Preview Roundups
March 30, 2017
NY Islanders at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia Flyers have won back-to-back games to keep their flickering postseason hopes alive while the New York Islanders have dropped consecutive contests to put theirs in peril. The Metropolitan Division rivals look to bolster their respective bids for the NHL's second season at the other's expense Thursday when they wrap up their four-game season series in the City of Brotherly Love.
Columbus at Carolina 7:00 PM ET
The Carolina Hurricanes have feasted on the competition during the team's impressive 12-game point streak (8-0-4), although veteran goaltender Cam Ward has his eyes set on a different dish on the menu. Ward looks to help the Hurricanes inch closer to a playoff berth in addition to set a franchise-record point streak on Thursday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Dallas at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Bruins are clinging to the second wild card in the Eastern Conference but also would like to inch up one notch in the Atlantic Division standings as they prepare to host the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. The Bruins trail third-place Toronto by one point in the division but the Maple Leafs have a game in hand.
Florida at Montreal 7:30 PM ET
The Montreal Canadiens have struggled at Bell Centre for much of the past two months but they have earned seven out of a possible 10 points on their current six-game homestand, which concludes Thursday night against the Florida Panthers. Montreal holds a four-point lead atop the Atlantic Division with six games to play, but second-place Ottawa has a game in hand.
Detroit at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning continue to stay in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff spot despite a host of injuries and look to take advantage of a tired team when they host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. The Lightning have won three in a row to climb within three points of Boston for the second wild card and vie for a seventh straight regular-season victory against the Red Wings, who will be playing their fifth game in seven days.
Toronto at Nashville 8:00 PM ET
The Toronto Maple Leafs have rode the rookie contingent of Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner to great success this season, and the team has no designs to deviate from that blueprint. With 17 points in its last 22 games (8-2-1), Toronto looks to continue its ascent in the Atlantic Division on Thursday when it opens a three-game road trip against the Nashville Predators.
Ottawa at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
With workhorse Devan Dubnyk in dire need of a breather, coach Bruce Boudreau is banking that a St. Paul native will provide a breath of fresh air for the sputtering Minnesota Wild. Alex Stalock, who is also a Minnesota Duluth standout, was recalled from Iowa of the American Hockey League to start Thursday's home game against the Ottawa Senators.
Anaheim at Winnipeg 8:00 PM ET
Having clinched a fifth consecutive playoff berth and riding a five-game winning streak, the Anaheim Ducks will look to keep the fives coming as they continue their pursuit of a fifth straight Pacific Division title. Nursing a two-point lead over San Jose and Edmonton, first-place Anaheim visits the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday in the second stop of a four-game road trip.
San Jose at Edmonton 9:00 PM ET
The playoff-bound Edmonton Oilers continue their quest for a division crown when they host another contender in the struggling San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Edmonton edged Los Angeles 2-1 on Tuesday to clinch its first postseason berth since 2006, when it reached the Stanley Cup Final, and trail Pacific-leading Anaheim by two points with six games remaining.