Must see NHL games of the 2008-2009 season.

Allan Muir from Sports Illustrated has listed some of the must see games of the up coming NHL season. This is also one of the reason I get NHL Center Ice and got DVR on my digital cable so I can see all of these must see games and watch them at my leisure. I bolded the games I think will be must see games as well. I also added some comments as well.

Oct. 9: Toronto at Detroit -- The Red Wings raise the banner to celebrate last season's Stanley Cup and begin their title defense against the NHL's version of the tomato can. Always nice to get that first win under the belt.

Oct. 20: Pittsburgh at Boston -- The evening should mark the return of Patrice Bergeron to Boston 51 weeks after he suffered a career-threatening concussion. Not that anyone in town will notice, what with the Patriots playing on Monday Night Football.

That same night, the Rangers host the Dallas Stars. You don't suppose Sean Avery will be a factor in that one, do you?

Oct. 25: Here's the day your investment in the Center Ice package and picture-in-picture TVs pay off. All 30 teams are in action for the first time in the post-lockout era. Best bets? Start your night at 7 p.m. Eastern time with Penguins vs. Rangers. Flip over to Capitals vs. Stars at 8, then Sabres vs. Avalanche at 9 before capping off the evening with Flames vs. Coyotes at 10.

Nov. 9: Montreal at Toronto -- Even when one team is riding high and the other is swirling the drain, the NHL's oldest rivalry remains its most compelling. This skirmish has the added appeal of being the annual Hall of Fame game, honoring Igor Larionov, Glenn Anderson and the rest of the class of 2009 that will be inducted on Nov. 11. (Hockey Night in Toronto)

Dec. 8: Toronto at NY Islanders -- Round One of the John Tavares Sweepstakes.
(they should call this the futility game)

Jan. 1: Detroit at Chicago -- It'll be almost impossible to top last year's picture-perfect Winter Classic, but the ingredients are in place to give it a go. Two Original Six teams, a legendary venue (Wrigley Field, home of baseball's Chicago Cubs), the defending champs and a pair of the game's brightest young stars in Patrick Kane and Johnny Toews account for all of the key ingredients, save one: the weather. Here's hoping for the best.

Jan. 12: Tampa Bay at Los Angeles -- Barry Melrose returns to Hollywood. Alan Thicke and Dave Coulier will be spotted repeatedly during the broadcast after scoring comp tickets. Plus, a possible matchup of the first and second overall picks in the recent draft, Stamkos and Drew Doughty. (the return of Melrose Place)

Jan. 25: All-Star Game in Montreal -- If the Habs don't win the Cup, this game could be the highlight of their centennial celebrations. No team has done a better job of maintaining links to its glorious past, so expect them to put on an impressive show.

Feb. 8: Detroit at Pittsburgh -- This will be the second meeting of the year for last season's Cup finalists, but it marks the first time that Marian Hossa returns to Pittsburgh. We're not anticipating a warm welcome. (It will be interesting to see how Hossa is treated by his ex-mates)

Feb. 21: Ottawa at Montreal; Vancouver at Toronto; Calgary at Edmonton -- Hockey Day In Canada returns in its most perfect form: an all-day triple-header featuring the six Canadian teams in battle. (Yes, nine hours of hockey; sweet)

Feb. 25: San Jose at Detroit -- The Sharks have revamped their blueline, but are they ready to compete against the big boys? This late-season meeting should be a good test.

Mar. 6: Pittsburgh at Washington -- Assuming good health, this could be the final meeting of the season between the league's top three scorers, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin up against Alexander Ovechkin and the Art Ross Trophy up for grabs.

Apr. 11: Pittsburgh at Montreal -- A preview of the Eastern Conference Finals? Could be.

Apr. 12: Blues at Avalanche -- It says here this final game of the season will decide the battle for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.