Here are the top games to watch in the NHL this week.
Ottawa Senators vs. Colorado Avalanche
Big news came on Sunday night, as a three-way trade involving the Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche took place. Avalanche captain Matt Duchene was traded to Ottawa in exchange for prospects and picks, with Kyle Turris going to Nashville.
Now, Matt Duchene’s first game with his new team will be against his former team in Stockholm, Sweden.
This will mark the first time in six years that a regular season game will be played outside of North America, and it will be a game to watch because of the Duchene trade.
A top center like Duchene paired with a top defenseman like Erik Karlsson could result in some great plays and a great combination for the team.
The Avalanche got no big pieces from the trade besides prospects and picks, so the team essentially traded Duchene for nothing right now.
Duchene has four goals and six assists so far this season, while Turris has three goals and six assists.
This game will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals
The last time these teams matched up was Oct. 11, and Pittsburgh took the victory with a 3-2 win against the Capitals.
These teams are always close and fun to watch with Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin on the ice.
Crosby and Ovechkin were both held to only 1 point in the last game, but the overall story of the game was Pittsburgh’s power play, in which the team scored all three goals.
These teams are very even in the records for this season with only one overtime loss separating them.
The Penguins are led by forward Phil Kessel, who has recorded five goals and 14 assists this season, while the Capitals are led by forward Evgeny Kuznetzov, who has three goals and 15 assists.
This rivalry is one of the biggest in the league, and all-time, the Penguins have a winning record against the Capitals, winning 145 of the 280 games played between the two clubs.
This game will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday.
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings
The Sharks have had an unexpectedly good season so far after Patrick Marleau left after 19 seasons, signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Kings have been doing well, as expected. It’s hard to be surprised because of captain Anze Kopitar, who has earned 17 points in 14 games, and goaltender Jonathan Quick, who has 8 wins in his 11 games.
This game should be physical, as most rivalries are. Neither team has a great offensive presence, but the defenses are great. The game will hinge on who can get the puck to the net.
Overall, the Sharks have an overall record against the Kings of 89-76.
The puck will drop for this game at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
