NHL Previews

With an 11-0-1 start to the season, it appeared the Vegas Golden Knights had avoided the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover. But that topic has resurrected itself lately. The Golden Knights have lost seven of their last nine games (2-7-0) heading into Saturday night’s game with the New York Islanders in Las Vegas. They have dropped into second place in the Pacific Division and sit just three points in front of the third-place Los Angeles Kings,

As the struggling Ottawa Senators visit Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers are riding a six-game winning streak and a 14-3-0 run that has them on the verge of vaulting into a playoff position. Two months ago, the Oilers sat 31st in the standings and fired coach Jay Woodcroft shortly after losing to the NHL’s last-place team, the San Jose Sharks. It would be easy to say Edmonton’s turnaround is solely due to stars Connor McDavid and

Just as the Dallas Stars are on the verge of getting one key player back from injury, they will be without another when they host the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen collided with his own goalie, Scott Wedgewood, on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche and left with an apparent knee injury early in the third period. Heiskanen, the team’s leading scorer among defensemen, did not return to witness the Stars

The Toronto Maple Leafs will go for three consecutive victories when they complete a three-game road trip Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, who have lost 10 straight. The Maple Leafs won the first two games of their trip — 3-0 over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday and 2-1 in overtime over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. The Sharks lost 2-1 at home to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday for their 10th consecutive loss

The Pittsburgh Penguins, who host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, appear to be making a push to get into a playoff position, and they are doing it heavily on the back of their 36-year-old captain. Pittsburgh has won four of its past five, is 8-2-1 in its past 11 games and is coming off a big win Thursday against one of the top teams in the league — thanks very much to center Sidney Crosby.

The Montreal Canadiens have a quest to make home a happy place again. As they prepare to play host to the New York Rangers on Saturday, the Canadiens are coming off a 6-1 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, leaving Montreal with only two victories in its last 11 home affairs (2-7-2). “(The) home record should be good,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki told Postmedia. “We definitely play well on the road, but we

It has not been an easy week for the Minnesota Wild. Amidst a four-game losing streak and a rash of injuries, the Wild hope to get back on track when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Minnesota is coming off a 4-1 setback against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, their fourth straight regulation defeat. While the streak is not the longest they’ve gone through this season, it is the longest stretch without

Nathan MacKinnon was the No. 1 overall pick in 2013, is a seven-time All-Star and has won a Stanley Cup. He has done everything possible on the ice to help his team win, but he has never won a Hart Trophy as the league MVP. That might change this year. MacKinnon is having a career year, especially at home, where has at least one point in all 20 games. He will try to extend it

Life on the road is suiting the Flames just fine as Calgary charges into Philadelphia with the Flames out to extend their winning streak to four games when they visit the Flyers for a Saturday matinee. Calgary doubled up the Nashville Predators 6-3 on Thursday for their third straight victory — matching a season best. The Flames have won six of their last eight games. Calgary is in the middle of a four-game road trip,