Preview Roundups
March 14, 2015
Detroit at Philadelphia 1:00 PM ET
The Detroit Red Wings look to shake out of a mild slump when they start a difficult four-game road trip against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday afternoon. The Red Wings have dropped three of four games while allowing 15 goals in that span. “Over the course of a season you’re not going to be perfect all the time,” captain Henrik Zetterberg told reporters. “We’re in one of those periods right now where it’s not going our way and we just have to get stronger from it and get through it.”
Boston at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins share quite a few similarities heading into Saturday afternoon's tilt at Consol Energy Center. After all, both clubs own identical 7-1-1 marks over their last nine games and each can stake a claim to a 3-2 overtime victory over the other this season. Evgeni Malkin scored three goals against Boston - including the decisive tally in the teams' first contest on Nov. 24.
Chicago at San Jose 4:00 PM ET
The San Jose Sharks wrap up a four-game homestand by hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. The Blackhawks and Sharks are playing the deciding contest of their season series after splitting the first two games with wins on home ice. Chicago has points in its last four games (3-0-1) while San Jose is 4-1-0 in March as it tries to climb into a playoff position.
NY Rangers at Buffalo 7:00 PM ET
Although Cam Talbot has been nothing short of spectacular in the wake of Henrik Lundqvist's vascular injury, coach Alain Vigneault confirmed that Mackenzie Skapski would receive his second career start when the New York Rangers visit the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. "It's the life of a backup ... we decided to ride the hot hand (Talbot) and now (Skapski) will get a second game (Saturday) and he will do well."
Winnipeg at Tampa Bay 7:00 PM ET
The quest to reach the playoffs is getting more complicated for the Winnipeg Jets after losing three of their last four with an injury-hampered lineup. The Jets look to snap out of their funk and finish a four-game road trip with a split when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Winnipeg expects to be without two of its top four scorers in Bryan Little and Dustin Byfuglien for the fourth straight game and Tampa Bay is working on a five-game point streak (4-0-1).
Montreal at NY Islanders 7:00 PM ET
Saturday night features a marquee matchup between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference - though neither club is playing like it. The Montreal Canadiens look to seize sole possession of the top spot in the conference as they host a New York Islanders team that is stumbling down the stretch. The Canadiens have lost five of their last six games, while the Islanders have dropped five of seven - including back-to-back 2-1 decisions to the New York Rangers and Ottawa.
Florida at Carolina 7:00 PM ET
Dan Ellis is doing his part to keep the Florida Panthers’ flickering playoff hopes alive. The backup goaltender is 2-0-1 while filling in for the injured Roberto Luongo and could get the start on Saturday when the Panthers travel to Carolina to face the struggling Hurricanes. Carolina, which is in last place in the Metropolitan Division and well out of the playoff picture, is 1-3-1 since ending February with three consecutive wins.
Toronto at Vancouver 7:00 PM ET
The Vancouver Canucks are perilously close to settling for a Western Conference wild-card spot; fortunately for them, the Toronto Maple Leafs are coming to town. The Canucks look to hold their ground in the crowded Pacific Division as they host the lowly Maple Leafs on Saturday night. The Calgary Flames vaulted past the Canucks and into second place in the Pacific Division with Friday's 6-3 win over Toronto, and the Los Angeles Kings are lurking just one point back in fourth.
Minnesota at St. Louis 8:00 PM ET
Vladimir Tarasenko's scoring touch has enabled the St. Louis Blues to both ascend to the top of the Central Division and throw their hat in the ring in the race for the Presidents' Trophy. The 23-year-old Russian looks to continue his hot hand as the Blues vie for their fourth straight win when they host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
New Jersey at Arizona 9:00 PM ET
The Arizona Coyotes are not giving up despite being nowhere near Stanley Cup playoff contention and will try to find some offense when they host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. "We compete hard," coach Dave Tippett told Azcentral.com. "There's no qualms about the effort or the try, but (against Chicago) we could have played way smarter. We could have executed better and that's frustrating."
Calgary at Colorado 10:00 PM ET
The Calgary Flames are getting impressive production from a pair of young players; the Colorado Avalanche wish they could stay the same. Calgary's dynamic duo of rookie Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan look to continue piling up the points Saturday night as the Flames visit the Avalanche. Gaudreau, Monahan and Jiri Hudler combined to rack up nine points in Friday's 6-3 triumph over visiting Toronto - a victory that lifted Calgary into second place in the Pacific Division race.
Nashville at Los Angeles 10:00 PM ET
The Nashville Predators have seen their nine-point lead in the Central Division evaporate after mustering just 13 goals en route to losing seven of their last eight contests. The Predators look to re-ignite their offense when they continue a four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. After snapping a six-game skid with a 2-1 victory over reeling Arizona on Monday, Nashville suffered a 2-0 setback to San Jose three nights later.