Super Saturday In The NHL: 30 Teams In Action One 1 Night

Just as Nickelback said “Saturday Night’s alright for fighting, get a little action in.”  This day comes once a year.  It’s Super Saturday; the day where all 30 teams in the NHL are in action.  A night where every hockey fan is busy cheering on their team no matter where they live or what their team is.  Yet, out of all fifteen games which ones are going to be the most exciting?  And which ones the least?  Well hockey is never boring to watch, but some games tomorrow are going to be a real treat for hockey fans all around the continent as well as around other parts of the world.  Which will have the best fights? Goals? Hits? Saves?  Here are my tee-ups for one of the most exciting days in the NHL Season.  Games will go down in order of excitement (15 being the least, 1 the most)

15. Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders

Two teams that are not expected to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs will meet head to head tomorrow at 7 p.m EST.  Carolina has got off to a solid start while the same cannot be said for the Islanders.  In the end this game may have relative patches of excitement, but nothing compared to some of the other games during the day.  Look for Eric Staal to strike hard for the Hurricanes, but also look for Rick DiPietro to have a solid game after a shaky start.  Hurricanes will take it in the end.

Kassam’s Prediction: Hurricanes: 2 (W)   Islanders: 1 (L)

14. Florida Panthers vs. St. Louis Blues

Once again it’s a tilt between two teams not expected to make the playoffs in their respective conferences.  Yet, St. Louis is having something to say about that early on in the season as they are going at it neck and neck with the defending champion Red Wings.  The Panthers are also off to a decent start.  Look for this to be an attempt at a defensive game with many mistakes being made.  Nathan Horton will look to lead his Panthers to victory while Andy McDonald will spark his Blues.  Tomas Vokoun’s goaltending will be the difference in the end.

Kassam’s Prediction: Panthers: 4 (W) Blues: 3 (L)

13. Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild

The expansion cousins will be going head to head.  In a game where the Wild are expected to win every time look for the fresh upbeat Jackets to give them a game.  The Wild are off to their basic hot start, and the Jackets are playing decent hockey as of late.  This will be a tight knit defensive hockey game with very few mistakes.  This will be a battle of goaltenders and Leclaire and Backstrom will both be on their games with Rick Nash pushing his team ahead.

Kassam’s Prediction: Blue Jackets: 1 (W) Wild: 0 (L)

12. Los Angeles Kings vs. Nashville Predators

One of the bottom feeders in the West against a team that is going to be fighting for a playoff spot.  This is one of those games that could have its excitement, but could turn out to be a game with no rhythm or pace.   Both teams are off to .500 starts.  Anze Kopitar and Jason Arnott will be battling for their teams in this one, but the tired legs of the Kings will catch up to them.

Kassam’s Prediction: Kings: 2 (L) Predators 5 (W)

11. Atlanta Thrashers vs. Boston Bruins

The Bruins have gotten off to a mediocre start and the Thrashers have had and expected below .500 start.  With the Bruins in this game it has the potential to be entertaining and exciting, but the Thrashers will turn the excitement factor down a little bit.  But, hey; when is it bad to see Marc Savard and Ilya Kovalchuk showing fans some of the best skills the game has to offer.  Savard’s Bruins will take this one with ease.

Kassam’s Prediction: Thrashers: 1 (L) Bruins: 5 (W)

10. Calgary Flames vs. Phoenix Coyotes

This is when the decisions begin to become hard.  You have two exciting teams in the Coyotes in the Flames, but the rivalry that these two teams just aren’t as intense as some of the other rivalries.  Mediocre starts once again for these two teams.  Goaltending will be great in this game as offense will dominate on both sides.  Jarome Iginla and Shane Doan will battle with grit and skill in this match of Captains.  The Yotes will barely edge out Calgary and put out the Flames.

Kassam’s Prediction: Flames: 3 (L) Coyotes: 4 (W)  F (SO)

9. New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Two division rivals will headline this matchup.  Both the Flyers and the Devils will look to be frontrunners in the tight Atlantic Division.  This is basically a game of the Flyer offense vs. the Devil defense.  The Devils are off to a hot start and the Flyers are coming off of their first win.  I believe that it will come down to who wants it more.  Richards or Parise? Biron or Brodeur?  Offense will take over this game, but Brodeur will be the Devil’s savior.

