OT: THN's Top 10 Games to watch this Season

[icehogfan08]

With September fast approaching, it will soon be time for NHL training camps to begin - and before you know it, the regular season will be upon us. If you’re still looking for the most intriguing games to circle on your calendar, look no further. This week’s list counts down the 10 best games to watch this season in chronological order:

10. Oct. 9, Canadiens at Jets

The first regular season NHL game in Manitoba since April 28, 1996 promises to be one of the most jubilant in recent memory. Scalpers in Winnipeg may be able to live for a year off the asking prices that are sure to be met.

9. Oct. 15, Kings at Flyers

Former Flyers captain Mike Richards will have just three regular season games (none at home) as a King under his belt before traveling back to Philadelphia to take on his old teammates for the first time. The Kings don’t host the Flyers this season, so expect lots of emotion from all players involved in the Richards trade on this day.

8. October 25/27, Penguins at Islanders/Islanders at Penguins

A home-and-home series between the Pens and Isles marks the first rematch between the Atlantic Division franchises since their ugly battles last season. You can bet new league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan will have particular interest in these games.

7. October 27, Canadiens at Bruins

Like the Isles and Pens, the Habs and Bruins jacked up their rivalry to new heights last season, thanks to Zdeno Chara’s controversial hit on Max Pacioretty, as well as the first round playoff battle the two teams engaged in.

6. November 10, Wild at Sharks

San Jose and Minnesota made two of the NHL’s bigger trades this summer - both with each other - setting the stage for the returns of Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi to northern California.

5. December 1, Coyotes at Jets

Winnipeggers will see their new team play their old team - which came very close to being their new team before the Thrashers relocated - in this matchup. Do you think Shane Doan will be standing-ovation-cheered very much? Me too.

4. December 3, Rangers at Lightning

Both Brad Richards and John Tortorella have been back to Tampa Bay since they helped the Bolts win a Stanley Cup in 2004, but never as members of the same organization. Until now.

3. December 29. Flyers at Penguins

Nine words: Jaromir Jagr’s return to Pittsburgh in a Flyers uniform. The Pens may need another new arena after the booing shakes the Consol Energy Center to its foundations.

2. Jan. 7, Canucks at Bruins

Boston doesn’t visit Vancouver during the regular season, meaning this game may be the only time the B’s and Nucks face off after their memorable Stanley Cup final showdown last season.

1. April 7, 15 Games

That’s right - the NHL has made the fantastic choice to end its regular season schedule for the first time ever with all 30 teams in action (the league ended 1975-76 and ’76-’77 with all 18 teams playing). It should make for a number of fascinating games that could decide playoff berths/seedings as well as draft lottery positions. Among the potential highlights: Buffalo at Boston, L.A. at San Jose, Washington at the Rangers, Toronto at Montreal, Philly at Pittsburgh and Chicago at Detroit.

 

[icehogfan08]

Numbers 6 & 4 are pretty weak. A Canuck's vs. Hawk's game should have been listed instead of 1 of those 2.

 

[Captain Iago]

Numbers 6 & 4 are pretty weak. A Canuck's vs. Hawk's game should have been listed instead of 1 of those 2.

Actually, quite a few of these are fucking weak. This list can :gtfo:

On that list:

10. Nope. I don't give a shit. Had the people from Winnipeg given a shit in the 90s, they wouldn't have left.

9. Nope...maybe if more juicy info is leaked about "Dry Island."

8. Oh, hell yes. These two teams have become a must see for the near future.

7. They Cuntiens had their chance. There was a regular season game they played after the Pacioretty injury. :yawn:

6. Are you kidding? Really? Paaalease. :smh:

5. Awe, how cute for Shane Doan. Hug a kitty. Next...

4. See #6.

3. :smh: Grasp at some more straws, please. How do people not remember he was a successful Capital and Ranger as well. Also, he's been gone for 4 years. Whatever.

2. These games will always make the list despite whatever happens during the offseason and how long into the season they play. Nature of the beast listing here.

1. Ok. I can live with this assuming there are playoff implications on the line...which there usually are.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Yeah, that is a shitty list.

Bruins and Canadiens ... can we get over that one already? Montreal blows (great goalie). Boston won the cup AND clearly settled the Chara hit business in the following game (by absolutely smoking the Habs).

April 7 should be nuts (hopefully not for the Hawks again) and give the broadcasters the biggest clusterfuck of potential playoff matchups to describe, EVER. I'm not looking forward to having JR stutter through the 86 possible playoff configurations possible on that last day. Yikes.

How about a wild card "Whenever Crosby actually takes the ice" for one of the slots. That's going to be a biggie.

And seeing as how most of these games have to do with trades that were made- how about Chicago get a shout out for the Winnipeg game in October. This is the first time two fan favorite players are coming back since the cup win- I can't imagine they'll get anything less than a warm welcome. PLUS, the Hawks at Thrashers game last year was a high scoring, long shootout, entertaining affair. So this matchup has that going for it too. Which is nice.