Preview Roundups
April 11, 2015
Ottawa at Philadelphia 12:30 PM ET
The Ottawa Senators look to complete a monumental surge into the playoffs when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale for both teams. Posting an impressive 22-4-4 record in their last 30 games, the Senators can gain a postseason berth by either recording at least one point against the Flyers or having Boston fall to Tampa Bay later in the day.
NY Rangers at Washington 12:30 PM ET
The top two teams in the Metropolitan Division will meet at the Verizon Center on Saturday afternoon as the New York Rangers face the Washington Capitals in the regular-season finale for both clubs. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers reside both one victory and one point shy of a franchise record, but the club played it conservatively by resting some stars in a 3-0 setback to Ottawa on Thursday.
Calgary at Winnipeg 3:00 PM ET
Two teams returning to the postseason after lengthy absences face off on Saturday when the Calgary Flames visit the Winnipeg Jets in the regular-season finale for both clubs. Calgary clinched its first playoff berth since 2008-09 on Thursday, when Jiri Hudler scored two goals and set up another in a 3-1 home victory over Los Angeles - knocking the reigning Stanley Cup champion out of contention in the process.
San Jose at Los Angeles 3:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks were expected to be the class of the Pacific Division this season, but both teams fell well short. The in-state rivals battle for nothing but pride when they conclude their campaigns at Staples Center on Saturday.
Minnesota at St. Louis 3:00 PM ET
The St. Louis Blues’ quest for the highest point total in the Western Conference is coming down to the final day of the regular season. The Central Division-champion Blues look for two points when they host the Minnesota Wild in the finale for both teams on Saturday.
Pittsburgh at Buffalo 7:00 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins have one last chance to register a victory in April - and a postseason berth may hang in the balance on Saturday when they visit the Buffalo Sabres. Pittsburgh fell to 0-4-1 this month with a 3-1 home loss to the New York Islanders, leaving a wild-card spot as its only hope for making the playoffs.
Montreal at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The Montreal Canadiens look to clinch the Atlantic Division title when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday for the regular-season finale for both clubs. Montreal enters the contest with a two-point lead over second-place Tampa Bay, which hosts Boston on Saturday.
New Jersey at Florida 7:00 PM ET
Jaromir Jagr faces his latest former team as the Florida Panthers host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both clubs. The 43-year-old told reporters he was not bitter about being dealt at the trade deadline, saying "I don't ever get upset. I look at life differently than other people."
Columbus at NY Islanders 7:00 PM ET
The New York Islanders may have the chance to gain home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs when they host the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets in the final regular-season game at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday. New York clinched no worse than third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-1 triumph at Pittsburgh on Friday and can secure second with a victory over Columbus should Washington lose to the New York Rangers in the afternoon.
Detroit at Carolina 7:00 PM ET
After booking their 24th consecutive playoff appearance, the Detroit Red Wings look to clinch third place in the Atlantic Division when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams. Detroit, which holds a one-point lead over Ottawa, will lock up the spot by collecting at least one against the Hurricanes.
Boston at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Bruins are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006-07 and need a victory to have any chance when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. The Bruins lost at Washington 3-0 on Wednesday and dropped a 4-2 decision at Florida 24 hours later to lose control of their own destiny, forcing them to win their final game while either Pittsburgh loses to Buffalo or Ottawa is defeated in regulation by Philadelphia.
Nashville at Dallas 8:00 PM ET
Conventional wisdom suggests that teams want to be playing their best as they head into the postseason, and the Nashville Predators are running out of time in that regard. The Predators will try to end a five-game slide when they finish out the regular season at the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
Chicago at Colorado 9:00 PM ET
The Chicago Blackhawks look to snap a three-game skid and secure third place in the Central Division when they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams. Chicago, which holds a two-point lead over upstart Minnesota, can set up a first-round series with Nashville by securing at least one point against the Avalanche or have the Wild lose to St. Louis earlier in the day.
Anaheim at Arizona 9:00 PM ET
The Anaheim Ducks look to avoid going into the postseason off three straight losses when they visit the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night. The Ducks are also tied with St. Louis, which hosts Minnesota on Saturday afternoon, atop the West with 107 points and Anaheim owns the tiebreaker for home-ice advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Edmonton at Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
The Vancouver Canucks vie for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs when they attempt to complete a season sweep of the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. While officially having punched its ticket for a sixth playoff appearance in seven seasons, Vancouver holds a two-point edge over third-place Calgary as the Pacific Division rivals jockey for position ahead of their first-round meeting.