Hallowe'en Saturday, and it seems the NHL has a little thought for some of our young trick-or-treaters, putting on a string of four afternoon games before the evening games.  Do you think that was what they were thinking? Naaa, I don't either.

The Carolina Hurricanes meet the Philadelphia Flyers in the first match up, praying to bounce back from 7 straight losses.  The Flyers aren't fairing too much better, struggling with 2 losses in their last two games.  Unfortunately for the 'Canes, however, the Flyers are ahead in the points, at 5-4-1 to the 'Canes 2-6-3.  If Carolina wants to make something of this season, they need to do something now.

Edmonton and Boston also meet up at 1pm, and this should be the game to watch, if you have it.  The two teams are more evenly matched, with Edmonton having two more wins, in two extra games played.  The Oilers are coming off the high of defeating the always strong Detroit Red Wings, so are thinking they are invincible.  Boston is always strong, but lost most recently to the New Jersey Devils, incredibly strong this year.

Our third game of the afternoon features the Thrashers and the Senators, with the Senators quietly making ground, and showing a great record so far on the season.  The Thrashers on the other hand are even.

The last game of the afternoon is the afforementioned Devils, taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning, a very appropriate match up for Hallowe'en.  New Jersey is having a devilisly great season so far, with 7 wins and 4 losses.  The Lighning aren't slouching by any means, but are a little more even at 4-3-1.

There are a bunch more games on this evening, and we'll have a thread for those as well, but in the meantime chat it up here, or bitch and moan, as the case may be

If you haven't made your picks for the first games, you're too late, but the rest of the games are still up for points and bragging rights.