The THUNDERBLOG is cranking out posts on this Friday. A new “Beer Corner” from Matty D, then a little BBall about Lebron Jr, then the Flyers Update, and now: the rest of the National Hockey League:

A new pic for a new week.

Last Week’s Picks:

My Pick: Toronto on the road over Boston; Result: Bruins 3 – Maple Leafs 1

My Pick: Vancouver on the road over LA; Result: Kings 5 – Canucks 1

My Pick: Anaheim at home over Vancouver; Result: Duck 3 – Canucks 1

My Pick: Boston at home over Tampa Bay; Result: Bruins 3 – Lightning 0

2-2 for the week again, 6-6 Overall. I am making no progress here.

Games of the Week:

Toronto Maple Leafs (23 Points) @ Buffalo Sabres (9 Points); Tonight at 7:00 – This is the first game for the Sabres since cleaning house on Wednesday. Interim Ted Nolan makes his return to Buffalo and should be met happily by the fans in Buffalo. That’ll be the only positive part of the night for the Sabres. Buffalo lets up a ton of goals, and Toronto score a ton of goals. My Pick: Toronto

Washington Capitals (21 Points) @ Detroit Red Wings (23 Points); Tonight at 7:30 – Both of these are in the mix in the divisional races. Detroit current by tiebreakers would be the first wild card team in the Eastern Conference while the Caps would earn a divisional playoff berth. The Red Wings have lost four straight and are playing awful at home (3-2-4). Alex Ovechkin only scored one goal this week which came last night in against Columbus. My Pick: Washington

Tampa Bay Lightning (28 Points) @ Phoenix Coyotes (29 Points); Saturday at 8 – The Lightning suffered a tough loss losing Steven Stamkos indefinitely. Stamkos was having a terrific start to the season (14G/9A/23P). But Tampa Bay still is firing on all cylinders. They are an undefeated 6-0 against Western Conference opponents, something that is seemingly impossible the way inter-conference play is going this season. Phoenix has been spectacular to start the year and nearly unbeatable at home (8-0-1). My Pick: Phoenix in OT

San Jose Sharks (29 Points) @ Chicago Blackhawks (30 Points); Sunday at 7 – Easily the #1 game of this week. The first of three matchups between the two teams I picked to play in the Western Conference Finals later this season (which makes me wish we had launched in time to get the NHL Season Preview up but live and learn I guesss). San Jose has cooled off recently but they have won 7 road games so far, tied for the best in the league. Two of the league’s best offenses will be on full display. My Pick: Chicago

The Pittsburgh Penguins (22 Points) wrap up the GOTW with two big matchups: Monday when the host Anaheim and Wednesday when the travel to Washington – The Pens certainly showed a lot of toughness against the Flyers last Wednesday, certainly why they’re once again leading their division. Well that and the whole “our captain is one of the best players in this generation” thing. Even though I hate Sidney Crosby more than any other player on any other rival of ANY Philadelphia sports team, I have to give the man guy credit. The key for Pittsburgh is to stay out of the box, they rank in the middle of the league on the penalty kill and both of these teams will take advantage of that. I’m picking both home teams here: Pens over Ducks/Caps over Pens

MVP of the Week: Brayden Schenn PHI (3 Goals, 2 Assists): The 5 Points wasn’t all this guy contributed to the Flyers this week, see above photo. Schenn’s picked up play is an embodiment of the Flyers’ current three-game winning streak. Moving him to the wing with Vinny Lecavalier has certainly been very positive for both himself and his team. I almost picked Jamie Benn because of his SIX points in Calgary last night, but he deserves this honor…

Goal of the Week: Jamie Benn vs. Calgary November 14:

I almost picked Jonathan Toews’ shootout goal against the Coyotes last night, but I’m not a huge fan of shootouts. It is an absolute dangle though.