Lightning look to gain in Atlantic Division race
Goaltender Schneider returns for Devils
by Corey Long / NHL.com Correspondent
DEVILS (37-33-8) at LIGHTNING (44-28-5)
TV: 7 p.m. ET; MSG+, SUN, NHL.TV
TAMPA -- The Tampa Bay Lightning would move closer to clinching a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at Amalie Arena.
Predators' Hutton to start against Sharks
Nashville's backup goalie gets call, will face San Jose
by Robby Stanley / NHL.com Correspondent
SHARKS (43-29-6) at PREDATORS (39-26-13)
TV: 8 p.m. ET; CSN-CA, FS-TN, NHL.TV
NASHVILLE -- The San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators will be gearing up for the Stanley Cup Playoffs when they play at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.
Red Wings look to gain in tight playoff race
Maple Leafs aim to derail Detroit bid for 25th consecutive season in playoffs
by Mike Brophy / NHL.com Correspondent
RED WINGS (39-28-11) AT MAPLE LEAFS (28-38-11)
TV: 7 p.m. ET: NHLN, CBC, CITY
TORONTO - The Detroit Red Wings will continue their push toward making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 25th consecutive season when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Saturday.
Flames, Oilers meet at Rexall Place for final time
Battle of Alberta will move to Rogers Place next season
by Derek Van Diest / NHL.com Correspondent
FLAMES (32-40-6) at OILERS (30-42-7)
TV: 10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, NHL.TV
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames will play the final Battle of Alberta at Rexall Place on Saturday.
Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is expected to be back in the lineup after missing the past three games with a concussion.
Etem's late goal lifts Canucks past Ducks
Loss prevents Anaheim from regaining first place in Pacific
by Abbey Mastracco / NHL.com Correspondent
ANAHEIM -- Emerson Etem scored the tiebreaking goal against his former team with 6:37 remaining in the third period to give the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday at Honda Center.
The loss prevented the Ducks (43-25-10) from retaking first place in the Pacific Division. They trail the Los Angeles Kings by one point.
Coyotes host Capitals in home finale
Backstrom could return for Washington; Ekman-Larrson, Hanzal are day-to-day for Arizona
NHL.com
CAPITALS (55-16-6) at COYOTES (34-36-7)
TV: 10 p.m. ET; CSN-DC, FS-A, NHL.TV
Season series: Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist for the Washington Capitals in a 3-2 victory against the Arizona Coyotes at Verizon Center on Feb. 22. Braden Holtby made 25 saves for Washington, allowing goals by Kevin Connauton and Connor Murphy.
Red Wings can move into playoff spot with win
Detroit would be third in Atlantic with victory vs. Minnesota, plus Boston regulation loss
by Paul Harris / NHL.com Correspondent
WILD (38-29-11) at RED WINGS (38-28-11)
TV: 7:30 p.m., ET; FS-N, FS-D+, NHLN-US
DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings can move into third place in the Atlantic Division with a win against the Minnesota Wild at Joe Louis Arena on Friday.
Duchene returns to Avalanche lineup vs. Capitals
Colorado's leading scorer back after knee injury; Washington's Backstrom won't play
by Rick Sadowski / NHL.com Correspondent
CAPITALS (54-16-6) at AVALANCHE (39-34-4)
TV: 9 p.m. ET; ALT, CSN-DC, NHL.TV
DENVER -- Center Matt Duchene will return to the Colorado Avalanche lineup Friday against the Washington Capitals at Pepsi Center after missing six games with a knee injury.
Ducks look to get back in first place
Host Canucks, can pass idle Kings for first in Pacific
by Abbey Mastracco / NHL.com Correspondent
CANUCKS (28-36-13) at DUCKS (43-23-10)
TV: 10 p.m. ET; SNP, FS-SD, PRIME, NHL.TV
ANAHEIM -- With six games remaining in the regular season, the Anaheim Ducks have suddenly been hit hard with injuries and illnesses. Goaltender Frederik Andersen (concussion), forward Rickard Rakell (appendicitis) and defenseman Hampus Lindholm (illness) were all ruled out for the game Friday against the Vancouver Canucks and forward David Perron will be sidelined into the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a separated shoulder sustained March 20.
Blackhawks move van Riesmdyk to top defense pair
Will play with Hjalmarsson against Jets with Keith out; Seabrook returns
by Patrick Williams / NHL.com Correspondent
BLACKHAWKS (44-26-7) at JETS (31-39-7)
TV: 8 p.m. ET; CSN-CH, TSN3, NHL.TV
WINNIPEG -- The Chicago Blackhawks will be without defenseman Duncan Keith when they visit the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre on Friday.
The NHL suspended Keith indefinitely for a match penalty in a 4-1 road loss against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Spreading out Keith's workload will be a test for Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville; Keith's average ice time of 25:14 leads the team. Trevor van Riemsdyk will replace Keith on Chicago's top defensive pairing with Niklas Hjalmarsson.