Matchups

The Buffalo Sabres are no longer the lowest-scoring team in the league, and converting more of their abundant chances is the next objective for the young squad. The Sabres look to continue their progress and post a second victory in four days over the Philadelphia Flyers when the Eastern Conference rivals meet in Buffalo on Friday.

The New York Rangers look to extend their point streak to six contests on Friday when they continue their three-game homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although New York cruised to a 4-1 victory over Calgary on Sunday to improve to 3-0-2 in its last five contests, coach Alain Vigneault isn't convinced he's receiving all that he can out of his charges.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have answered a franchise-worst start by winning two straight contests heading into the finale of their four-game road trip versus the Washington Capitals on Friday. All-Star forward Ryan Johansen missed both victories due to an undisclosed illness, but returned to practice on Thursday and declared himself set to play versus Washington.

Two teams looking to build off inspiring victories meet when the Colorado Avalanche visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The Avalanche halted a four-game winless streak with a hard-working 2-1 win at Tampa Bay on Thursday, while Carolina rallied for a 3-2 overtime triumph, capped by defenseman Ron Hainsey’s goal, against the New York Islanders.

The Detroit Red Wings have won only once since opening the season with three consecutive victories and are mired in an offensive tailspin as they get set to host the Ottawa Senators on Friday night in the first leg of a home-and-home set. Detroit is 1-4-1 over its last six games and has produced a total of 11 goals in that span.

The Boston Bruins appear to have put a disastrous start to the season behind them and look to extend their point streak to six games when they visit the Florida Panthers on Friday night in the opening of a two-game trek through the Sunshine State. The Bruins earned their first home victory with a 6-0 drubbing of Arizona on Tuesday to improve to 4-0-1 in their last five contests.

Chicago visits Minnesota on Friday in their first matchup since the Blackhawks swept the Wild in the Western Conference semifinals last season en route to their third Stanley Cup title in the last six years. Minnesota improved to 4-0-0 at home this season with a 4-3 victory over Edmonton on Wednesday, while Chicago had its four-game winning streak snapped with a 3-1 loss in Winnipeg on Thursday.

The Montreal Canadiens look to salvage the finale of their three-game road trip when they visit the struggling Calgary Flames on Friday. Montreal began the season with a nine-game winning streak before opening its trek Tuesday with a 5-1 loss at Vancouver.

The Vancouver Canucks attempt to extend their point streak to four games when they visit the Arizona Coyotes on Friday. Vancouver enters the matchup against its Pacific Division rival with a 1-0-2 record over its last three contests after dropping a 4-3 overtime decision at Dallas on Thursday.