NHL Previews

The Columbus Blue Jackets are trying to gain traction, but they could run into a team far ahead of them on that count Tuesday when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit. The Penguins, after a stutter-step start, will be riding a four-game winning streak — including two shutouts — going into the game. After sweeping a three-game road trip through California, Pittsburgh stopped home for a game Saturday and turned in a performance that seemed to key

The Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins play another Atlantic Division rival for the first time this season when they conclude a two-game road trip against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. Even after being bolstered by defenseman Charlie McAvoy’s return from his four-game, NHL-issued suspension and Pavel Zacha scoring 36 seconds in, the Bruins suffered their second straight blemish against a divisional foe with Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss at Montreal. Although the loss was only Boston’s

The New York Rangers’ goaltending situation is uncertain due to Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick recovering from minor injuries, but the scheduling is working favorably for the surging club. With five full days off before their next game, the Rangers could turn to Louis Domingue again Sunday when they host Columbus Blue Jackets. Domingue made his season debut Thursday and provided the Rangers with ample evidence of his capabilities by making 14 of his 25

Two teams playing the second game of back-to-backs meet Sunday night when the Vancouver Canucks visit the Montreal Canadiens. The Canucks saw their five-game winning streak snapped in a 5-2 loss at Toronto on Saturday. The Canadiens, in turn, opened a four-game homestand with a 3-2 overtime upset of the Boston Bruins. Defenseman Kaiden Guhle, who also had an assist, scored on a rebound at 2:13 of overtime to give Montreal its first win against

The Dallas Stars will go for their third straight victory when they visit the Minnesota Wild on Sunday evening in St. Paul, Minn. Dallas just notched road wins against the Winnipeg Jets and the Columbus Blue Jackets in the past three days. The Stars have won nine of their first 13 games and are in first place in the Western Conference’s Central Division. Stars coach Peter DeBoer likes what he is seeing from his team

Rookie defenseman Uvis Balinskis is trying to make the most of his opportunity. With veteran defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour out due to injuries, Balinskis is expected to be in the lineup once again on Sunday afternoon when his Florida Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks. Balinskis, a 27-year-old native of Latvia, scored his first NHL goal on Friday as Florida recorded its third straight win with a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. “It’s

The Los Angeles Kings carry an eight-game point streak into Saturday night’s game against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers, but the hosts don’t necessarily have a home-ice advantage. It will be the third game in four nights for Los Angeles, which is a perfect 7-0-0 on the road this season but has managed just one win in six games (1-2-3) at Crypto.com Arena. That’s one fewer home win than the woeful San Jose Sharks. “I don’t

Two surging teams clash Saturday night when the Buffalo Sabres visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. Buffalo will be playing on successive nights after posting a 3-2 home win against the Minnesota Wild on Friday. The Sabres are 4-1-1 in their past six games, although they didn’t feel as though they were overly dominant in the latest contest. JJ Peterka gave Buffalo a 3-1 lead early in the third, but Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek scored more than

The New York Islanders won’t have to look far Saturday night for proof that an early lull doesn’t have to define a season. Still, they are running out of time to prove their first impression isn’t the lasting one. The Islanders will look to snap out of their third-period doldrums and end a three-game losing streak Saturday night when they oppose the Washington Capitals in Elmont, N.Y. The Islanders’ latest setback was a 5-2 defeat