NHL Previews

A run of deficient defensive performances is threatening to undo a quick start for the New Jersey Devils. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets are hoping the worst is over after their most productive showing of the first two months. The Devils attempt to stay over .500 on Friday afternoon in Newark, N.J., when they host the Blue Jackets, who are seeking consecutive wins for the second time this season. New Jersey began the season 6-2-1

The NHL-leading Boston Bruins return to work following the Thanksgiving holiday when they host a matinee Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. The Bruins (14-1-3, 31 points) blew multiple leads in Monday’s 5-4 overtime loss at Tampa Bay before finishing their two-game trip with a 3-1 victory Wednesday win against the Florida Panthers. Boston passed Vegas for the top spot in the overall NHL standings with the victory, becoming the fourth team in 30 years

Toronto’s William Nylander and his Maple Leafs teammates have returned from Sweden with a pair of wins following the Global Series — a productive trip that had the young Swede leaving a stamp on his homeland in the process. The smooth-skating Nylander will be back at it on Black Friday as he leads his team into Chicago as Toronto finishes its two-game season series with the Blackhawks. But what a week it’s been for Nylander.

Perhaps the Seattle Kraken should reschedule and spend Thanksgiving on the road. Or maybe they should just wait until the final seconds of the third period to take a lead. The Kraken, who will play host to the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, are just 3-5-1 at home this season and have blown leads in 17 of their past 18 games. The latest came Monday night against Calgary, when they coughed up a one-goal

The Colorado Avalanche received a clear reminder last game about the importance of playing until the final buzzer. As the Avalanche prepare to play host to the Vancouver Canucks in Denver on Wednesday, they are coming off a shocking 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators. Just as the Avalanche appeared destined to run their winning streak to four games, the Predators scored a pair of goals 16 seconds apart in the final minute of regulation

Just when it seemed as if the Edmonton Oilers finally had found a rhythm, they might be amid another slide. The Oilers likely won’t have an easy time avoiding a third straight defeat Wednesday night in Raleigh, N.C., where the Carolina Hurricanes have been nearly unbeatable this season. Edmonton owned a 2-9-1 record before winning three straight from games. However, the Oilers again are headed in the wrong direction after allowing 11 goals in consecutive

To say things have been better for the Columbus Blue Jackets would be an understatement. After a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday dropped them to 0-7-2 in their past nine games, the Blue Jackets return home to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday, hoping to avoid a franchise-record 10th straight setback. While the Blue Jackets will be on two days of rest for the first time since Nov. 8, they are the

The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Boston Bruins Monday night knowing they have finally conquered one of their biggest nemeses this season — the third period. On Saturday afternoon, the Lightning spotted the Edmonton Oilers a 2-0 lead in the first period but rallied back, eventually winning 6-4 to break a three-game home losing streak. In the win, coach Jon Cooper’s team beat the dreaded third period, which had been an enormous hurdle to overcome,

The Anaheim Ducks will seek a faster start on Sunday night when they continue their four-game homestand against the St. Louis Blues. The Ducks struggled through the first two periods during their 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Friday. They nearly tied the game with 8:49 remaining on Jakob Silfverberg’s apparent wraparound goal, but the tally was nullified following a video review. “We weren’t very good, let’s be honest. The first couple periods, we