Matchups

The Boston Bruins have been among the worst teams in the league on home ice, but they will face an opponent they have dominated at TD Garden when the Florida Panthers pay a visit for a Saturday matinee. The Bruins will kick off a three-game homestand against Jaromir Jagr and the Panthers, who are seeking their first victory in Boston in more than four years.

The Los Angeles Kings are riding high with a six-game winning streak, but they've routinely run into trouble when they visit Western New York. The Kings vie for just their second victory in their last 12 trips to Buffalo when they tangle with the Sabres on Saturday.

Injuries appear to be catching up to the Montreal Canadiens, who have seen their blazing start to the season slowed in the wake of four consecutive losses. After overpowering opponents during a franchise-record 9-0-0 start, the Canadiens have seen their offense grind to a halt as they prepare to host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in the opener of a three-game homestand.

Ben Bishop is expected to be in net this time around when his Tampa Bay Lightning host their former Southeast Division-rival Washington Capitals on Saturday. Bishop is off to the best start of his career and has allowed only 23 goals in his last 15 contests to keep the Lightning afloat, but he was rested for a 4-2 loss at Washington on Nov. 27.

The New York Islanders haven't been shy about winning the close contests to continue their ascent in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders look to extend their point streak to nine games on Saturday when they conclude a three-game road trip against the cellar-dwelling Columbus Blue Jackets.

The St. Louis Blues face a tall order if they are to prevent their fifth loss in six games on Saturday, when the league-leading Dallas Stars pay a visit to Scottrade Center. Ken Hitchcock has seen his offense struggle of late with just nine tallies in five games, and the veteran coach told reporters that the scoring opportunities have diminished due to a lack of checking.

The Nashville Predators produced one of their best performances of the season last time out and look to carry it over when the Colorado Avalanche pay them a visit on Saturday. The Predators scored three goals in the first period en route to a 5-1 victory over Chicago on Thursday after winning just three of their previous 11 contests.

One day after recording their first victory of the month, the Arizona Coyotes attempt to make it two in a row when they continue their six-game homestand Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Arizona began December with a disastrous road trip on which it lost all five contests, allowing five goals in each of the first four defeats.

The Calgary Flames are beginning to find the magic that led them to a surprise trip to the Western Conference semifinals last season. The Flames look to complete a perfect five-game homestand and extend their winning streak at Scotiabank Saddledome to nine when they host the struggling New York Rangers on Saturday.

The San Jose Sharks make another attempt at posting their first victory of the month when they host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. San Jose has begun December with five straight defeats, the most recent being a 4-3 overtime setback at Edmonton on Wednesday.