Preview Roundups
December 17, 2016
Philadelphia at Dallas 2:00 PM ET
Brayden Schenn has been at the root of the Philadelphia Flyers' scintillating 10-game winning streak following the 25-year-old's move from left wing to center. Schenn began a stretch of three-game winning goals with a hat trick versus the Dallas Stars last week and looks to continue his good fortune on Saturday afternoon when the clubs meet at American Airlines Center.
Arizona at Minnesota 2:00 PM ET
While Devan Dubnyk has been the constant during the Minnesota Wild's six-game winning streak, fellow goaltender Darcy Kuemper is expected to receive a rare start on Saturday afternoon against the visiting Arizona Coyotes. The NHL's leader in goals-against average (1.62), save percentage (.947) and shutouts (four), Dubnyk turned aside 34 shots in Thursday's 5-2 triumph over Nashville to send Minnesota to its sixth straight win and extend his personal point streak to a career-high 10 games (8-0-2)
Pittsburgh at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins look to extend their point streak to nine games when they visit the improving Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. The Penguins saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end Friday with a 1-0 overtime loss the Los Angeles Kings, but they are 7-0-1 in eight December contests while posting a total of 39 goals in that span.
New Jersey at Ottawa 7:00 PM ET
The Ottawa Senators are mired in a three-game losing streak and will be without one of their top forwards when they host another slumping team in the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Ottawa's Mike Hoffman will serve the first of a two-game suspension handed down by the NHL for cross-checking San Jose's Logan Couture in the back of the head in Wednesday's 4-3 loss.
Anaheim at Detroit 7:00 PM ET
The reeling Detroit Red Wings will try to salvage something from a miserable five-game homestand when they play host to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night. The punchless Red Wings have failed to score more than one goal in each contest -- and three total -- during the four-game skid, with three of the defeats coming by 4-1 margins.
Montreal at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Capitals are finding their game after a lackluster start and look to extend their season-high winning streak to seven games when the injury-plagued Montreal Canadiens pay a visit Saturday. The Capitals notched their sixth straight win 4-3 in a shootout at Carolina on Friday and expect to have No. 1 goalie Braden Holtby back in net to face the Canadiens.
Buffalo at Carolina 7:00 PM ET
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is becoming a major force on the offensive end of the ice for the Buffalo Sabres while enjoying a career-high, five-game point streak. The 22-year-old from Finland looks to extend his run when the Sabres visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday in a battle of teams hoping to join the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Chicago at St. Louis 8:00 PM ET
Vladimir Tarasenko, Jake Allen and the St. Louis Blues look to continue their dominance at Scottrade Center on Saturday night when they host the Central Division-rival Chicago Blackhawks. Tarasenko scored a goal and set up two others to increase his point total to 10 (two goals, eight assists) in five contests on Thursday as St. Louis extended its second-longest home point streak in franchise history to 14 games (11-0-3) with a 5-2 victory over New Jersey.
NY Rangers at Nashville 8:00 PM ET
What was shaping up as a goaltender controversy is morphing into an embarrassment of riches for the New York Rangers, who will wrap up a brief two-game road trip with a visit to the slumping Nashville Predators on Saturday night. New York, which leads the NHL with 21 victories, has registered three shutouts during its current 4-1-0 run.
Tampa Bay at Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
The Edmonton Oilers have managed just three wins in the last 11 games and hope to begin moving in a positive direction when they host the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. The Oilers, in the middle of a crowded race in the Pacific Division, dropped a 3-1 decision against Columbus on Tuesday for their fifth loss in six games while gaining five points in that span.