1. How will Ryan Kesler perform in his much-anticipated return?
NHL Schedule 2013: Five questions for Friday
With eight games on the schedule tonight, we’ve got plenty of questions that need answering.
Anne-Marie Sorvin-US PRESSWIRE
Kesler hasn't played in about ten months after undergoing shoulder surgery and wrist surgery over the summer. He'll make his season debut tonight against the Dallas Stars. It couldn't be better timing for the Canucks, who just lost Manny Malhotra for the season. We'll see if Kesler brings his usual game tonight or if there's still rust on those skates.
2. Can the Bruins extend their road winning streak?
Boston has won their last six road games and visits Buffalo having won seven of their last ten. Meanwhile Buffalo has only won a single home game since Opening Night. The Sabres are going to need scoring from more than just Thomas Vanek if they want any chance of earning a victory tonight.
3. Can Claude Giroux finally get things going offensively?
Broadstreet Hockey wanted to see more on both ends of the ice from his line last night:
Claude Giroux and his line had an interesting night. On the one hand: a pair of assists for G, and a great chance in the second that clanged off the post. Seemed pretty active out there offensively. On the other hand? His line, with Simmonds and Read (who both scored very nice-looking goals) was on the ice for three goals against. Giroux in particular looked out of place on the first one, and a bad clear from Read led right to the game-winning assist. Here’s to more offense AND more defense from them in the future, because we know they can provide both.
4. Will new Jet Eric Tangradi stick it to his former team?
Tangradi didn’t
“It’s kind of like seeing your ex-girlfriend at the bar the next night,” he said after practice.
5. Which Sharks team will show up against Chicago?
This road trip has the potential to be the catalyst that brings everything together or a disaster that wipes out all the good that came from the team’s fast start. The optimistic view is that it forces the team to look at when they’ve overachieved and underachieved over the past few weeks, then decide just how they’re going to knuckle down and claw out of it. Unfortunately, the Sharks historically have either thrived or gone completely off the rails when comes down to the whole “clawing out of crap” part.
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