The NHL Schedule Analysis is back, and there's no time to waste. Our first edition will cover the first eleven days of the 2011-12 campaign. Eleven teams will play five or more games in the first week and a half of the season, including six by the currently "Sid-less" Pens and five road games for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Yup, the preseason is officially over and we all know how useless those standings are. Even your writers have drafted their final teams. So now that it's go time, let's take a glance at some key match-ups and trends as you look to prepare your lineups.
Your Key Matchups
October 6
Philadelphia at Boston: 7 p.m.
2010-11: Bruins 3-1
Revisiting
an Eastern Conference second round match-up, the Flyers are now a
different team and may be looking for some quick revenge.
Pittsburgh at Vancouver: 10 p.m.
2010-11: Penguins 1-0
Still
awaiting the return of Sidney Crosby,
Pittsburgh heads out West to start the season against a Vancouver team
that has changed a bit.
October 7
Anaheim at Buffalo: 1 p.m. (Played in Finland)
2010-11: Sabres
1-0
Will the Christian Ehrhoff
signing pay immediate dividends against the Sabres' early season West
Coast opponents?
N.Y. Rangers at Los Angeles: 1 p.m. (Played in Sweden)
2010-11:
Rangers 1-0
Anze Kopitar should
produce nicely, and keep an eye on Jonathan Bernier as he creeps up behind Jonathan Quick for the starter's job. Dustin Penner's (lower-body) presence in this game is still up in the
air. The Rangers begin their season with three road games. Marc Staal (concussion) was added to the IR, allowing 20-year-old
rookie Tim Erixon to get his feet wet. Brandon Dubinsky appears to have locked up on a line with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik. Sean Avery cleared waivers but will he report to Connecticut of the
AHL?
Nashville at Columbus:7 p.m.
2010-11: Predators, 4-3
This
looks to become a fantastic rivalry this season. Both teams are again
counting on their small-market contracted wingers. The Preds need
players like Sergei Kostitsyn and Mr.
Underwood (Mike Fisher) to produce before their defensive game will
produce wins. Columbus looks to newcomers Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski for
veteran impact, all while Steve Mason
is the most important ingredient to their success.
Chicago at Dallas: 8:30 p.m.
2010-11: Stars, 3-1
These two
large market organizations begin the season with a home-and-home series
on back-to-back nights. Mike Ribeiro is
off to another great season with tape-to-tape precision. What a
difference a season makes, as Chicago brings back nearly (Brian
Campbell, Tomas Kopecky) everyone from
last season. And then some includes: Steve Montador (Buffalo), Andrew Brunette
(Minnesota), Daniel Carcillo
(Philadelphia), Ray Emery (Anaheim), Jamal Mayers (San Jose) and Sean O'Donnell
(Philadelphia) all join the second city movement.
October 8
Nashville at St. Louis:8 p.m.
2010-11: Blues, 4-1
Nashville,
the preseason’s top point-getter, once again has a bit to prove this
season. St. Louis seems destined for a wonderful winter of
over-achievement. This should turn into a great season series either
way. More upside with the Blues, T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and veteran addition Jason Arnott
will be the deciding factors.
October 9
Pittsburgh at Edmonton: 9 p.m.
2010-11: Penguins 1-0
The
Penguins have a hellacious 14-game first month, and the Oilers may look
to start off their season on a gold rush. Edmonton's 2011 top overall
pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18 years old)
made it out of camp. Could this team get any younger? At this time, no
word out of Edmonton as to who is manlier, Nikolai Khabibulin or Devan Dubnyk.
Flag the variable.
Montreal at Winnipeg: 5 p.m.
2010-11: Tied, 2-2
Is there a
more fitting organization to schedule for the Jets' first regular season
home-game since 1996? Let's all hope Dustin Byfuglien gets his habits in order.
October 12
Vancouver at Philadelphia: 7:30 p.m.
2010-11: Canucks 1-0
Philadelphia
looks to make a stand as part of the NHL’s elite, while Vancouver just
endures a busy five-game start in the first 11 days. It seems like
everyone is jumping on the Jaromir Jagr
bandwagon, are you? If so, how much are you paying?
Boston at Carolina: 7:30 p.m.
2010-11: Bruins 3-1
The
defending Stanley Cup champions should not look past an always stingy
Hurricanes team. Mark Recchi (retired), Michael Ryder (free agent Dallas) and Marc Savard
(post-concussion syndrome) are not defending their cup. Carolina didn't
do much in the off-season as they are counting on a few AHL promotions.
October 13
Washington at Pittsburgh: 7 p.m.
2010-11: Capitals 3-1
The
Capitals will look to jump the gun on an overwhelmed Penguins team.
Pittsburgh plays six games (3 home, 3 away) between now and October 16.
Vancouver at Detroit: 7:30 p.m.
2010-11: Canucks 2-0
Yet
again, both favorites in their conference. Forget Nicholas Cage, is Nicklas Lidstrom a vampire?
October 15
NY Rangers at NY Islanders: 7 p.m.
2010-11: Rangers 4-2
After
all of that Al Montoya hype, there's
word Rick DiPietro may end up with the
starting spot between the pipes. Will the Isles take advantage of four
home games to start the season? There’s an enormous amount of pressure
for Brad Richards on Broadway. Mats Zuccarello will either burn up or fade away. Looks like another
season of lackluster Rangers/Islanders rivalry games ahead.
Los Angeles at Philadelphia: 7 p.m.
2010-11: Tied, 1-1
Which
came first, the chicken or the egg? Both the Mike Richards deal and the NHL schedule were announced this past
summer on June 23. Great early season match-up of summer partners and
Conference favorites.
Winnipeg at Phoenix: 7 p.m.
2010-11: Coyotes 1-0
Sadly, I'm
assuming this is not the first time an NHL team has played its
former-self. That's all I've got to say about that.
St. Louis at San Jose: 10 p.m.
2010-11: Sharks, 1-3
The
Blues have one of the most difficult schedules over this next 11 days. I
firmly believe by the end of the season we'll all look to the Lou
for a competitive and fluid squad.
October 16
St. Louis at Anaheim: 8 p.m.
2010-11: Tied, 2-2
Has Anaheim
been out of playoff contention ever, at all? Teemu belongs in Winnipeg!
The Watch List
Burst out of the weekend: Zach Parise,
New Jersey
Burst out of the weekend: Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis
Burst out of the weekend: Jimmy Howard, Detroit
Soon to burst: Brandon Dubinsky,
N.Y. Rangers
Soon to burst: Kevin Bieksa,
Vancouver
Soon to burst: Semyon Varlamov,
Colorado
The Trends
TGP = Total Games Played
B2B = Games Played on Back-to-Back Nights
