Preview Roundups
January 02, 2020
Columbus at Boston 7:00 PM ET
The Boston Bruins are tied for the second-highest point total in the NHL despite their maddening inability to squeeze out wins when the game goes beyond regulation. Coming off yet another shootout loss, the Bruins will look to extend their point streak to nine games when they return home to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.
Edmonton at Buffalo 7:00 PM ET
Connor McDavid has more than lived up to the hype since he was selected by the Edmonton Oilers with the top overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and the same holds true for Jack Eichel, taken at No. 2 by the Buffalo Sabres that same year. McDavid and Eichel will be under the spotlight again when the Oilers visit the Sabres on Thursday night.
Tampa Bay at Montreal 7:00 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning have climbed back into a playoff position for the first time since October and hope to remain there while attempting to extend their season-high winning streak to five games Thursday night at the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning won three straight at home, sandwiching the Christmas break, before rallying from a three-goal deficit to beat Buffalo 6-4 on Tuesday.
New Jersey at NY Islanders 7:00 PM ET
The New York Islanders answered a three-game skid by returning to their winning ways to conclude a recent road trip. The Islanders look to do the same in regard to their current three-game home losing streak on Thursday when they host the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.
San Jose at Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins survived the loss of one elite player earlier this season and have been without captain Sidney Crosby for nearly two months, but now they will be tested by another major injury. Winners of three in a row, the surging Penguins will play their first game without leading scorer Jake Guentzel when they host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
Florida at Ottawa 7:30 PM ET
The Florida Panthers hit a speed bump to start a four-game road trip and look to begin speeding up again when they visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night for an Atlantic Division battle. The Panthers had won five of six games - scoring 28 times in the victories - before giving up three unanswered goals in the final 24-plus minutes of a 4-1 setback at Columbus on Tuesday.
Toronto at Winnipeg 8:00 PM ET
The Toronto Maple Leafs are unbeaten in their past eight games entering Thursday’s visit to the Winnipeg Jets, and it’s no surprise Auston Matthews is one of the big reasons why. The 22-year-old center has at least two points in six of the past seven contests, registering a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s 4-1 victory at Minnesota to give him eight goals and six assists in that span, as the Maple Leafs improved to 7-0-1 since Dec. 14.
NY Rangers at Calgary 9:00 PM ET
A change behind the bench at the end of November resulted in a seven-game winning streak for Calgary, but the Flames are sliding back down the standings due mainly to their inability to win at home. Calgary looks to snap a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) at Scotiabank Saddledome in the finale of a three-game homestand versus the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
Anaheim at Arizona 9:00 PM ET
The Arizona Coyotes try to build off a victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Arizona defeated St. Louis 3-1 on Tuesday to snap a three-game losing streak while recording the 1,300th victory in Winnipeg/Phoenix/Arizona franchise history, and sits two points behind first-place Vegas in the Pacific Division.
St. Louis at Colorado 9:30 PM ET
The defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues try for their seventh straight victory over Colorado when they visit the Avalanche on Thursday. First-place St. Louis had its eight-game winning streak snapped with a 3-1 loss at Arizona on Tuesday and leads slumping Colorado by eight points in the Central Division.
Chicago at Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
One team’s winning streak will end when the Chicago Blackhawks aim for their fourth consecutive victory Thursday in Vancouver where they’ll face a Canucks squad which has won its past five games. Both teams are coming off successful visits to Calgary where the Canucks left with a 5-2 triumph over the Flames on Sunday and the Blackhawks came out on the right side of a 5-3 decision Tuesday.
Philadelphia at Vegas 10:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia Flyers haven't put their best foot forward during their six-game road trip, losing two of three to the California contingent while yielding four first-period goals in their last contest. The Flyers look for a better performance on Thursday when they attempt to complete a season sweep of the Vegas Golden Knights.