Preview Roundups
December 26, 2015
Buffalo at Boston 7:00 PM ET
After seeing their second-ranked offense shut out for the first time this season, the Boston Bruins look to get back on track Saturday when they host rookie Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres. Boston suffered just its second regulation loss in 16 outings (11-2-3) with a 2-0 setback to St. Louis on Tuesday, remaining one point behind first-place Montreal (20-13-3) with a date in the Winter Classic looming on the horizon.
Columbus at Tampa Bay 7:00 PM ET
Two of the most disappointing teams in the league try to start a winning streak after Christmas, when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The Blue Jackets are 13-12-3 since losing their first eight games of the season while the Lightning are on the outside of the playoff picture after winning the Eastern Conference in 2014-15.
Montreal at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The red-hot Washington Capitals have surged to the top of the Eastern Conference and will square off with the team that occupied that spot for much of the season when they host the reeling Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. The Capitals are riding a season high-tying six-game winning streak, part of a 13-1-1 tear that has sparked their climb in the standings.
New Jersey at Carolina 7:00 PM ET
The New Jersey Devils have been struggling to score goals and will hope a trip to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday will help them snap out of their offensive funk. New Jersey erupted for a season-high goal total in a 5-1 drubbing of the Hurricanes earlier this month, its fifth victory in its last six visits to Carolina.
Dallas at St. Louis 8:00 PM ET
After entering the Christmas break on a career high-tying seven-game point streak, Vladimir Tarasenko looks to pick up where he left off on Saturday when the St. Louis Blues open a home-and-home series versus the visiting Dallas Stars. Tarasenko recorded his sixth goal and 11th point of the stretch as St. Louis skated to a 2-0 victory over Boston on Tuesday.
Detroit at Nashville 8:00 PM ET
The Detroit Red Wings have played 22 of their 34 games at home, so the time has come for the schedule-maker to start getting even as they begin a stretch when they'll play nine of their next 10 contests on the road Saturday against the Nashville Predators. Detroit has won and lost the same amount of games both at Joe Louis Arena (11-7-4) and on the road (6-3-3), so it shouldn't be fazed by the consistent change of scenery that will include contests from coast to coast.
Pittsburgh at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
Although his team has struggled to ignite its offense this season, Evgeni Malkin is experiencing no such issue as the Pittsburgh Penguins forward scored three times in the last two games to boost his club-best goal total to 17. The 2012 Hart Trophy winner looks to continue his spirited surge when the Penguins return from the Christmas break to visit the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
Los Angeles at Arizona 9:00 PM ET
The Arizona Coyotes attempt to extend a pair of winning streaks when they wrap up a six-game homestand against the Pacific Division-rival Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Arizona went 1-1-1 over the first half of its lengthy stretch at Gila River Arena before posting one-goal victories over the New York Islanders and Toronto.
Edmonton at Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
The Vancouver Canucks attempt to extend their point streak when they return from the holiday break to begin a seven-game homestand Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. Vancouver concluded the second half of its six-game road trip with a 2-0-1 record after scoring a total of two goals in losing the first three contests.