Ten (plus one) worth circling on the calendar
The 56-game divisional season was fine by me. Felt like the playoffs from Game 1 in Philly. I’d vote for it every year.
But I also realize the drawbacks. Namely, that we don’t get to see the Connor McDavids or Nathan MacKinnons of the world.
The Penguins presumably will see those two players multiple times this season. They’ll see all kinds of things during the course of seven months and 82 games, including, hopefully, the speedy returns of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
As a helpful, handy and sometimes reckless guide, I have ranked the 10 most compelling games of the season ahead …
10. Snap, Kraken, Pop — Dec. 6 at Seattle: The expansion Kraken’s 25th game will feature a visit from Crosby, who will renew acquaintances with Brandon Tanev, Jamie Oleksiak, Jared McCann and one Riley Sheahan (and did you know that Dan Bylsma is an assistant coach with the Kraken’s AHL team — the Charlotte Checkers? I told you this was helpful).
9. St. Patric’s Day — Nov. 11 vs. Florida: Patric Hornqvist accompanies a very good team to PPG Paints Arena to face his former team. He can also pick up all his Penguins equipment from his old driveway, which is where he threw it in a fit of rage when the team traded him. Also a chance to see potential superstar goalie Spencer Knight, if he makes the club.
8. Broadway Show — Feb. 26 vs. NY Rangers: How do these teams not meet until Feb. 26? Should be a riveting 3 p.m. show on ABC. We’ll know by then if the Rangers have lived up to their considerable hype and if the Penguins are still alive and kickin’. We’ll see Ryan Reaves, too. Get your popcorn ready.
7. Rocky Mountain High — April 2 at Colorado & April 5 vs. Colorado: Yes, I included two games here, for two reasons. One, how often do you see a home-and-home with a Western Conference team? Two, this is no ordinary team. MacKinnon & Co. are pure entertainment.
6. Ovi In Town — April 9 vs. Washington: Final meeting of the season between these two old and bitter rivals, and it strikes me that both could be fighting for their playoff lives in early April. Both are aging in the superstar category. It says here one will not make the playoffs. That all could make for a mighty interesting, nationally televised 3 p.m. matinee.
5. Banner Night — Oct. 12 at Tampa Bay: The Lightning will begin their quest for a third consecutive title and bona fide dynasty status. No team has won three in a row since the early 1980s New York Islanders. The Penguins have twice had the chance but could not complete the mission. Perhaps the sight of a Stanley Cup banner rising to the ceiling at Amalie Arena will prove inspirational to the shorthanded Penguins. It should.
4. Great One — Dec. 1 at Edmonton: This will be the Penguins’ first game on TNT, which means Wayne Gretzky will be in-studio breaking down one of the rare and highly enticing Crosby-McDavid matchups. Crosby missed the Penguins’ last visit to Edmonton, but you might remember his most recent game there — Oct. 23, 2018, when he pulled off a little beauty in overtime to win it.
3. Crying Game — Oct. 16 vs. Chicago: Another MarcAndre Fleury reunion? Some are still in tears from the first one — Feb. 6, 2018 — but the Blackhawks visit New Jersey a night earlier, so we’ll see if Fleury even plays. It would be a bit of a bummer if it’s Kevin Lankinen (no offense to him). Fleury is 1-1 in two appearances here — a 5-4 loss in the aforementioned crying game and a 29-save shutout on Oct. 19, 2019. Jonathan Toews,
Patrick Kane and Seth Jones also help make the Blackhawks a 5-star attraction.
2. More McDavid! — April 26 vs. Edmonton: McDavid, who has just one goal in four games here, remains the single biggest attraction in the league. I mean, he did have 105 points in 56 games last season. And he’s only 24. Also, this is the second-tolast game of the regular season, and the Penguins might well need to win it to make the playoffs.
1. Sid’s 500th? — Jan. 6 at Philadelphia: Any game in
The City of Brotherly Shove is compelling. I’m gonna peg this one as particularly so. I think this is the night Crosby scores his 500th goal (he needs 14). Let me show you my work. Based on Crosby replicating his 0.44 goals-per-game average from last season, he’ll need 32 games to score 14 goals. And based on a late October return, that would be right around this date. It wouldn’t be surprising. Crosby has 10 more goals against the Flyers (49) than any other team in the league.