No team was more aggressive leading up to the trade deadline than the Columbus Blue Jackets, who added three key components that they hope will boost their position in the cluttered Eastern Conference. Locked in a multi-team battle for both third place in the Metropolitan Division and the two wild cards, Columbus will host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings share the same distinction of being labeled as last-place teams in their respective divisions, but the play of the former is producing significantly better results than that of the latter. Winners of 11 of their last 15 contests, the Blackhawks continue their California road trip on Saturday against a Kings club that is mired in a 10-game skid (0-6-4).

The Boston Bruins haven't failed to earn a point since their final game before the All-Star break, going 11-0-4 since falling to the New York Rangers on Jan. 19. They attempt to continue the streak and strengthen their hold on second place in the Atlantic Division when they continue a six-game homestand Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' offense stalled last time out after producing 17 goals during the team's three-game home winning streak. Toronto hopes to regain its form when it hosts the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

The Eastern Conference wild-card race is tightening up, and two of the contestants clash on Saturday as the Montreal Canadiens host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Montreal is two points ahead of Columbus for the top spot after posting a 4-2 road victory over the New York Rangers and hopes to record a third straight victory before embarking on a three-game trip to California.

Marc Crawford takes over as coach of the league-worst Ottawa Senators on Saturday night when they start a stretch of five road games in the next six against the NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning. Guy Boucher, who has led the Lightning and Senators within one win of the Stanley Cup finals, was fired in the middle of his third season with Ottawa on Friday after its sixth consecutive loss one day earlier against Edmonton.

The Carolina Hurricanes are performing like a playoff team and will put their red-hot streak to the test as five of their next six games are on the road, starting with a quick trip to the Sunshine State to take on the Florida Panthers on Saturday. The Hurricanes posted their fourth straight victory and seventh in eight games on Friday, a 5-2 triumph over St. Louis that moved them into third place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Arizona Coyotes hardly had the look of a playoff contender after dropping their first four games coming out of the All-Star break, but they have made a dramatic turnaround to surge into the thick of things for the two wild cards in the Western Conference. Arizona seeks a season-best sixth straight victory when they host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

The playoffs essentially have started for the Dallas Stars, who visit the St. Louis Blues on Saturday while precariously holding a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Dallas, Minnesota, Colorado and Arizona are battling for the two wild-card positions in the West while the Stars are five points behind St. Louis for third place in the Central Division after Thursday's 4-3 overtime victory in Los Angeles.

The Calgary Flames plan to honor the franchise's leader in goals and points when the team begins a two-game homestand playing, ironically, its best defensive hockey of the season. The Flames, who have allowed just one goal in four straight contests, look to make Jarome Iginla proud on Saturday as they attempt to push their season-high winning streak to eight games against the Minnesota Wild.