ALT (HD),FS-N
Who knew that the Avs would be one of the best teams in the West after the first 3 weeks of the season? With only one loss in regulation, Craig Anderson is reminding the league what a little goaltending can do for an organization. It’s a lesson that the Wild know all too well, as they are heavily depending on Vezina Trophy finalist Niklas Backstrom to regain last year’s form.
Vancouver at Chicago
Time: 5:30 PM PST
TV: TSN (HD),RIS,NHLN-US,CSN-CH (HD)
Vancouver can’t win on the road and since Daniel Sedin went down, they can’t score on the power play either. On the bright side for the Canucks, the goaltending situation in Chicago is in complete disarray. The team that beat Vancouver in the playoffs last year will not have Nikolai Khabibulin between the pipes. They won’t even have Cristobal Huet. No, they’ll have Antti Niemi stopping the pucks this time so Huet can get his shit together. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing for the Canucks.
Dallas at Anaheim
Time: 7 PM PST
TV: FS-SW (HD),PRIME (HD)
Both teams are coming off fairly crappy performances. The Ducks laid an enormous 5-0 egg against St. Louis, while the shorthanded Stars were dominated at home against the Kings. At least the Stars had an excuse. They’ll be without Mike Modano, Steve Ott and Jere Lehtinen until at least late October; and Brad Richards is day-to-day with a groin. They better figure out how to win without them or they may dig themselves a hole they won’t be able to get out of.
______________________________
The Daily Cross Check archives: For people that need more than just today’s games.
Matt Reitz is the Editor-In-Chief here at ViewFromMySeats.com and former NHL Writer for ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports. When he’s not shoving a mic in the face of NHLers or explaining why home teams should wear white, he’s usually trying to figure out what song to play next on his iPod. It’s a never-ending job.
