Thanksgiving traditionally carries some weight for NHL teams. And not just because of the food.
During a regular 82-game schedule, consensus says that where a club sits by the final Thursday in November (essentially the quarter mark of the season) is where it will be come spring. Meaning, teams that are struggling often don’t claw their way back into contention and ones that are in playoff position tend to stay there.
It’s not a hard science, of course. And this season did open in mid-October, which is a little later than usual. The Thanksgiving threshold is still a good mile marker though, when the “but it’s early!” argument evaporates and teams have mostly revealed what they are.
Who is happiest with what they see? We’re going to find out.
A full slate of can’t-miss NHL matchups awaits on Thanksgiving weekend, starting Friday afternoon across ABC, ESPN+ and Hulu. In total, there will be 27 games available on ESPN+ from Friday through Sunday (blackout restrictions apply).
Get set for puck drops with our in-depth look at standout players, intriguing storylines and even some games-within-the-game you won’t want to miss.
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Line: Bruins -160 | Over/under: 5.5
The Rangers have already exceeded expectations this season. Boston? Not so much. The Bruins have had a halting, inconsistent start, and the absence of Tuukka Rask to hip surgery has challenged their goaltending depth considerably. New York’s high-flying offense will try to take advantage. But will the bruising Bruins push back? It’s the perfect Original Six matchup for your post-Thanksgiving leftovers.
What to watch for the Rangers
Artemi Panarin. New York’s most electrifying playmaker is just now hitting his stride. That’s good news if you’re the Rangers; bad news for opponents. Panarin recently collected 11 points in nine games and rocketed back into the top 20 for league scoring. The winger has pledged to keep shooting the puck more, instead of…
Source : espn
