Preview Roundups
April 04, 2017
Tampa Bay at Boston 7:00 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning look to stay alive in the race for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference when they begin a three-game road trip Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. The Lightning are 5-0-1 since winning 6-3 at Boston on March 23 and sit four points behind the Bruins with a game in hand for the second wild card while Boston won its last five and can clinch a spot in the postseason with a regulation victory Tuesday.
Philadelphia at New Jersey 7:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia Flyers saw their second late-season surge in as many years derailed to find themselves on the wrong side of the playoff picture for the third time in five years. The Flyers look to pick up the pieces on Tuesday when they begin to play out the string against the host New Jersey Devils, who have missed the postseason in all five of those campaigns since advancing to the Stanley Cup final in 2012.
Columbus at Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins will be renewing acquaintances in the first round of the playoffs for the second time in four years if the current standings hold true for the remainder of the regular season. The Blue Jackets will look to put an end to their season-high three-game skid (0-2-1) and gain the upper hand in the bid for home-ice advantage in the potential first-round series on Tuesday when the Metropolitan Division rivals reconvene at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Washington at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
Rookie phenom Auston Matthews looks to extend his goal-scoring streak to six games and keep the Toronto Maple Leafs on course for an Eastern Conference playoff spot when they host the NHL-best Washington Capitals on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games after a 4-2 win at Buffalo on Monday and lead both Ottawa and Boston by one point for second place in the Atlantic Division.
Detroit at Ottawa 7:30 PM ET
The Ottawa Senators' slide continued Monday, but they still managed to climb a spot in the playoff race. Ottawa looks to end its five-game skid (0-3-2) when it hosts the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday in the finale of a home-and-home set.
Winnipeg at St. Louis 8:00 PM ET
The St. Louis Blues recorded at least one point in nine consecutive games entering Tuesday’s home contest against the Winnipeg Jets, and the third-place team in the Central Division wants to continue its late-season run. The Blues are 19-7-2 since Mike Yeo took over as coach and Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Nashville gives St. Louis a two-point lead over the Predators.
NY Islanders at Nashville 8:00 PM ET
Music City has provided many positive notes for the Nashville Predators, and many sour ones for the New York Islanders. After clinching a third consecutive playoff berth and 10th in the last 13 seasons, the Predators vie for their eighth win in their last nine home outings against the Islanders on Tuesday when the clubs meet at Bridgestone Arena.
Carolina at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
With their offense finally showing signs of life at Xcel Energy Center, the Minnesota Wild will play their final regular-season home game when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. Minnesota has scored five goals in each of its last two home games and can wrap up second place in the Central Division by beating Carolina.
Arizona at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The second-fewest points in the league certainly is nothing for a team to hang its collective hats on, but the Arizona Coyotes are trying to end the season with a positive vibe. The Coyotes attempt to match their longest winning streak of the season when they go for their third straight victory at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
Chicago at Colorado 9:00 PM ET
The Chicago Blackhawks are in the enviable position of resting players down the stretch a bit as they begin a regular season-ending three-game road trip Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche. Chicago already wrapped up home-ice advantage in the Western Conference playoffs and a meeting with the worst wild-card team in the first round, but Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said he doesn't want to see his players take their collective foot completely off the gas.
Calgary at Anaheim 10:00 PM ET
The Calgary Flames lost their last 26 games in Anaheim and try to halt that eye-popping slide while improving their playoff position when they visit the Ducks on Tuesday. Anaheim defeated Calgary 4-3 on Sunday in the first half of the home-and-home set to take a two-point lead over Edmonton in the Pacific while the Flames (92 points) trail third-place San Jose by three in the division and are battling St. Louis (93) and Nashville (91) for the top Western Conference wild card spot.
Edmonton at Los Angeles 10:30 PM ET
With their 11-year postseason drought officially ended, the Edmonton Oilers continue their pursuit of their first division title in 30 years on Tuesday when they open a three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton has been idle since winning its fifth straight with Saturday's 3-2 overtime triumph versus Anaheim, but the Pacific Division-leading Ducks moved two points ahead of the Oilers with a 4-3 victory over Calgary the following night.
Vancouver at San Jose 10:30 PM ET
After losing eight of their last nine games in March, the San Jose Sharks began the new month with a much-needed victory. But they paid a large price as Joe Thornton went down with a knee injury and will not play in the back end of the home-and-home series against the Vancouver Canucks in San Jose on Tuesday.