The Canadiens are on fire, winning five straight games and sitting at 38-30-9 with 85 points. That places them six points ahead of both the Red Wings and the Rangers heading into the matchup. A victory on home ice against Detroit would stretch their lead to eight points, all but eliminating the Red Wings from contention, considering Montreal has just four games left and Detroit five. Montreal forward Cole Caufield summed it up best: And lately, they have. At 36-33-7 with 79 points, Detroit trails Montreal by six points. But it’s not just about math. It’s about momentum—and the Red Wings are short on time. With five of their final six games on the road, including this one, the challenge

It’s do-or-die time for the Ottawa Senators, and the mission is clear: win Tuesday night in Columbus and clinch your first playoff berth in seven long seasons. Ottawa (42-29-6, 90 points) rolls into this game red-hot, riding a three-game win streak and fresh off back-to-back shutouts. But as they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets (34-33-9, 77 points), the Senators know that nothing’s guaranteed—especially with postseason hopes hanging in the balance. Let’s break down what’s at stake and what fans can expect from this pivotal matchup. Coming into this game, Ottawa is finally showing the consistency fans have been hoping for. After seven years without a playoff appearance, this team is looking to turn the page. Their most recent win? A

Fresh off a 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals, the New York Islanders head into Tuesday night’s showdown with the Nashville Predators brimming with both confidence and urgency. While Alexander Ovechkin made history with his record-breaking 895th career goal, the Islanders were focused on a far more pressing matter: securing two critical points in the Eastern Conference playoff race. “Kind of where we’re at, we needed the win,” said team captain Anders Lee, acknowledging the significance of both the occasion and the standings. Currently holding a 34-32-10 record with 78 points, the Islanders trail the Montreal Canadiens by seven points for the final wild-card slot in the East. Standing in their way are the New York Rangers and Detroit Red

The Dallas Stars (50-22-5, 105 points) are locked in a fierce battle for first place in the Western Conference, trailing the Winnipeg Jets by just three points with five games remaining. To stay in the hunt, the Stars need to halt their current two-game losing skid, beginning with a critical matchup against the Vancouver Canucks (35-29-13, 83 points). Dallas appeared to be peaking at the right time, coming off a seven-game winning streak, but recent losses to Pittsburgh (5-3) and Minnesota (3-2 OT) have disrupted their rhythm. In both defeats, the Stars struggled with discipline and execution—particularly on special teams. They’ve gone just 1-for-13 on the power play in their last four games and surrendered four power-play chances to the