3 must-see games this weekend

It's still too early to separate the contenders from the pretenders in the NHL, but the upcoming weekend will produce some intriguing matchups.

Friday's six-game slate features the shockingly stellar Vegas Golden Knights trying to keep their record start rolling against the surprisingly competitive Colorado Avalanche.

Another jam-packed Saturday is in store, too, with 12 games on the schedule, and then three more contests are set for Sunday night.

Here are three other games you don't want to miss this weekend:

Nashville Predators @ Chicago Blackhawks

It's always compelling when these Central Division foes clash, and Friday night's affair should be no different.

They met for the first time this season a couple of weeks ago, as Brandon Saad scored the overtime winner to give the Blackhawks a (small) measure of (regular-season) revenge after the Predators swept them out of the first round of the playoffs last spring.

Saad has been great so far in his return to the Windy City, leading the Blackhawks with six goals in 10 games, while Filip Forsberg scored Nashville's lone goal in the first meeting and has been on an absolute tear, piling up seven goals and 12 points in nine contests.

Columbus Blue Jackets @ St. Louis Blues

The Blues have quietly been one of the NHL's best teams so far this fall, and they've been fun to watch.

Some were skeptical about the Blue Jackets' chances of duplicating their superb 2016-17 regular season, but they've looked solid early on as well.

The Blues (7-2-1) and Blue Jackets (6-3-0) meet Saturday night in what should be an entertaining clash featuring electric talent, including Vladimir Tarasenko and Artemi Panarin.

Panarin's been making plays early in his Blue Jackets tenure, with nine assists in his first nine games, but he's been held to only one goal. Busting out against a solid Blues defensive corps is going to be tough, but it should be an entertaining tilt regardless.

Washington Capitals @ Edmonton Oilers

McDavid. Ovechkin. 'Nuff said.

Connor McDavid has essentially been single-handedly carrying the Oilers, who've gotten off to a disappointing 3-5-1 start and need to figure out a way to get their superstar some help.

Alex Ovechkin has a talented supporting cast in Washington, but the Capitals are 4-5-1 through 10 games.

Both dynamic forwards will be looking to make a statement and continue shouldering the load for their respective squads in Saturday's nightcap, and that should make it worth staying up for.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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