Vancouver have suffered an untimely dip in results but can get their bid for a wild card berth back on track by seeing off Buffalo. The Sabres are enjoying an upturn in fortunes but are all but out of the playoffs race and this is the kind of contest the Canucks must come through.
Chicago suffered a tough loss at Minnesota last night and that could take it out of them when entertaining Winnipeg at United Center. The Jets haven’t given up hope of sneaking into a wild card spot but can’t afford to let chances like this slip away from here on in.
Nashville and Toronto are both involved in fierce battles for a top-three finish in their respective divisions and a tight tussle is expected. Home advantage may just prove crucial, though, as the Predators are playing well at Bridgestone Arena and the Maple Leafs need to improve on the road.
Edmonton Oilers will look to make it five wins out of five in their current homestand when they welcome the New Jersey Devils to Rogers Place. New Jersey’s play-off hopes have long since been over, as they have slipped to the foot of the Metropolitan Division.
Calgary are hard to oppose as they bid to continue their hot streak on home ice by brushing aside Buffalo. The Sabres have had some decent results recently but must back-up here after being mauled 6-1 by Edmonton last night, so the odds are stacked against them.
Winnipeg will look for a third straight victory to keep the pressure on in the race for a Western Conference wild card place when hosting Boston. The Bruins are in a battle of their own to try and climb into the top three in the Atlantic Division and secure an automatic spot in the post-season.
Vancouver are just outside the wild card berths in the Western Conference and really need to beat teams like Detroit at home to move up. The Red Wings are having a disappointing season and have currently gone six games without a win, picking up just one point in those matches.
Edmonton have enhanced their hopes of a top-three finish in the Pacific Division with a hat-trick of home wins and can now see off Buffalo. The Sabres have also been in fine form this month but may just find it hard to get up for this after their Heritage Classic success last time out.
Montreal upset Dallas 5-3 in Texas when on a miserable run in January, so look a value bet to repeat the feat now in much better shape. The Stars are bang in contention to qualify for the playoffs but have suffered from travel sickness at times this term and are worth taking on.
Toronto and Carolina are both heading for the playoffs and have been in solid form of late, so a close encounter is on the cards. Their last head-to-head meeting went to overtime at this venue just over five weeks ago, when the Maple Leafs shaded a 4-3 success.
Calgary should prove too strong for New Jersey at fortress Saddledome but the visitors are playing well enough to have their moments. It was 5-3 in favour of the Flames when these teams met at Prudential Center earlier this season and another entertaining encounter is expected.
Edmonton are involved in a tight battle for a top-three finish in the Pacific Division and should see off struggling Detroit on home ice. The Red Wings arrive at Rogers Place without a win in five outings, with any slim hopes of making the playoffs dwindling with each defeat.
Vancouver will be looking to avenge last month’s 7-2 thrashing in New Jersey when these teams meet again at Rogers Arena. That blip came during a 6-1-0 hot streak for the Canucks and we’re expecting a different outcome in Canada, with the Devils noted as poor travellers.
Two teams who have recently turned their seasons around will compete at Centre Bell and we’re expecting a cracker between Montreal and Arizona. The Canadiens are 8-2-1 over their last 11 games, while the Coyotes have won five of six fixtures, with each side scoring heavily.