Preview Roundups
April 09, 2016
Ottawa at Boston 12:30 PM ET
The Boston Bruins kept their postseason hopes alive with a huge victory over Detroit but still do not have control of their playoff destiny entering Saturday's regular-season finale versus the visiting Ottawa Senators. Boston is tied in points with the Red Wings for third place in the Atlantic Division, but Detroit owns the tiebreaker with one road game left at the New York Rangers.
Detroit at NY Rangers 12:30 PM ET
Foiled in their first chance to extend the longest active postseason streak of the four major North American team sports, the Detroit Red Wings get another crack when they visit the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale for both teams. Detroit is tied with Boston for third place in the Atlantic Division, but owns the tiebreaker as it seeks its 25th consecutive playoff berth.
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia 3:00 PM ET
After a scintillating 13-3-2 run had the Philadelphia Flyers sitting pretty for a potential postseason berth, Dave Hakstol's charges fell on the wrong side of the playoff picture following a third straight setback - to the league's worst club, no less. Locked in a three-team battle for the final two spots, Philadelphia remains in control of its own destiny headed into Saturday's home game versus the white-hot Pittsburgh Penguins.
Anaheim at Colorado 5:30 PM ET
The Anaheim Ducks missed a golden opportunity to take control of the Pacific Division and face an uphill climb as they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Anaheim finishes the regular season Sunday in Washington in a make-up of a postponed game in January and must earn three more points than Los Angeles, which can wrap up the Pacific title with a victory over Winnipeg on Saturday in its final regular-season contest.
Tampa Bay at Montreal 7:00 PM ET
Jonathan Drouin made an impact in his first game since December with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday while recording the game-winning goal. The former third-overall draft pick looks to continue to state his case for a spot in the lineup during the playoffs for the injury-depleted Lightning when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
Carolina at Florida 7:00 PM ET
The Florida Panthers look to go into the playoffs with a victory when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday in the finale of their best regular season in franchise history. The Panthers have won 46 games and posted 101 points for the first time to win their second division title while awaiting the top wild-card team in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Toronto at New Jersey 7:00 PM ET
The New Jersey Devils have unraveled since they were eliminated from playoff contention and will take a four-game losing streak into Saturday's matchup against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs in the season finale for both teams. The Devils have scored only six goals during their four-game skid and 10 during a 1-5-1 slide.
Chicago at Columbus 7:00 PM ET
Corey Crawford will make his return to the crease for the first time in 3 1/2 weeks on Saturday as the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Columbus Blue Jackets in the season finale for both teams. Crawford was in the midst of a career season with a personal-best 35 wins and league-high seven shutouts before being sidelined with an upper-body injury on March 14.
Calgary at Minnesota 7:00 PM ET
Interim coach John Torchetti isn't willing to significantly alter his approach even though the Minnesota Wild are locked in as the Western Conference's eighth seed heading into the playoffs. With many of the team's regulars expected to see some ice time, Minnesota looks to re-ignite its ailing offense and snap a four-game skid on Saturday when they host the Calgary Flames.
Buffalo at NY Islanders 7:30 PM ET
The New York Islanders look to maintain their hold on third place in the Metropolitan Division when they host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday in their penultimate game of the regular season. New York is even in points with the crosstown Rangers but has one game in hand — giving it temporary possession of the third spot in the division, which comes with a first-round matchup against Pittsburgh.
Washington at St. Louis 8:00 PM ET
Vladimir Tarasenko is on quite the roll and the St. Louis Blues hope his good fortune continues as they vie for the Central Division title on Saturday. The 24-year-old Russian carries a seven-game point streak (five goals, five assists) into Saturday's matchup against former Blue T.J. Oshie and the visiting Washington Capitals.
Nashville at Dallas 8:00 PM ET
Although many paths are in play, the Dallas Stars look to take the most direct route toward winning their first division title in 10 years and home-ice advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. Dallas can reach that destination on Saturday with a home win over the Central Division-rival Nashville Predators in the season finale for both clubs.
Edmonton at Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
A pair of Pacific Division rivals wrap up their disappointing campaigns Saturday as the Edmonton Oilers visit the Vancouver Canucks in the season finale for both teams. Edmonton will finish last in its division for the fifth time in seven seasons and sixth since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2006 - the last time it has qualified for the playoffs.
Winnipeg at Los Angeles 10:00 PM ET
The blueprint for the Los Angeles Kings entering Saturday's regular-season finale against the visiting Winnipeg Jets couldn't be more simple: win and the team clinches the Pacific Division title and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Los Angeles can also claim the division with a loss if Anaheim fails to win its final two games.
Arizona at San Jose 10:30 PM ET
San Jose hosts the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams after the Sharks' 5-4 loss to Winnipeg on Thursday cemented their third-place standing in the Pacific Division. San Jose, which is an NHL-best 28-10-3 on the road but 17-20-3 at home, visits Los Angeles or Anaheim - whichever team does not win the Pacific - in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and captain Joe Pavelski said it doesn't really matter where the Sharks start.