Preview Roundups
March 03, 2015
Nashville at New Jersey 7:00 PM ET
Matt Cullen continues to be productive while the Nashville Predators are mired in the worst stretch of their impressive season. Slated to compete in his 1,200th NHL contest, Cullen looks to extend his point streak to five games when the Predators visit the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. The veteran scored his team's lone goal as Nashville suffered its third straight loss, a 4-1 setback to the New York Rangers on Monday.
Calgary at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Calgary Flames made a pair of deals Monday at the trade deadline aimed at the team's future, but they received a jarring blow to the present upon learning that captain Mark Giordano will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon. The Flames, who are tied for third place in the Pacific Division, continued their seven-game road trip at the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Calgary has scored nine goals while dropping four of its last five (1-3-1).
Washington at Columbus 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Capitals look to further strengthen their hold on the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Washington halted a three-game slide with a 4-0 triumph over Toronto on Sunday as captain Alex Ovechkin scored twice to increase his league-leading goal total to 41 and added an assist while Braden Holtby posted his seventh shutout of the campaign.
Buffalo at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning will have more experience and size on defense for the stretch run after acquiring 30-year-old blue-liner Braydon Coburn from Philadelphia at Monday’s trade deadline. Coburn could be in the lineup Tuesday when the Lightning host the cellar-dwelling Buffalo Sabres, who traded four players on their roster Monday. Tampa Bay is securely in a playoff position, but injuries have caused the Lightning to use four defensemen with 105 or fewer games of NHL experience of late.
Toronto at Florida 7:30 PM ET
The Florida Panthers vie for their second three-game winning streak of the season when they host the plummeting Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Florida has seen its offense record nine goals since acquiring Jaromir Jagr, who scored for the 717th time in his NHL career and added an assist in a 4-3 victory over state-rival Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Ottawa at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
While the Minnesota Wild made a pair of moves to solidify their depth at the trade deadline, they are still reaping huge dividends from their season-saving deal in mid-January. Minnesota is 15-3-2 since acquiring goaltender Devan Dubnyk from Arizona and has seized the second wild card in the Western Conference entering Tuesday's matchup against the visiting Ottawa Senators. Dubnyk was named the NHL's First Star of the Month after going 11-2-1 in February.
NY Islanders at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
With losses in three of their last five contests (2-2-1), the New York Islanders find themselves with company atop the Metropolitan Division as they open a four-game road trip against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Nikolay Kulemin scored in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Carolina to extend his point streak to three contests and also notched a goal and two assists in New York's 7-5 triumph over Dallas on Oct. 25.
Anaheim at Arizona 9:00 PM ET
The Anaheim Ducks are running away in the Pacific Division and chasing Nashville for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but they were not content to stand pat at the trade deadline. The Ducks, who have won five of six entering Tuesday's matchup at the flat-lining Arizona Coyotes, went out and acquired three defensemen - including James Wisniewski from Columbus. "Bottom line, the Anaheim Ducks are better than they were five, six days ago," general manager Bob Murray said.
Los Angeles at Edmonton 9:30 PM ET
After three straight puzzling losses, the Los Angeles Kings look to get back on track when they visit the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The Kings were rolling along with eight consecutive victories before getting shut out by Ottawa and allowing nine goals combined in their last two outings to tumble back out of playoff position in the Western Conference. Edmonton could be the perfect medicine for Los Angeles after managing to score only four times in the last four games.
San Jose at Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
The San Jose Sharks attempt to draw even in the season series when they visit the Pacific Division-rival Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. San Jose dropped the first two contests of the five-game set - both at home - before posting a 5-1 victory in Vancouver on Feb. 5. The Sharks halted an eight-game skid (0-6-2) at SAP Center on Monday, posting a 4-0 triumph over Montreal.