If this week's NHL schedule looks lighter than usual, well, that's because it is.
A whopping 24 teams are on or begin their bye weeks between Jan. 7-14. Per the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, players are due a mandated down period of five days or more at least once during the 2017-18 season.
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What are we to do with so few hockey games? Well, we'll just have to make the most of them. Wednesday features a Blackhawks vs. Wild gem that carries Central Division implications. The same night, the battle for Ontario takes place across the border between the Maple Leafs and Senators in Toronto.
Below is the full NHL schedule through Jan. 14 (all times Eastern).
Monday, Jan. 8
Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. (FSOH, TSNT, TVA, fuboTV)
Tuesday, Jan. 9
Jets at Sabres, 7 p.m. (MSGB, fuboTV)
Canucks at Capitals, 7 p.m. (RSNP, CSNB)
Blackhawks at Senators, 7:30 p.m. (CSNC, RDS, fuboTV)
Hurricanes at Lightning, 7:30 p.m. (FSS, SUN, fuboTV)
Panthers at Blues, 8 p.m. (FSFL, FSMW, fuboTV)
Oilers at Predators, 8 p.m. (NBCSN, fuboTV)
Flames at Wild, 8 p.m. (RSNW, FSN, fuboTV)
Wednesday, Jan. 10
Senators at Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. (TSN)
Wild at Blackhawks, 8 p.m. (NBCSN, fuboTV)
Thursday, Jan. 11
Blue Jackets at Sabres, 7 p.m. (FSOH, MSGB, TSN, fuboTV)
Hurricanes at Capitals, 7 p.m. (TSOH, CSNB, fuboTV)
Flames at Lightning, 7:30 p.m. (RSNW, SUN, TVA, fuboTV)
Friday, Jan. 12
Canucks at Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. (FSOH, RSNE, fuboTV)
Flames at Panthers, 7:30 p.m. (FSFL, fuboTV)
Capitals at Hurricanes, 7:30 p.m. (CNSW, FSS, fuboTV)
Jets at Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. (CSNC, fuboTV)
Oilers at Coyotes, 9 p.m. (RSNW, FSAZ+, fuboTV)
Saturday, Jan. 13
Islanders at Rangers, 1 p.m. (MSG+, MSG, fuboTV)
Red Wings at Penguins, 1 p.m. (FSDT, AT&TSN, TSN, fuboTV)
Bruins at Canadiens, 7 p.m. (NESN, fuboTV)
Flyers at Devils, 7 p.m. (CSN, MSG+, fuboTV)
Jets at Wild, 7 p.m. (FSN, fuboTV)
Avalanche at Stars, 9 p.m. (ALT2, FSSW, fuboTV )
Oilers at Golden Knights, 10 p.m. (AT&TSN)
Ducks at Kings, 10:30 p.m. (FSW2, FSWHD, fuboTV)
Coyotes at Sharks, 10:30 p.m. (FSAZ, CSNCAL, fuboTV)
Sunday, Jan. 14
Red Wings at Blackhawks, 12:30 p.m. (NBC)
Flames at Hurricanes, 3 p.m. (RSNW, FSS, fuboTV)
Canucks at Wild, 7 p.m. (FSN, TSN, fuboTV )
Rangers at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)