NHL Previews

Following extended runs of success, both the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers have hit a snag. The Jets are out to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat Tuesday night against the Oilers, who have dropped two straight. From Feb. 10-March 19, Winnipeg (44-22-5) went 14-5-0. The Jets won three straight, including the first two stops last week – at Columbus and the New York Rangers — on a five-game road trip. But things took a turn

For the first time in several weeks, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves on the outside looking in for an Eastern Conference playoff berth. The red-hot Washington Capitals have passed them in pursuit of the second wild-card spot. Those two teams now look to settle their differences at Washington D.C., in a pivotal contest on Tuesday. Detroit (36-29-6, 78 points) is 3-9 since Feb. 29, falling one point behind Washington (35-26-9, 79 points). The Capitals,

Carolina Hurricanes winger Jake Guentzel makes his return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday to play against his original team, the Penguins, and one thing is certain: There will be a tribute video. Surely there will be emotion, but Guentzel, who was traded to Carolina less than three weeks ago, isn’t quite sure what to expect despite seeing such tributes for many other players over the years. “I don’t know,” Guentzel said. “It’s going to be interesting,

The Florida Panthers, led by newly minted 50-goal scorer Sam Reinhart, will host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday at Sunrise, Fla. Reinhart reached No. 50 on Sunday as he scored twice in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. In the Panthers’ 30 seasons in the NHL, their only other 50-goal scorer was Pavel Bure, who did it twice. Bure’s franchise record of 59 goals was set in 2000-01. “It’s a number I never thought

With a seven-game losing skid now put to bed, the Anaheim Ducks can turn their attention to the final dozen games of what has been a disappointing season. However, as Anaheim prepares to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night, the Pacific Division club can focus on a few bright spots as it starts looking to the future. The Ducks (24-43-3, 51 points) only have more points than the Chicago Blackhawks (45) and San

The Philadelphia Flyers will aim to extend their point streak to four games on Sunday when they host the Florida Panthers. The Flyers (36-26-9, 81 points) answered recent losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins by defeating both clubs this past week. They sandwiched one-goal wins over the Maple Leafs and Bruins around a 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. The 3-2 victory over Boston on Saturday afternoon was

The Edmonton Oilers were slow out of the blocks to begin their three-game road trip. After quickly finding themselves on the defensive against one Ontario-based team, the Edmonton Oilers (42-22-4, 88 points) will look for a faster start against the other on Sunday when they visit the Ottawa Senators (29-36-4, 62 points). Edmonton began its trek on Saturday by watching the Toronto Maple Leafs score the game’s first five goals in an eventual 6-3 decision.

Both the host Calgary Flames and the Buffalo Sabres are riding two-game losing skids but also clinging to the faintest of playoff hopes as they meet Sunday night. The Sabres (33-33-5, 71 points) sit seven points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, and have been all but done in by their five-game road swing that ends against the Flames. Buffalo opened the trip with a 4-1 loss to the

Two teams that have been mostly sharp as the NHL regular season nears the end will meet when the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes get together Sunday night in Raleigh, N.C. The Hurricanes (44-20-7, 95 points) have points in six consecutive games (5-0-1). Carolina’s 7-6 shootout loss Friday night at Washington stung because it seemed like several times the Hurricanes were in position to grab control of the game. “Every little bad bounce seemed