Live Scores, Live Odds and Game Matchups

The Florida Panthers attempt to halt a two-game slide and reclaim first place in the Atlantic when they visit the division-rival Boston Bruins on Thursday. Florida sat atop the division for a while but has been jockeying with Tampa Bay for the top spot lately and enters its matchup in Beantown even in points with the Lightning, who technically occupy first place.

Captain Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been running roughshod over their opponents of late, with the New Jersey Devils left in their wake of one such dominating performance earlier this month. The Penguins look to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games on Thursday when they host a Devils club that is in danger of missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

A five-game losing streak has all but torpedoed the postseason hopes of the Carolina Hurricanes, who will try to maintain a pulse when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. Carolina has managed to earn a point in three of the five losses to remain within seven points of the final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference.

After failing to clinch a playoff berth versus one struggling team, the Anaheim Ducks will try their luck against another one when they visit the NHL-worst Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night. Anaheim trails Pacific Division-best Los Angeles by four points and leads third-place San Jose by one with a game in hand on each.

The Detroit Red Wings are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1989-90 as they begin a three-game homestand against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Detroit has dropped three of its last five contests and is even in points with Philadelphia, which occupies the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference by virtue of playing one less game.

The Nashville Predators appeared relegated to settling for the top wild card in the Western Conference, but suddenly they have designs on a top-three finish in the Central Division as they prepare to host the skidding Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. The Predators continue their four-game homestand as they attempt to close a four-point deficit on third-place Chicago.

The Minnesota Wild will look to extend their winning streak to four games at the expense of a familiar face on Thursday when the Calgary Flames pay a visit to the Xcel Energy Center. Niklas Backstrom, who is the Wild's franchise leader in victories (194), shutouts (28) and games played (409), will return to the crease on the heels of leading Calgary to a 4-1 win over Montreal on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Kings look to salvage the finale of their three-game road trip when they visit the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The Kings dropped the first two contests of the trek, losing 5-2 in Nashville and 2-1 at Minnesota, but own a four-point lead over Anaheim for first place in the Pacific Division with nine games remaining.

After putting their best foot forward in the first of three games without their two leading scorers, the Colorado Avalanche look to continue their surge toward the postseason on Thursday when they host the Philadelphia Flyers. With Matt Duchene (team-leading 29 goals, 56 points) and Nathan MacKinnon (52 points) sidelined by knee injuries, returning captain Gabriel Landeskog picked up the slack with a goal and an assist to pace Colorado to a 3-2 victory over Edmonton on Sunday.

After securing their second playoff berth in the last eight seasons, the Dallas Stars look to improve their standing in their pursuit of the top spot in both the Central Division and Western Conference on Thursday when they visit the Arizona Coyotes. Former Coyote Vernon Fiddler scored twice in Tuesday's 6-2 rout of Chicago to raise his season total in goals to 12, one shy of last season's career-high mark.

Two nights after failing to make up ground on the two teams in front of them, the San Jose Sharks can wrap up a playoff berth when they continue a six-game homestand against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. The Sharks are five points behind Pacific Division leader Los Angeles and one behind second-place Anaheim.