When it comes to mid-season previews of the Eastern Conference finals, it isn't surprising to see the Pittsburgh Penguins involved. But their opponents continue to find themselves in unfamiliar territory as the Penguins visit the upstart New York Islanders on Friday in a battle of two of the top teams in the conference. The Islanders appear to be the real deal this season as they are riding a three-game winning streak following Tuesday's 3-0 win over the New York Rangers.

The Carolina Hurricanes attempt to extend their point streak to four games when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. Carolina has gone 2-0-1 over its last three contests and improved to 4-1-1 this month with a 3-2 shootout triumph over Colorado on Tuesday. The Hurricanes squandered a 2-0 lead in the third period before Swedes Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm scored in the bonus format to extend the club's home winning streak to four games.

Ryan Johansen has paid consistent dividends since ending an acrimonious contract negotiation by signing a three-year deal worth $12 million at the start of the season. The All-Star looks to extend his franchise-best point streak to 12 games when the Columbus Blue Jackets wrap up their three-game homestand against the New York Rangers on Friday. The 22-year-old Johansen scored a power-play goal in Wednesday's 3-2 setback to Montreal, marking Columbus' third straight defeat.

It isn't bad enough for the Nashville Predators that they've lost All-Star goaltender Pekka Rinne - now they have to face a netminder who might be upset he wasn't picked as Rinne's replacement. Braden Holtby looks to strengthen his case as the best player not chosen to the All-Star Game as he leads the Washington Capitals into Music City for a date with the Predators on Friday. Rinne will miss 3-5 weeks after suffering a sprained knee on Tuesday.

The Winnipeg Jets are responsible for two of the five regulation home losses suffered by the Chicago Blackhawks this season. The Jets look to continue to fluster the Blackhawks when the Central Division rivals meet at United Center on Friday. Winnipeg, which skated to a 2-1 victory over Dallas on Thursday to improve to 3-0-1 in its last four, posted a 1-0 triumph at Chicago on Nov. 2 before Mathieu Perreault tallied twice in a 5-1 victory on Dec. 23.

The Anaheim Ducks wrap up their season-high eight-game homestand when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Anaheim improved to 5-2-0 on its lengthy stretch at Honda Center on Wednesday by posting a 4-0 triumph over Toronto. Corey Perry registered a natural hat trick - the eighth of his career and third this season - while Frederik Andersen made 28 saves for his second NHL shutout. The Ducks are 9-5-1 against the Eastern Conference but only 3-2-1 versus Metropolitan Division clubs.