The Vancouver Canucks look to put the finishing touches on a strong road trip when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. The Canucks have won three of the first four contests on their trek through the Northeast, allowing just one goal combined in the last two, while captain Henrik and Daniel Sedin are working on twin five-game point streaks to lead the way. Vancouver hopes to take advantage of the Sabres, who own the least points in the league and could be without their top two scorers.

The New York Rangers expect to have Rick Nash back in the lineup when they conclude a three-game homestand against the reeling Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Nash missed his first contest of the season with neck spasms following what was deemed as a "bad sleep" on Tuesday, but rookie Kevin Hayes scored his team's lone goal in the Rangers' 1-0 victory over Calgary.

The Montreal Canadiens can become the third team to reach 40 wins when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday in the second matchup between the teams in six days. The Canadiens followed a 3-1 home victory over the Blue Jackets with an impressive 5-2 drubbing at St. Louis on Saturday to maintain a one-point edge over the New York Islanders atop the Eastern Conference. Montreal won at Columbus 3-1 on Jan. 14 and is 4-1-0 in the last five meetings.

If Eastern Conference playoff spots were awarded based on a team's home record, the Philadelphia Flyers would be in a much more comfortable position than they find themselves. The Flyers look to improve upon one of the worst road marks in the conference Thursday night as they visit the woeful Toronto Maple Leafs. Philadelphia dropped a 4-1 decision in Carolina on Tuesday, slipping to a dismal 9-16-6 away from Wells Fargo Center for the season.

The Chicago Blackhawks begin life without superstar Patrick Kane when they complete a home-and-home series at the Florida Panthers on Thursday. The 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is expected to be sidelined approximately 12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken left clavicle on Wednesday, one day after crashing into the boards following a cross-check from defenseman Alex Petrovic in Chicago's 3-2 shootout win over Florida.

With their chances of winning the Central Division growing dimmer by the day, the St. Louis Blues kick off a five-game road trip at the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The Blues have dropped three of four and five of their last nine, giving up at least four goals in each defeat. "We're not paying any respect to defense, to managing the puck," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We're showing no respect for what matters in the National Hockey League at this time."

The Minnesota Wild have been riding the hot play of netminder Devan Dubnyk to Western Conference playoff relevance - and they'll need him at his best Thursday against a team that has victimized them of late. Dubnyk makes his 19th consecutive start as the Wild kick off a two-game road trip against the West-leading Nashville Predators. The Wild have won 13 of 18 since acquiring Dubnyk, though they're coming off a 2-1 defeat against Edmonton.

The Los Angeles Kings attempt to match the franchise record for consecutive victories when they host the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Los Angeles, which won nine straight contests from Jan. 21-Feb. 6, 2010, made it eight in a row Tuesday with a 1-0 home triumph over Detroit. Justin Williams scored a power-play goal early in the first period and Jonathan Quick posted his 35th career shutout - and the 200th in team history - as the Kings recorded their fifth consecutive win at home.

The San Jose Sharks posted the best home record in the Western Conference in 2013-14, but they have been unable to duplicate that success this season and are sitting just outside the playoff picture. San Jose carries a middling 14-12-5 record at SAP Center into Thursday's matchup against the visiting Detroit Red Wings. The Sharks are winless at home since Jan. 31 and are coming off a 2-1 outdoor loss to Los Angeles before 70,000-plus fans at Levi's Stadium.