The Chicago Blackhawks can wrap up a postseason spot with one victory, but they'll have to get past one of the league's hottest clubs when they visit the Boston Bruins on Thursday. Making the playoffs is a foregone conclusion for the Blackhawks, who may not be able to catch Central Division-leading St. Louis but are locked in a three-team battle for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

The Phoenix Coyotes look to finish their three-game road trip on a high note when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. After losing both a decision and goaltender Mike Smith to injury in an overtime setback versus the New York Rangers on Monday, the Coyotes responded the following night with an impressive 3-2 triumph over Pittsburgh. Phoenix improved to 8-3-1 in its last 12 games and own a three-point lead over Dallas for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

While chasing the Boston Bruins for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins can move closer to a different goal Thursday as they entertain the Los Angeles Kings. The Penguins have a double-digit lead over the New York Rangers in the Metropolitan and can inch toward the division title with a victory over the Kings. Los Angeles is one of the few teams from the West locked into a playoff spot, sitting comfortably in sixth place with nine games remaining on the schedule.

The Montreal Canadiens can solidify their position in the Atlantic with their seventh win in eight games when they visit the division-rival Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. Montreal sits two points clear of Tampa Bay for second in the division, while the Red Wings are locked in a four-way tie for the Eastern Conference wild-card spots.

Valtteri Filppula and the Tampa Bay Lightning look to extend their point streaks to double digits when they host the New York Islanders on Thursday. Filppula has posted at least one point in a career-high nine games - collecting four goals and nine assists during the stretch for the Lightning, who are on a 5-0-4 run that has solidified their spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Carolina Hurricanes' postseason chances has endured a significant hit as the club has won just five of its last 16 games. The Hurricanes have enjoyed much better success against Thursday's opponent as they vie for their fourth consecutive win and fifth in six meetings with the host Florida Panthers. Alexander Semin has scored three times in two games against Florida this season and also tallied on Tuesday as Carolina dropped a 5-4 decision to the New York Islanders.

After breaking out of their offensive funk in the finale of their road trip, the league-leading St. Louis Blues begin a five-game homestand against the Central Division-rival Minnesota Wild on Thursday. St. Louis scored a total of two goals in going 2-1-0 over the first three games of its trek before erupting for five in Tuesday's triumph at Toronto.

If the Nashville Predators miss the playoffs, which appears to be a near-certainty, they need look no farther than the month of March to see the reasons why. The Predators have lost all six home games this month, a streak they will attempt to snap when they host the league-worst Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Nashville started the month with an 0-4-0 skid but rebounded with three straight victories before dropping three in a row - while producing a total of five goals in the seven setbacks.

The Vancouver Canucks continue their push toward a playoff spot when they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Vancouver has pulled within four points of Phoenix for the second wild card in the Western Conference thanks to a winning streak that reached three games with a 5-2 triumph at Minnesota on Wednesday. David Booth recorded his first multi-goal performance in over two years for the Canucks, who have outscored their opponents 11-4 during their run.

As the Winnipeg Jets fade out of postseason contention, the San Jose Sharks are surging toward the top spot in the NHL. San Jose looks to continue its climb when it hosts Winnipeg on Thursday. The Sharks overtook Anaheim for the lead in the Pacific Division and moved within two points of St. Louis in the race for the Presidents' Trophy thanks to a 9-1-3 stretch that includes a 5-2 triumph at Edmonton on Tuesday.