Your Week in NHL Hockey: October 12-15

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 19: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers looks on during a break in the action against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

Thursday, October 13

Nationally televised in the U.S.

Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN; TVAS2 in Canada)

Regionally televised in the U.S. and/or televised in Canada:

Montréal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET,  MSG-B; RDS and Sportsnet360 in Canada)

New York Islanders at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET, MSG and MSG +2)

Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio and NESN)

Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Sun and Fox Sports Detroit)

New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida and MSG)

Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest, North, and Wisconsin)

Carolina Hurricanes at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Carolinas; TSN3 in Canada)

Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest, Prime)

Best bets: Capitals-Penguins, Ducks-Stars, Islanders-Rangers

Thursday’s slate has a bevy of rematches from last season’s playoffs and plenty of playoff contenders, along with some rivalries. The Capitals got knocked out in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Penguins, 4-2. This game will also be especially telling about the Penguins’ chances without Sidney Crosby, who was diagnosed with a concussion earlier this week.

Though the Ducks and Stars didn’t meet last season in the playoffs, both are looking to get back to this year’s playoffs. The Ducks have been in the postseason for 5 straight seasons, and the Stars did pull off a first-place finish in the Central Division last season.

As for the Islanders and Rangers, well, it’s a New York rivalry, and both teams made the postseason last year, with the Islanders even winning their first series after 22 seasons without.

Keep an eye on the Bruins-Blue Jackets game as well. Patrice Bergeron will be out with a lower body injury.