Preview Roundups
December 06, 2018
Detroit at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Auston Matthews told reporters that he's starting to feel like his old self following a shoulder injury that forced him to miss 14 games, a prognosis that is positive for the 21-year-old and extremely negative for potential opponents. Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs bid to keep streaking along on Thursday as they host the Detroit Red Wings in a battle of Original Six rivals.
Colorado at Florida 7:00 PM ET
Red-hot Jonathan Huberdeau looks to tie the franchise record for consecutive multi-point games and keep his Florida Panthers climbing in the Eastern Conference when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. Huberdeau registered at least two points in six straight games - 14 points overall - to pull within one of Hall of Famer Pavel Bure (2001) for the club record and the Panthers are 3-1-2 during that stretch.
Columbus at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
Scoring goals hasn't been too difficult a task of late for Cam Atkinson, who has pumped in 13 to go along with six assists during his career-best 11-game point streak. Although Atkinson set a franchise record with his sixth career hat trick in his last outing, the Blue Jackets were left shaking their head after being gouged for nine goals heading into Thursday's road tilt versus the Philadelphia Flyers.
NY Islanders at Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
The New York Islanders have successfully navigated the waters within the parameters of the Metropolitan Division far better than they have outside of it this season. Boasting a 10-2-0 mark in the division, the Islanders bid for their third win in as many meetings with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday when the clubs reconvene at PPG Paints Arena.
Montreal at Ottawa 7:30 PM ET
Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin are proving to be a formidable duo up front and they seek a second straight standout performance when the Montreal Canadiens go for a sweep in the home-and-home set against the host Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Domi and Drouin combined for three goals and three assists as the Canadiens pulled away for a 5-2 victory over Ottawa at home Tuesday for their second win in three games.
Boston at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Bruins may finally be feeling the effects of an injury-plagued roster and will try to manage a split in their swing through the Sunshine State when they visit the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night in an Atlantic Division battle. The Bruins have dropped two straight, including a 5-0 setback at Florida on Tuesday, with All-Star center Patrice Bergeron and three top-six defensemen unavailable.
Minnesota at Calgary 9:00 PM ET
Coming off their biggest offensive eruption in nearly eight years, the surging Calgary Flames take aim at the fourth consecutive victory when they host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. The Pacific Division-leading Flames are riding a five-game point streak (4-0-1) and capped off their latest victory with a nine-goal eruption in a victory at Columbus.
Washington at Arizona 9:00 PM ET
The Washington Capitals ascended to the top of the Metropolitan Division on the heels of a seven-game winning streak, but they have followed that up with back-to-back losses in which their defense has been repeatedly victimized. The Capitals will look to put a halt to their mini-slide when they continue their three-game road trip against the surging Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.
Nashville at Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
The Nashville Predators limp into Vancouver on Thursday to face the Canucks as they take a two-game trip through Western Canada with four key players on injured reserve. Nashville, though, remains in first place in the ultra-tough Central Division despite missing the exceptional services of Norris Trophy-winning defenseman P.K. Subban and center Kyle Turris (upper body), along with wingers Filip Forsberg (hand) and Viktor Arvidsson (thumb).
Chicago at Vegas 10:00 PM ET
The Vegas Golden Knights began the 2018-19 campaign with a Stanley Cup hangover, losing 11 of their first 18 games after reaching the Final in their inaugural season. They appear to have cleared the cobwebs as they seek their seventh win in eight contests when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
New Jersey at Los Angeles 10:30 PM ET
The New Jersey Devils have been solid at home and a disaster on the road, but the team's focus right now is to end a six-game slide that has sent them plummeting to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Having won only twice in 13 games away from home (2-10-1), New Jersey kicks off a three-game California road trip with a visit to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.