Preview Roundups
March 07, 2015
Philadelphia at Boston 1:00 PM ET
The Boston Bruins have found themselves with some company in the race for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, but they can improve their standing while dealing a significant blow to the Philadelphia Flyers when the clubs meet at TD Garden on Saturday afternoon. Boston has won both meetings this season and five in a row overall against Philadelphia, which moved within four points of the Bruins after posting a 3-1 win over St. Louis on Thursday.
St. Louis at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The St. Louis Blues attempt to halt a two-game skid as they wrap up their road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. St. Louis began its five-game trek with 2-1 victories at Winnipeg and Edmonton before falling to Vancouver in a shootout on Sunday and losing a 3-1 decision in Philadelphia four nights later.
Dallas at Tampa Bay 7:00 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning will go for their franchise-record 26th victory on home ice when the Dallas Stars pay a visit on Saturday. The Lightning improved to 25-6-1 - including 14 wins in the last 16 games - at Amalie Arena with a 4-2 triumph over Toronto on Thursday. “We want it to be a tough place to play,” Lightning forward Ryan Callahan told reporters. “We want teams to come in here and know we are good at home and they’re going to get our best - and so far this (season) we have done that.”
NY Islanders at Florida 7:00 PM ET
The New York Islanders are trying to hold off the rival New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division as they make the third stop on a four-game road trip with a visit to the Florida Panthers on Saturday night. The Islanders ended a two-game skid with a 4-3 victory at Nashville on Thursday after blowing a two-goal lead. "It's such a different team than we've had in the past," New York coach Jack Capuano said. "We just wanted to play with poise and confidence moving forward."
Buffalo at Washington 7:00 PM ET
They made not need him, but the Washington Capitals much rather would have Alex Ovechkin in the lineup than on the sideline for Saturday night's tilt with the lowly Buffalo Sabres. Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 43 goals, is considered questionable for Saturday's game after suffering a lower-body injury that kept him out of Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Sabres solidified their standing as the worst team in the NHL with Friday's 3-2 loss to host Ottawa.
Colorado at Columbus 7:00 PM ET
The Colorado Avalanche vie for their seventh win in 10 contests when they open a two-game road trip against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Captain Gabriel Landeskog collected a goal and two assists in Colorado's 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday and also tallied in a 4-3 setback to Columbus on Jan. 4.
Winnipeg at Nashville 7:00 PM ET
The Winnipeg Jets have been here before, sitting on the edge of a playoff spot with 17 games to go, and yet the franchise has not reached the postseason since moving from Atlanta four years ago. The Jets, who open a critical four-game road trip Saturday against the Central Division-leading Nashville Predators, hold the second and final Western Conference wild-card spot, two points ahead of Los Angeles.
Montreal at Arizona 7:00 PM ET
The Montreal Canadiens had seized control of the Eastern Conference until a trip through the Pacific Division brought them back to the pack. The Canadiens aim to protect their one-point edge in the East and salvage the finale of a four-game road trip when they visit the struggling Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night. Montreal had won four in a row and earned points in 11 of 12 games (9-1-2) before going winless in California (0-2-1) and getting outscored 10-4.
Pittsburgh at Los Angeles 10:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Kings continue their surge toward a playoff spot when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The reigning Stanley Cup champion, Los Angeles has won 10 of its last 13 games to climb within two points of both Calgary and Vancouver for third place in the Pacific Division and Winnipeg for the second wild card in the Western Conference.
Vancouver at San Jose 10:00 PM ET
The San Jose Sharks showed some life while winning the last two contests and look to build on that when they open a four-game homestand against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. The Sharks blanked Montreal at home Monday and followed that up with a 6-2 victory at Vancouver one day later to turn the page after a disappointing 3-8-2 mark in February. Vancouver resides in second in the Pacific Division – four points ahead of fifth-place San Jose – after allowing 19 goals during a 1-2-1 stretch.