Preview Roundups
April 04, 2019
Ottawa at Buffalo 7:00 PM ET
It's been a while since the Buffalo Sabres have recorded a victory, and even longer since they've done so in regulation. The Sabres look to end both droughts when they complete the home portion of their schedule Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.
Tampa Bay at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Maple Leafs are locked into third place in the Atlantic Division after struggling for almost a month and look to gain a little momentum with two games left in the regular season, starting with a visit from the NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. The Maple Leafs will face Boston without home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs after losing eight of their last 12 contests (4-6-2) and hope to turn their switch back on in the next week.
NY Islanders at Florida 7:00 PM ET
The New York Islanders look to move closer to clinching home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs when they start a short regular season-ending road trip against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. The Islanders control their own destiny for second place in the Metropolitan Division with a two-point lead on Pittsburgh and sit three behind Washington - their final regular-season opponent Saturday.
Detroit at Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins failed to secure their 13th consecutive postseason appearance on their initial attempt when they fell short in the opener of a home-and-home series against the Detroit Red Wings. Fresh off their second loss in three games, the Penguins look to keep their composure as the teams reconvene in the Steel City on Thursday night.
Montreal at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Montreal Canadiens do not control their own destiny but a victory over the Capitals in Washington on Thursday could put them in position to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs. Montreal (94 points) is in a three-team scrimmage with Carolina (95) and Columbus (94) for the Eastern Conference wild card spots but the Canadiens would lose the first tiebreaker with the Blue Jackets.
New Jersey at Carolina 7:00 PM ET
The Carolina Hurricanes are attempting to end the longest active postseason drought in the league but have little margin for error entering the final two games of the regular season. Carolina, which last made the playoffs in 2008-09, is holding down the first wild card in the Eastern Conference entering Thursday's game against the visiting New Jersey Devils.
Philadelphia at St. Louis 8:00 PM ET
After missing an opportunity to move into a three-way tie for first place in the Central Division, the St. Louis Blues host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. St. Louis lost 4-3 in a shootout at Chicago on Wednesday for only its second setback in eight contests (6-1-1) and is one point behind Winnipeg and Nashville in the Central with two games to play.
Vancouver at Nashville 8:00 PM ET
The Nashville Predators enter the final two games of their schedule in the midst of a fierce three-team battle for the Central Division supremacy. Boasting a 6-2-1 mark in their last nine contests, the Predators look to strengthen their bid to repeat as the division's champion on Thursday when they face the visiting Vancouver Canucks.
Boston at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
Although it took longer than planned, the Boston Bruins have wrapped up second place in the Atlantic Division and will have the luxury of resting some players in preparation for a first-round playoff series against Toronto. The Bruins will play their final road game of the season when they wrap up a three-game trek at the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
Winnipeg at Colorado 9:00 PM ET
The Colorado Avalanche have sprinted into the final Western Conference wild card spot with a 7-0-2 stretch, and they host the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday in a game critical to both team’s postseason plans. The Avalanche earned two big points in Tuesday’s 6-2 home victory over Edmonton and sit four points ahead of Arizona for the last West playoff spot, while the Jets fell into a first-place tie with Nashville in the Central Division after Tuesday’s 5-1 defeat at Minnesota.
San Jose at Edmonton 9:00 PM ET
The San Jose Sharks know they will be facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs but they need to get back on track with two games remaining in the regular season. Although they have already clinched second place in the Pacific Division, the Sharks enter Thursday's matchup at the Edmonton Oilers with one win in 10 games.
Arizona at Vegas 10:00 PM ET
The Arizona Coyotes are venturing to Sin City knowing the odds are stacked against them as they make a last-gasp bid to secure their first playoff appearance since the 2011-12 season. The Coyotes will need to win their last two games -- including Thursday's road tilt versus the Vegas Golden Knights -- and hope that Colorado falls in regulation in each of its last two contests.