There are 11 games on the NHL schedule Thursday, 10 with playoff implications.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SN360, NESN, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Bruins (57-12-5) can lock up the Presidents' Trophy and set a new team record for wins in a season by defeating the Blue Jackets at TD Garden. Columbus (23-43-7) has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Panthers (37-31-7) are one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky did not play against Toronto because of a non-COVID illness. He went to Montreal on Wednesday and could play at Bell Centre. The Canadiens (30-39-6) have been eliminated from postseason contention.
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Devils (46-20-8) have a two-point lead on the Rangers (44-20-10) for second place in the Metropolitan Division. New Jersey is three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first; New York is five back. The Rangers are 9-1-1 in their past 11 games and can move into a second place tie with a regulation win at Prudential Center. The Devils are 2-4-2 in their past eight games.
Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Penguins (36-28-10) are trying to hold onto the second wild card from the East. They are one point ahead of the Panthers. The Predators (37-28-8), coming off a 2-1 win at the Bruins on Tuesday, are three points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference with two games in hand.
Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Senators (36-33-5) are five points behind the Penguins for the second wild card from the East and will be without defenseman Thomas Chabot potentially for the rest of the regular season. Chabot sustained an upper-body injury in the third period of a 5-2 win against the Panthers on Monday. The Flyers (29-32-12) have won four straight games but are 12 points out of a playoff spot with nine games to play.
Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Lightning (43-26-6) are six points behind the Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division. Toronto has a game in hand. The Capitals (34-32-9) are five points behind the Penguins for the second wild card in the East with seven games to play after losing 2-1 in a shootout to the New York Islanders on Wednesday.
Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW)
The Hurricanes (47-17-9) are trying to hold onto first place in the Metropolitan Division. They can stay at least three points ahead of the Devils with a win. They can also move four or five points ahead of New Jersey with a win and a Devils loss to the Rangers. The Red Wings (32-32-9) are nine points out of a playoff spot with nine games to play.
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kings (43-21-10) are second in the Pacific Division with 96 points in 74 games, one more point in one fewer game than the Oilers (43-23-9). They each trail the Vegas Golden Knights, who have 98 points in 74 games. Edmonton will move into second place in the Pacific with a regulation win.
Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN360, SN NOW)
A win and the Kraken (40-25-8) would inch closer to their first playoff berth. Seattle is in position to be the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference with 88 points in 73 games. They are three points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets, who hold the second wild card, and five points ahead of the Calgary Flames. The Ducks (23-41-10) have lost five in a row and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Golden Knights (46-22-6) can clinch a playoff berth and stay in first place in the Pacific Division with a win against the Sharks (20-39-15). San Jose played spoiler with a 3-0 win against Winnipeg on Tuesday, ending a nine-game losing streak (0-6-3). The Sharks have been eliminated from playoff contention.
