Preview Roundups
November 01, 2014
Ottawa at Boston 7:00 PM ET
The Boston Bruins haven't had a winning record since beating Philadelphia in the season opener but they have a chance to move above .500 when they host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. Although the Bruins have won four of their last six games overall, two have come at the expense of league-worst Buffalo - including Thursday's 3-2 victory in overtime. Boston has also dropped its last two home games after blowing a two-goal third-period lead in Tuesday's 4-3 setback to the Minnesota Wild.
Chicago at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Corey Crawford is expected to make his first start in two weeks when the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Crawford has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since stopping 19-of-20 shots in a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Oct. 18. Antti Raanta started three straight games before Scott Darling did the same - including the Blackhawks' 5-4 shootout victory over Ottawa on Thursday.
Washington at Tampa Bay 7:00 PM ET
Two former Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winners on different types of runs meet for the first time this season when the Washington Capitals visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos is rolling along among the league leaders with eight goals after posting two in a 4-3 win over Philadelphia on Thursday. Captain Alex Ovechkin is without a point in five straight contests – the longest regular-season drought in his career – and the Capitals have dropped three of four.
Philadelphia at Florida 7:00 PM ET
The Florida Panthers are the lowest-scoring team in the league, but they have a chance to extend their point streak to six games when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. The recent success has come despite the fact that the Panthers have been limited to two goals or fewer in seven of their eight games. "We're not scoring many goals, but that's OK," goaltender Roberto Luongo said.
Columbus at New Jersey 7:00 PM ET
After snapping their NHL-record 18-game losing streak in the shootout, the New Jersey Devils look to continue their good fortune when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Jacob Josefson scored the lone goal of the bonus format as New Jersey skated to a 2-1 triumph over Winnipeg on Thursday. "It was our first home win of the season, and first shootout win in what feels like 10 years," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said.
Winnipeg at NY Rangers 7:00 PM ET
The New York Rangers lost defenseman Dan Boyle to a broken right hand on opening night, and their power play has suffered in his absence. The Rangers host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday having scored just twice in 23 man-advantage situations through nine games, yet have overcome the power-play struggles to win four of their past five. The Jets rebounded from dropping four of their first five contests to win three of four before falling 2-1 in a shootout Thursday at New Jersey on Thursday.
Buffalo at Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
On paper, the Pittsburgh Penguins should be in for an easy night when they conclude their three-game homestand against the offensively challenged Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. Pittsburgh saw its winning streak reach three games Thursday, when it posted a 3-0 triumph over Los Angeles. Chris Kunitz scored two goals and set up the other while Marc-Andre Fleury made 36 saves en route to his second shutout in six days.
Arizona at Carolina 7:00 PM ET
The Carolina Hurricanes return home from a fruitless five-game road trip in search of their first victory when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. Carolina is the only team remaining without a victory and will play back-to-back home games against Western Conference opponents on the weekend. The Coyotes opened their four-game Eastern Conference road trip with two losses as they try for their first away victory.
Colorado at St. Louis 8:00 PM ET
The St. Louis Blues attempt to extend their winning streak to four games when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. St. Louis has rebounded nicely from a two-game skid during which it scored just once, posting one-goal victories over Chicago and Dallas - the latter in overtime - before avenging a shutout loss in Anaheim by blanking the Ducks at home on Thursday. Alex Steen and Ryan Reaves tallied while Jake Allen turned aside 24 shots en route to his second career shutout.
Dallas at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Wild put their perfect home record on the line when the Central Division-rival Dallas Stars pay them a visit on Saturday. Minnesota improved to 4-0-0 at Xcel Energy Center this season by rallying from a two-goal deficit in the third period to post a 4-3 shootout win over San Jose on Thursday. "It's not something you want to make a habit out of, digging yourself into a hole," Wild coach Mike Yeo said of his team, which also overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat Boston on Tuesday.
Vancouver at Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
The Edmonton Oilers look to end their lengthy homestand on a winning note as they host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Edmonton began its season-high seven-game stretch at Rexall Place with a 2-0 loss to Vancouver before reeling off four consecutive victories. The winning came to an end Wednesday as the Oilers dropped a 4-1 decision to Nashville, with Taylor Hall accounting for the club's lone goal.
NY Islanders at San Jose 10:30 PM ET
The road-weary San Jose Sharks vie for only their second home win of the season when they host the New York Islanders on Saturday night. San Jose, which is playing 16 of its first 21 games away from home, had its chance for a perfect three-game road trip thwarted when it squandered a two-goal third-period lead in a 4-3 shootout loss at Minnesota on Thursday.