Preview Roundups
December 23, 2014
Nashville at Boston 7:00 PM ET
The Boston Bruins haven't won a regulation game at home in more than a month and look to put an end to that drought when they host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. The Bruins have been involved in six straight one-goal decisions (2-2-2) since posting a 5-2 victory at Arizona on Dec. 6, including a shootout loss at Nashville on Dec. 16. Boston is seeking back-to-back wins for the first time since a three-game run from Nov. 15-21.
Carolina at New Jersey 7:00 PM ET
The New Jersey Devils look to break even on their four-game homestand when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in the finale on Tuesday. New Jersey sandwiched a rare shootout victory over Tampa Bay between a pair of shutout losses over the first three contests of its stretch at Prudential Center, the latter being a 4-0 setback to Washington on Saturday.
Montreal at NY Islanders 7:00 PM ET
The New York Islanders can enter the holiday break on a five-game winning streak with a victory Tuesday when they host the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal is beginning a five-game road trip after winning four of its last five at home and is tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Atlantic Division lead. The Islanders are 10-1-0 at home since the end of October as they try to keep pace with the Metropolitan Division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins.
Washington at NY Rangers 7:00 PM ET
The New York Rangers attempt to secure a seven-game winning streak for the first time in three years when they host the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. New York began with a home victory over Pittsburgh on Dec. 8 and enjoyed a perfect three-game stretch through Western Canada before claiming both ends of a home-and-home series with Carolina.
Philadelphia at Minnesota 7:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia Flyers look to match their longest winning streak of the season when they go for their third straight victory at the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night. The Flyers have erased two-goal deficits in the first two stops of their eight-game road trip, beating Winnipeg in overtime Sunday on Jakub Voracek's game-winner. Voracek, who leads the league with 44 points, was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week on Monday.
Toronto at Dallas 7:00 PM ET
After extending their winning streak to four contests following a perfect three-game trip through Western Canada, the Dallas Stars return to the comforts of home to face the sputtering Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Shawn Horcoff burned his former team by scoring in both regulation and the eighth round of the shootout as Dallas rallied from a three-goal deficit for a 6-5 victory over Edmonton on Sunday.
Buffalo at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
A pair of sputtering Atlantic Division rivals look to change their respective fortunes when the Buffalo Sabres visit the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Detroit has seen its offense hit the skids during its six-game winless streak (0-2-4), and Sunday's 2-1 shootout loss to Colorado was no exception. "We need to find a way to score goals," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of his team, which has mustered just six goals in as many contests. "We had lots of opportunities and didn't finish."
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning hope to take some positive thoughts into the short holiday break after a rough stretch when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. The Lightning are 2-5-1 in their last eight games, have injury concerns and are losers of 10 straight against Pittsburgh overall, but the Penguins come in after a 4-3 shootout loss at Florida on Monday. Pittsburgh got captain Sidney Crosby back from the mumps recently, but three more players are suspected to have the illness.
Arizona at Edmonton 8:00 PM ET
The Arizona Coyotes have won only two of their last 12 games, with both victories coming against the Edmonton Oilers. Three of the Coyotes' last four triumphs have been versus Edmonton, and they look to make it four of the last five when the struggling Pacific Division rivals face off at Rexall Place on Tuesday. Arizona is looking to complete a sweep of the five-game season series after outscoring Edmonton 16-8 in winning the first four matchups.
St. Louis at Colorado 8:00 PM ET
Semyon Varlamov resumed practicing with Colorado over the weekend, and will likely be in goal for the first time since Dec. 5 when the Avalanche host the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday in their final contest before the Christmas break. Coach Patrick Roy has made it clear that once Varlamov overcomes his groin injury, he will resume his role as No. 1 goaltender despite the hot play of rookie backup Calvin Pickard.
Winnipeg at Chicago 8:30 PM ET
The Chicago Blackhawks showed why they are sitting atop the Central Division during a 24-hour stretch over the weekend. After dropping a nine-round shootout in Columbus on Saturday night, Chicago learned that longtime assistant equipment manager Clint Reif passed away Sunday morning, hours before they skated to a 4-0 victory over Toronto. The win boosted the Blackhawks' record to 14-2-1 over their last 17 entering Tuesday's home game versus the Winnipeg Jets.