The top 10 teams in the Eastern Conference are all in action on Thursday night, as are two teams right on the Western Conference bubble.
Montreal at Winnipeg: The only 100-point team in the NHL battles a Jets team that’s holding onto the last wild card in the West.
Nashville at Tampa Bay: Two teams battling for the top seed in their divisions and the NHL overall. The Preds could move into first in the West with a win and some help; ditto the Lightning in the East.
San Jose at Detroit: Eh, not the most important game, considering the plight of the Sharks, but the Wings need to find their footing before the playoffs.
NY Rangers at Ottawa: Oh, just a team on a miracle run to the playoffs against one of the top teams in the NHL. Henrik Lundqvist returns, but will ride the pine.
LA Kings at NY Islanders: The streaking Kings can be in third in the Pacific with a win; the Islanders are trying to maintain home ice in the first round.
Pittsburgh at Carolina: The Penguins are trying to catch the Islanders and keep ahead of the Capitals.
New Jersey at Washington: The Caps are an equal number of points behind the Penguins for third in the Metro and ahead of the Sens on the playoff bubble. They’re not out of the woods yet.
Anaheim at Boston: The Bruins face a reeling Ducks team, trailing the Sens by a point for the final wild card.
Florida at Toronto: The Cats try to put a huge loss to the Lightning behind them and try to catch the Sens and Bruins.