An annual celebration of everything hockey will have extra implications for many Canadian NHL teams this year.
Six of the countryB次元官网网址檚 seven squads are still in the hunt for playoff spots, making each of this yearB次元官网网址檚 Hockey Day in Canada matchups an opportunity to collect crucial points.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 event is based in Swift Current, Sask., but the highlight takes place in Montreal, where the Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a battle that could foreshadow a first-round playoff series.
HereB次元官网网址檚 a look at all four of SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 Hockey Day in Canada contests:
Winnipeg Jets (34-17-3) at Ottawa Senators (20-29-5)
Hockey Day in Canada has long been a big deal for Senators right-winger Mark Stone.
B次元官网网址淚 still remember when it was in Winnipeg and I was like seven or eight-years-old and my dad was one of the guys who got to go on camera and ask Don Cherry a question,B次元官网网址� he said Thursday. B次元官网网址滱nd I remember thinking that was the coolest thing in the world.B次元官网网址�
The event is an opportunity to recognize a big part of Canadian culture, said Matt Duchene, a native of Haliburton, Ont.
B次元官网网址淚t just makes you proud to be Canadian. I still love getting on the outdoor rink,B次元官网网址� said the Ottawa centre. B次元官网网址淲hen I go home I have a big bunch of buddies who get together and weB次元官网网址檙e always talking hockey and we have a big group chat. ItB次元官网网址檚 been really nice to be able to get home and enjoy those moments.B次元官网网址�
Stone, Duchene and the rest of the Sens will play the early game on Saturday, taking on the Winnipeg Jets in Ottawa.
The Jets are coming off a tough 5-2 loss to the Canadiens on Thursday but still sit atop the Central Division with 71 points.
TheyB次元官网网址檒l have to play a different game to beat Ottawa, said Brendan Lemieux.
B次元官网网址淲e just have to be better. And if we clean up our game, we can beat anybody. But if weB次元官网网址檙e not sharp, this is the NHL and theyB次元官网网址檙e getting paid too, anybody can beat us,B次元官网网址� the Jets left-winger said after the Montreal loss.
Ottawa is lingering at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with just 45 points, but Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck said the team shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be underestimated.
Toronto Maple Leafs (33-17-3) at Montreal Canadiens (31-18-6)
If the hockey season ended today, these longtime rivals would meet in the playoffs for the first time since 1979.
Leafs coach Mike Babcock said this is the first time both Toronto and Montreal are excelling since he joined the franchise in 2015.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a team thatB次元官网网址檚 doing well, weB次元官网网址檙e a team thatB次元官网网址檚 doing well,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檇 both like to be higher in the standings. ItB次元官网网址檚 an important game. TheyB次元官网网址檙e a good hockey club, weB次元官网网址檙e a good hockey club. SomethingB次元官网网址檚 got to give.B次元官网网址�
The Canadiens sit just a point behind the second-place Leafs in the Atlantic Division standings. Both teams are on three-game win streaks and neither has lost in regulation since Jan. 20.
Facing the Leafs in Toronto will be another B次元官网网址減layoff-type game,B次元官网网址� said Montreal centre Phillip Danault.
B次元官网网址淲e want to keep getting points to make the playoffs,B次元官网网址� he said after the CanadiensB次元官网网址� win over Winnipeg. B次元官网网址淲e know itB次元官网网址檚 a really good team. TheyB次元官网网址檙e playing well, too. A lot of skill. ItB次元官网网址檚 always been a big battle and rivalry against the Leafs. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be exciting.B次元官网网址�
Babcock was watching the Winnipeg-Montreal game and said he saw a Canadiens team thatB次元官网网址檚 playing with good speed and some hot lines.
Still, the coach is confident going into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 game.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e good players too,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址滱nd weB次元官网网址檙e going to put good players on the ice and theyB次元官网网址檙e going to have to worry about defending us as well. Ideally we play right and we play fast and it turns into one heck of a hockey game.B次元官网网址�
San Jose Sharks (32-16-7) at Edmonton Oilers (24-25-5)
The Oilers will be looking to build some momentum after beating the Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Thursday.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a blueprint for success on the road and weB次元官网网址檝e got to take our road game back home and not try to dance with other teams,B次元官网网址� coach Ken Hitchcock said after the victory.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e built a certain way right now and weB次元官网网址檝e got to play this way to win hockey games. WeB次元官网网址檙e doing it on the road and I see no reason why we canB次元官网网址檛 take it home and hopefully play the same way there.B次元官网网址�
Despite a season that can be described as patchy at best, Edmonton is still in the hunt for a playoff position, sitting just two points out of a wild card spot with 53 points.
Meanwhile, San Jose is coming off a big 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday and sits second in the Pacific Division with 71 points.
They may be the only American team playing on the Hockey Day in Canada schedule, but taking part in the tradition is still important for at least one Sharks player.
B次元官网网址淥bviously, playing in the U.S., we donB次元官网网址檛 get as many opportunities as you do in Canada, to play on Hockey Night in Canada. ItB次元官网网址檚 something that I know, as Canadians, you look forward to and itB次元官网网址檚 easy to get excited for,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver native Evander Kane.
Calgary Flames (34-15-5) at Vancouver Canucks (24-24-7)
The Flames top the Pacific Division with 73 points, but they head into Vancouver following ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 tough home loss to San Jose.
B次元官网网址淚t didnB次元官网网址檛 go our way tonight and weB次元官网网址檝e got a big stretch of games coming up, big road trip starting in Vancouver, so weB次元官网网址檝e got to shake with one off and come back ready to play in Van,B次元官网网址� Calgary centre Mark Jankowski said after the defeat.
Expectations for the Canucks werenB次元官网网址檛 high coming into the season but Vancouver remains firmly in the playoff race. They were tied with the St. Louis Blues in points on Friday, but the Blues held control of the Western ConferenceB次元官网网址檚 final playoff spot having played fewer games.
Still, the Canucks are coming off a disappointing road swing that saw them take just three points from four games.
The trip also saw three players go down with injuries. Vancouver has yet to disclose what happened to left-winger Sven Baertschi, but defenceman Alex Edler is expected to be out of the lineup for about a week with a concussion and goalie Thatcher Demko will miss about 10 days with a knee sprain.
Star rookie Elias Pettersson forced overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks with a late power-play goal Thursday night, but Vancouver ultimately dropped a 4-3 decision.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e just got to get some practice in and make sure weB次元官网网址檙e all clicking and on the same page and start from scratch and just kind of erase the past and start over,B次元官网网址� Canucks right-winger Brock Boeser said after the loss.
B次元官网网址� With files from Darren Haynes in Calgary, Kelsey Patterson in Montreal and Lisa Wallace in Ottawa
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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