The weekend is quickly approaching, so I’ve decided to take a look at the games that are going to start things off on Friday night.  There are plenty of great matchups so let’s get right into it!

Penguins @ Blue Jackets

The Penguins have performing as defending champions should so far this season.  As I type, they are handing the Canadiens a big loss.  They are currently leading the Eastern Conference as they continue to pull in the wins.  They’ll be facing the Blue Jackets who are sitting at a respectable 6-4-0 record.  It should be a pretty great game, but I expect that Crosby and Malkin will make quick work of the Blue Jackets.

Islanders @ Capitals

Alex Ovechkin and his Capitals will be hosting the Islanders on Friday night.  With a 6-2-2 record so far, they’re off to a pretty decent start.  Expect a big win for the Caps on the home ice, as the Islanders are pretty hopeless this season.

Maple Leafs @ Sabres

This should be another pretty lopsided game, as the Sabres have surprised a few people with an excellent start to the season.  The Maple Leafs on the other hand, are 1-7-1 and it looks like they’re about to make it 1-8-1 as they head to Buffalo.  I predict and easy win for the Sabres.

Rangers @ Wild

The Rangers have unexpectedly emerged as a major contender in the Easter Conference.  With a seven game winning streak, they looked unstoppable. The Wild have been hit and miss this year - mostly miss - though they did hand a loss to the Avs on the 21^st.  They’re 3-0 at home, so they should put up a pretty good fight against the Rangers in this week’s game.  Though, I expect that the Rangers will be a little too much to handle.

Panthers @ Stars

This should be a good game as both of these teams are pretty evenly matched in this one.  The Stars are only 1-3 on the home ice.  The Panthers are currently posting a disappointing 2-6-1 overall.  Expect a hard fought win, but ultimately Dallas should come out on top.

Canadiens @ Blackhawks

Many are touting the Blackhawks as the team to watch this year.  It’s no wonder with Patrick Kane putting on performances like that of Monday night against the Wild when he sewed up their win with a nice shot from around the net.  They’ll be hosting the Canadiens who, besides their massive loss to the Pens tonight, have had some pretty great games.  This includes a win against the seemingly unstoppable Rangers.  Expect a great game from these two teams, but ultimately, the Blackhawks should take the win.

Canucks @ Ducks

Anaheim is looking like a mere shadow of the powerhouse that gave Detroit a run for their money in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.  They’re currently posting a 3-6-1 record and going up against a decent Canucks team.  Vancouver is only 1-4 on the road, but with the Ducks not doing that well at home, they could have a fighting chance in this game.

Avalanche @ Sharks

The Avalanche has shocked fans by becoming a major contender.  They’ve started the season off brilliantly and are looking to continue racking up the wins.  They’ll be facing a strong San Jose team, but I think the Avs have this one in the bag.

By the looks of things, it should be a pretty great start to the weekend.  Be sure to check out BetUS for all of the odds on the abovementioned odds before they get started on Friday night!

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