Preview Roundups
March 05, 2015
Calgary at Boston 7:00 PM ET
The Boston Bruins have a chance to create some separation in the race for the final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference as they continue a four-game homestand against the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Winners of two straight and three of four following a six-game skid (0-4-2), Boston holds a two-point lead over Florida with two games in hand for the second wild card. The Bruins had won five straight versus the Flames prior to an overtime loss at Calgary last month.
St. Louis at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The St. Louis Blues continue their quest for a division title when they wrap up their road trip against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. St. Louis is surging toward the top of the Central as it has earned points in seven of its last 10 games (6-3-1) to climb within four of first-place Nashville with two games in hand. The Blues have been idle since Sunday, when they dropped to 2-0-1 on their five-game trek with a 6-5 shootout loss at Vancouver.
Minnesota at Washington 7:00 PM ET
An encounter between the Minnesota Wild and the Washington Capitals may not seem like a marquee matchup, but it will be for fans of Devan Dubnyk and Alex Ovechkin. One of the league's hottest goaltenders in Dubnyk will try to slow down the league's leading goal scorer in Ovechkin as the Wild visit the Capitals on Thursday night. Ovechkin increased his NHL-best total to 43 with a pair of tallies in the Capitals' 5-3 triumph over Columbus on Tuesday.
Toronto at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM ET
Captain Steven Stamkos posted eight goals in the last nine games and looks to stay hot when his Tampa Bay Lightning host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night. Stamkos scored for the third straight game when the Lightning blanked Buffalo 3-0 on Tuesday and the Markham, Ontario native boasts 15 goals and 29 points in 23 career games versus Toronto. The Maple Leafs have won three of the last five and snapped a 16-game road losing streak (0-14-2) in Tuesday's 3-2 victory at Florida.
Dallas at Florida 7:30 PM ET
The Florida Panthers' drive for a postseason berth hit a major speed bump when their top two goaltenders were injured in a loss to Toronto on Tuesday. With starter Roberto Luongo and backup Al Montoya both ailing and listed as day-to-day, the Panthers summoned a pair of netminders from the minors Wednesday. Dan Ellis, who was recalled from San Antonio of the American Hockey League, will get the start against a former team when Florida hosts the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
NY Islanders at Nashville 8:00 PM ET
A once-comfortable lead atop the Central Division isn't so cozy for the Nashville Predators, who look to halt a four-game losing streak at home against the Metropolitan Division co-leading New York Islanders on Thursday night. The untimely skid has the Predators entering play just four points ahead of the St. Louis Blues, who have two games in hand. The Islanders are also struggling, having lost two in a row - including a 3-2 overtime decision in Dallas on Tuesday.
Vancouver at Arizona 9:00 PM ET
The Vancouver Canucks are holding a three-point edge over a trio over pursuers for second place in the Pacific Division so it's paramount that they sort out their suddenly shaky goaltending situation. With Ryan Miller sidelined due to a sprained knee, Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom have combined to give up 17 goals in the past three games. Lack is expected to be back in net when the Canucks pay a visit to the reeling Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night.
Montreal at Los Angeles 10:30 PM ET
The Montreal Canadiens hope to avoid going 0-for-California when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Eastern Conference-leading Montreal was blanked by San Jose on Monday in the opener of its four-game road trip and came within 1:41 of a second straight shutout loss in Anaheim two nights later.