Saturday is the best day of the week for hockey fans, with 12 NHL games on the schedule from 1 p.m. through 10 p.m. ET — including multiple afternoon matchups and seven games starting at the same time. The day opens with a revenge matinee that might have the most juice of all: the Anaheim Ducks visit the Philadelphia Flyers.
NHL Saturday slate (Credits: ESPN)
Ducks vs Flyers: the Leo Carlsson revenge matinee
The 1 p.m. ET opener on NHL Network is dripping with storyline. The Flyers tried to sign Ducks superstar centre Leo Carlsson via an offer sheet this summer — a move that would have made him the highest-paid player in the NHL this season — but Anaheim matched the offer and kept its star. Now Carlsson plays in Philadelphia for the first time since that saga, and ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski has flagged the game as a “must-see.”
The undercard is just as spicy: Flyers star Trevor Zegras faces his former team, having scored two goals against Anaheim at home last season. Philadelphia enters on a three-game winning streak, while Anaheim is trying to halt a slide on its road trip.
Kings vs Devils: a 2012 Stanley Cup Final rematch
At 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, the Los Angeles Kings travel to the New Jersey Devils in a rematch of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final — the Kings’ first championship win and the Devils’ most recent brush with a title. Kings forward Artemi Panarin has tormented New Jersey throughout his career, with 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 38 games against the Devils, including a three-point night last season after his trade from the Rangers.
Seven games at once: the 7 p.m. ET logjam
The evening window is where planning matters. Seven games begin at the same time, so fans will want multiple devices or multi-view via the ESPN App. Among the 7 p.m. ET games, San Jose visits Boston, where rookie Macklin Celebrini continues to draw major attention — he has seven points (two goals, five assists) in five career games against the Bruins. The New York Rangers, meanwhile, play at the Ottawa Senators on NHL Network, with Ottawa sitting on 14 points through 10 games and the Rangers on 15 through 11.
With a dozen games, a revenge matinee and a Cup Final rematch, Saturday’s slate has something for every hockey fan — just make sure you have a second screen ready.
Also Read: ESPN Week 7 Crystal Ball: Kraft and Bernard TDs, Cardinals Upset and Hendrickson Revenge Game Predicted | ‘We’re Gaining Momentum’: How Fernando Mendoza Is Representing Every Hispanic NFL Player Before Him
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
