Saturday’s NHL preview: Columbus carries streak into Buffalo, Steen returns for St. Louis
A daily feature which asks the five biggest questions about today’s NHL action. Will they be answered? (That doesn’t count as one of the five questions.)
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sport
Columbus visits Buffalo on the heels of a 5-1 drubbing over Washington on Friday, their fifth consecutive win and sixth win in their last seven games. Nathan Horton’s return has certainly made a difference, but Ryan Johansen’s contributions in a breakout season have brought the Jackets to another level. Are they poised to make another late-season surge?
2. How does P.K. Subban follow up his controversial game on Thursday?
Subban caught a lot of flak for his rather tame celebration after scoring the game-winner in Ottawa. If P.K. really wants to make a show, he should pull a Yakupov after the first goal he scores on Saturday.
3. Will Alex Steen be back to his old ways?
Remember that guy? Steen took the NHL by storm when the season began, rattling off 24 goals and 38 points in just 35 games before suffering a concussion in December. Now the Swede is back in the lineup, but will he be the same unstoppable force? Keep in mind this is the second concussion in as many years for Steen.
4. How does Devan Dubnyk fare in his Nashville debut?
As you'll recall, Dubnyk was traded from Edmonton to the Perds Preds earlier this week in exchange for Matt Hendricks. After backing up Carter Hutton on Thursday, Dubnyk will likely get his first start against the Avalanche on Saturday. Welcome to the club, Devan! Now go stop Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon.
5. Can Dallas figure things out in Minnesota?
The Stars, once viewed as legitimate playoff contenders, have nosedived out of the race after a disastrous January in which they've gone 1-7. The next three games are crucial to their survival.
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