The Montreal Canadiens look to rebound from just their second loss in 10 contests when they wrap up a four-game road trip against the Ottawa Senators on Friday. The Canadiens saw their season high-tying five-game winning streak come to a halt with a 3-1 setback to Tampa Bay on Tuesday but secured a postseason berth later in the night with losses by New Jersey and Washington. Montreal remains even with the Lightning in points but has played one more game.

The Chicago Blackhawks look to continue their dominance in the all-time series when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday. Chicago has won 12 straight overall meetings with the Blue Jackets and eight in a row in Columbus. The Blackhawks skated to a 6-1 home victory on March 6 as captain Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw scored two goals apiece.

Two teams in quest of a postseason berth in the Eastern Conference lock horns Friday as the Washington Capitals visit the Metropolitan Division-rival New Jersey Devils. Both clubs enter the matchup out of a playoff spot, with Washington four points behind Columbus for the second wild card in the East and New Jersey trailing the Blue Jackets by five.

Pavel Datsyuk will make his long-anticipated return to the lineup when the Detroit Red Wings host the league-worst Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. Datsyuk, who has been sidelined since Feb. 27 with a left knee injury and has played in only five games since Jan. 1, will bolster Detroit's bid to make a record 23rd consecutive postseason appearance. The Red Wings have won three in a row and hold a one-point lead over Columbus for the top wild-card slot in the Eastern Conference.

The Calgary Flames attempt to complete a perfect run through the Sunshine State when they visit the Florida Panthers on Friday. Calgary began its five-game road trip with a pair of losses before posting a 4-1 victory at Tampa Bay on Thursday. Mike Cammalleri and Kevin Westgarth scored 15 seconds apart midway through the first period and Curtis Glencross tallied twice late in the third.

The Phoenix Coyotes came up small in one of their biggest games of the season and now face an uphill battle to make the playoffs as they prepare to host the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night. Phoenix has scored only two goals during a three-game winless drought (0-2-1), including a 4-0 shutout at Los Angeles on Wednesday night in which it mustered a season-low 17 shots. The Coyotes remain tied with the Dallas Stars for the final wild-card slot in the Western Conference.

The Anaheim Ducks continue their charge toward the Pacific Division title when they host the Nashville Predators on Friday. Anaheim enters the contest one point ahead of San Jose in the division and three behind St. Louis and Boston in the race for the Presidents' Trophy. The Ducks, who are one home victory away from tying the franchise mark of 28 set in 2007-08, improved to 5-0-1 in their last six contests with a 3-2 triumph over Edmonton on Wednesday.