Weekend watchdog

With the NHL season officially starting October 2, this weekend provides the final chances for teams to set their opening night lineups.
The Capitals, 2017-18 Stanley Cup champions, have a preseason contest with the reigning champion - St. Louis - Friday at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington. The two teams will meet again October 2 when the Blues raise their championship banner in the season opener on NBC Sports network.
The Capitals travel to Carolina Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington in the final tuneup before the schedule opens.
Baseball's regular season concludes this weekend. The Orioles finish with three contests in Boston on MASN.
The Nationals host the Indians for the weekend on MASN2. Saturday's game will also be on FoxSports1, with Sunday's contest also on TBS.
ESPN2 has the Cubs against the Cardinals Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Mets meet the Braves and Cubs clash with the Cardinals on Fox Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
The Redskins meet the Giants Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox. It's Ravens-Browns on CBS followed by Vikings against the Bears.
The Cowboys tangle with the Saints on NBC Sunday night, with Steelers against the Bengals on ESPN Monday night.
The college football weekend continues Friday as Virginia Tech takes on Duke at 7 p.m. on ESPN, followed by Arizona State-California.
FoxSports1 offers Maryland against Penn State at 8 p.m.
Undefeated Virginia travels to Notre Dame on NBC Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Second-ranked Alabama hosts Mississippi at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
Wisconsin tangles with Northwestern at noon on ABC, followed by top-ranked Clemson against North Carolina. Ohio State battles Nebraska at 7:30 p.m.
Fox has Texas Tech-Oklahoma Saturday at noon followed by Southern Cal-Washington.
ESPN starts its day at noon as Texas A&M tangles with Arkansas. Baylor battles Iowa State at 3:30 p.m. and Auburn meets Mississippi State at 7 p.m. UCLA visits Arizona in the nightcap at 10:30 p.m.
It's Middle Tennessee against Iowa at noon on ESPN2 before Purdue-Minnesota. Central Florida hosts Connecticut at 7 p.m. and Hawaii battles Nevada at 10:30 p.m.
Syracuse meets Holy Cross on ACC network at noon, then it's Wake Forest-Boston College at 3:30 p.m. and Florida State facing North Carolina State at 7:30 p.m.
Kansas takes on TCU at noon on FoxSports1 and Washington State meets Utah at 10 p.m.
NBC Sports Washington has Delaware-Pittsburgh Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
NASCAR closes the first part of its playoff run Sunday at Charlotte, with coverage on NBC at 2:30 p.m. When the checkered flag drops, the playoff field will drop from 16 to 12. The Xfinity Series goes Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
ESPN2 has the Russian Grand Prix Sunday at 7:05 a.m.
The WNBA finals begin Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN with the top-seeded Mystics facing Connecticut.
Sheffield United meets Liverpool Saturday at 7:25 a.m. on NBC Sports network and Chelsea clashes with Brighton & Hove Albion at 9:55 a.m. NBC offers Everton against Manchester City at 12:30 p.m.
It's Leicester City against Newcastle United at 11:25 a.m. Sunday on NBC Sports network.
D.C. United takes on the Red Bulls Sunday at 5 p.m. on FoxSports1 and Minnesota meets Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich meets Paderborn Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on FoxSports1. Dusseldorf battles Frelburg Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
NBC Sports Washington has women's college soccer Sunday with Wake Forest against North Carolina State at 7 p.m.
Washington faces the NC Cougars in women's soccer Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington. ESPN2 has the Reign against Portland Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tongo takes on Argentina in the Rugby World Cup Saturday at 12:30 a.m. on NBC Sports network.
NBC Sports network has the Breeders Cup Challenge from Santa Anita Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Virginia field hockey takes on North Carolina Friday at 5 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington.