The Colorado Avalanche were the last team in the NHL to suffer a loss in regulation, but they have a more pressing concern entering the finale of a six-game road trip at the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night. The Avalanche lost high-scoring forward Mikko Rantanen to a lower-body injury in Monday's 3-1 setback at reigning Stanley Cup champion St. Louis.

Patrick Marleau is slated to play his club-record 1,500th game with the San Jose Sharks on Friday against the host Toronto Maple Leafs - the organization with which he spent the previous two seasons. Marleau notched an assist on Thursday as the Sharks earned at least one point for the fifth time in six games (4-1-1) with a 4-2 victory at Montreal.

The New Jersey Devils hope six days between games doesn't halt their momentum as they host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday. New Jersey lost its first six contests of the season (0-4-2) but has turned it around with back-to-back victories - including a 1-0 triumph over Vancouver on Saturday in its last outing, which featured Jack Hughes - the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft - scoring his first career goal.

The New York Islanders shook off an uneven start to their season and will try for their sixth consecutive victory when they visit the Ottawa Senators on Friday. The Islanders dropped three of their first four games, including two at home, but have allowed a total of nine goals during a five-game winning streak that was extended with Thursday's 4-2 triumph over Arizona.

Just 24 hours after suffering their second regulation loss of the season, the Buffalo Sabres attempt to release their frustrations when they visit the struggling Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Buffalo had won three straight and earned points in nine of its first 10 contests before being routed 6-2 by the Rangers in New York on Thursday.

The Washington Capitals enter Friday's game against the host Vancouver Canucks with the NHL's leading scorer, but it's not the player who already has an Art Ross Trophy under his belt. Defenseman John Carlson tops the league with 21 points after registering an assist in his 700th career game as Washington dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime at Edmonton on Thursday.