The New York Islanders continue to fall back in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and are in the midst of a rugged stretch in which they play only once at home in eight games. The Islanders will look to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night in the front end of a home-and-home set.

The Tampa Bay Lightning ended up making one of the biggest moves at the trade deadline Monday afternoon and could have one of their new acquisitions in the lineup Wednesday when they host the Eastern Conference-worst Buffalo Sabres. The Lightning have won four in a row and own a league-most 43 victories, but sent a major package to the New York Rangers in exchange for steady defenseman Ryan McDonagh and center J.T. Miller.

The slumping St. Louis Blues may have hit rock bottom last time out, and they will attempt to bounce back just 24 hours later when they host the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. The Blues have lost seven straight games (0-6-1) for the first time since 2009-10 after Tuesday’s humbling 8-3 loss at Minnesota and have fallen out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Colorado Avalanche attempt to avenge a recent setback and move closer to a playoff spot in the Western Conference when they continue their four-game homestand Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Colorado began the string at Pepsi Center with a triumph over Vancouver on Monday - just two days after suffering a 5-1 loss in Calgary.

The New York Rangers have been losing both games on the scoreboard and bodies in the locker room during what quickly has become a struggling show on Broadway. Losers of seven in a row (0-6-1) and 14 of their last 17 (3-13-1), the rebuilding Rangers look to get back on track at Rogers Arena on Wednesday when they open a three-game road trip versus the Vancouver Canucks.