Kassam’s Prediction: Devils: 5 (W) Flyers:  4 (L)

8. Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks

The frontrunners for the Central Division meet tomorrow night at the United Center.  Decent starts have been made for both of these teams.  This game will be close and will have excitement.  Nicklas Lidstrom and Duncan Keith will be difference makers for their teams.  I look for the Blackhawks to show the Red Wings what they are made of.

Kassam’s Prediction: Red Wings: 2 (L) Blackhawks: 4 (W)

7. Buffalo Sabres vs. Colorado Avalanche

This game is going to be a treat for all goal lovers.  Scoring, scoring and more scoring.  That is going to be the tale of the tape in this one.  Two high octane offences will be going at it for 60 minutes and I believe that both Petr Budaj and Ryan Miller will have no chance to stop the offense.  Between Paul Stastny and Joe Sakic for the Avs and Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek for the Sabers, this game will be going back and forth.  The Sabers will eek out the win in the end.

Kassam’s Prediction:  Sabres: 6 (W) Avalanche 4 (L)

6. Montreal Canadians vs. Anaheim Ducks

Whenever Montreal is playing you know that you are going to get excitement.  The only reason that I do not have them higher on this list is because the Ducks have gotten off to such a slow start.  The Ducks are coming off of only their third win of the year against the Senators and will try to slow down the pace of the game due to the fact that they are in a completely different time zone.  The Ducks tired legs will catch up with them and the Canadians will easily pick up the win.

Kassam’s Prediction: Canadians: 4 (W) Ducks: 1(L)

5. Washington Capitals vs. Dallas Stars

This is just going to be one of those games where these two teams will be going back and forth.  You will have Ovechkin score then Morrow score, then Semin score’s and then Ribeiro score’s.  Turco and Theodore will not have the game of their careers as once again this will be an offensive game with Alexander the Great pushing his team ahead.  Not Ovechkin, but Semin.

Kassam’s  Prediction:  Capitals: 4 (W) Stars: 3 (L) F(OT)

4. San Jose Sharks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Dan Boyle is making his return to Tampa and I think he is going got make an impact.  The 1^st place Sharks will make the 12^th place Lightning dizzy with their slick puck movement.  Right from the get go it will be Thornton and Marleau coming back and forth at the Lightning.  Evgeni Nabokov will be able to backstop the Sharks and stone Lecavalier and St. Louis all night long.  Another win for the Sharks.

Kassam’s Prediction: Sharks: 4 (W) Lightning: 1 (L)

3. Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

It is the battle of Ontario, what more can you say.  Nothing says hockey like an all Canadian matchup on a Saturday night.  As it is whenever these teams meet the game will be exciting and fast paced.  And for a change I think that this will be one of the close Leafs / Senators games.  The Leafs are coming off of a huge win and the Senators are playing the second half of back to backs.  Look for the Leafs to win with Nik Antropov potting the winner.

Kassam’s Prediction: Senators: 1 (L) Maple Leafs: 3 (W)

2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers

A battle of juggernauts in the East.  How can you not want to watch this baby.  Two Atlantic Division rivals head to head vying for bragging rights and those two points.  When the two teams meet it always seems to be a treat for all hockey fans.  To see Gomez and Drury battle with Crosby and Malkin. And to see Lundqvist go head to head with Fleury.  This will be a doozy, but the Rangers will take it by a slim margin.

Kassam’s Prediction: Penguins: 2 (L) Rangers: 3 (W) F(OT)

1 . Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks

The Northwest Division intensifies in this matchup as two Western Canadian rivals will meet on Saturday night.  While many people in the East will be fast asleep we here in the west are in for an amazing game.  Whenever these two teams meet it is always close filled with hits, goals and saves.  The only reason that I have this game ahead of the Pens and Rangers game is because there is no place to watch a hockey game like Canada.  Luongo will bounce back in this one and lead his Canucks to victory

Kassam’s Prediction: Oilers: 2 (L) Canucks: 4 (W)

Tomorrow will be fun.  One game of hockey is time consuming, but what about fifteen?  Tomorrow is a day of excitement and a day to celebrate hockey for all fans.  And I couldn’t think of a better occasion then Saturday Night.