The Florida Panthers are hoping to build on successive wins against the 2015 Stanley Cup finalists when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. on Tuesday (7:30 p.m., ET; TSN4, FS-F).

Florida defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 on Friday and followed that with a 5-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. They are looking for a third straight win to complete a four-game homestand heading into the All-Star break.

"We don't overlook anyone," Panthers coach Gerard Gallant told the Miami Herald. "We're the Florida Panthers. We're in first place because we play well most nights. But any team in the League can beat you. Toronto is a good team.

"We had a great weekend. But hey, that's over with. It's going to be a battle and we have to be ready to take that game. Don't pack your bags for vacation just yet."

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Chris Kunitz was a late scratch Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks at Consol Energy Center (12:30 p.m. ET; SN, ROOT).

Kunitz had been questionable with a lower-body injury, but the Penguins announced Saturday morning he would be in the lineup. He had played in all 46 games for the Penguins this season, scoring eight goals and 18 points.

Forward Conor Sheary will play in place of Kunitz.

The Dallas Stars likely will get forward Ales Hemsky and defenseman Jordie Benn back in the lineup when they visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday (10 p.m. ET; SN, PRIME, FS-SD, FS-SW+).

Hemsky has missed the past six games with a lower-body injury; Benn has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury. Each practiced this week; the Stars have not played since Saturday.

"Feeling good. It's good to get back on the ice and skate with the fellas," Benn told the Stars website earlier this week. "I just needed that couple days just to do a little rehab and get some rest and back to normal [before Friday]."

Catch up on the latest NHL news right here each day. Be sure to check out our ICYMI blog every Monday through Friday.

NEWS:

Standings increase fervor of Rangers-Islanders rivalry
The next chapter of the rivalry between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders comes Thursday at Barclays Center.

Canucks goalie Miller back in starter's role vs. Capitals
Goaltender Ryan Miller will be in net when the Vancouver Canucks begin their six-game road trip Thursday against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center.

Oilers' McLellan returns to San Jose to face Sharks
Taylor Hall scored with 1:01 left in overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 9. Hall, Jordan Eberle, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a goal and an assist for Edmonton; Patrick Marleau and Justin Braun had a goal and an assist for San Jose.

Stastny returns to Blues lineup against Hurricanes 
Center Paul Stastny will be in the lineup for the St. Louis Blues when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

Blackhawks' Quenneville eyes milestone at Canadiens
Joel Quenneville has his first opportunity to become the second-winningest coach in NHL history on Thursday when the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.

Catch up on the latest NHL news right here each day. Be sure to check out our ICYMI blog every Monday through Friday.

NEWS:

Canadiens goalie Price skates for third straight day
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price was on the ice for a third straight day Wednesday as he continues his recovery from a lower-body injury that has sidelined him since Nov. 25.

Maple Leafs give Matthias chance vs. Blue Jackets
Forward Shawn Matthias hopes the opportunity to skate on the Toronto Maple Leafs top line will allow him to kick start his season from an offensive perspective.

Hiller gets rare start for Flames against Panthers
Goaltender Jonas Hiller will make his first start in over a month when the Calgary Flames host the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.

Schultz to play in 1,000th game as Flyers host Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Schultz will play his 1,000th NHL game Wednesday when the Boston Bruins visit Wells Fargo Center.

Kopitar, Kings in final stages of new contract: report
Forward Anze Kopitar and the Los Angeles Kings are in the final stages of completing an eight-year, $80 million contract, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Wednesday.

Catch up on the latest NHL news right here each day. Be sure to check out our ICYMI blog every Monday through Friday.

NEWS:

Ovechkin, Mrazek and Barrie named stars of week
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Jan. 10.

Rangers forward Kreider back in lineup to face Bruins
New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider will play against the Boston Bruins on Monday after missing the past two games with a right hand injury. Kreider had a laceration on his hand that could not be stitched because of a risk of infection.

Maple Leafs' van Riemsdyk out with broken foot
Forward James van Riemsdyk is expected to miss 6-8 weeks because of a non-displaced fracture in his left foot, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced Monday.

Blues' Allen, two defensemen sidelined with injuries
The St. Louis Blues will be without their No. 1 goaltender and two of their top four defensemen when they face the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

Panthers aim for 13th straight win vs. Canucks
The Florida Panthers defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 in a shootout at BB&T Center on Dec. 20. Jaromir Jagr had a goal and an assist for Florida. Jannik Hansen had a goal and an assist for Vancouver.

Three of the top 2016 NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the United States Hockey League, forwards Max Zimmer of Chicago, William Knierim of Dubuque and defenseman Andrew Peeke of Green Bay, highlight a list of 40 players invited to the 2016 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

The USHL released the rosters for Team East and Team West on Monday in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting. The game will be played Tuesday at Ralston Arena in Omaha, Neb.

The 2016 game will be the fourth USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, following a record-setting 2015 NHL Draft that saw 37 USHL players selected.

Forward Alex Ovechkin will try to become the 43rd player in NHL history to score 500 goals when the Washington Capitals play the Ottawa Senators at Verizon Center on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVA Sports, CSN-DC).

Ovechkin scored twice Saturday, including the game-winner in overtime, in Washington's 4-3 victory against the New York Rangers to reach 499 goals. He has 24 goals in 40 games this season.

"I think we talked about this when he was chasing [Sergei] Fedorov's record [for most goals by a Russian player]," Capitals coach Barry Trotz told MonumentalNetwork.com. "Our fans, the people that have supported him for so long, they've seen a lot of his goals, a lot of his celebrations. It would only be fitting if he could get it done at home. He's got a chance to do that [Sunday]. I don't think he's nervous about it or anything like that. I think he was more nervous about chasing Fedorov down."

Ovechkin will try to score No. 500 against Senators goalie Andrew Hammond, who he never has scored against.

Defenseman David Schlemko and forward Tyler Kennedy will return to the New Jersey Devils lineup against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN).

Schlemko (lower body) and Kennedy (upper body) each missed the past two games, and along with forward Joseph Blandisi, they will fortify a Devils lineup missing five players because of injuries.

Blandisi, recalled from Albany of the American Hockey League on Saturday after forward Jiri Tlusty was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, will play to the left of center Adam Henrique and right wing Lee Stempniak on the second line. He has seven goals and 22 points in 24 games for Albany.

"We feel like he did a nice job at center and wing, but we liked his game in Buffalo [Dec. 15] when he was on the wing," Devils coach John Hynes told Northjersey.com. "Even the versatility to have him in the lineup where we might even use him at center at some times tonight (helps), but we'd like to see him with Henrique and Stempniak and see what he can do there."

Catch up on the latest NHL news right here each day. Be sure to check out our ICYMI blog every Monday through Friday.

NEWS:

Jones to debut with Blue Jackets visiting Hurricanes
Defenseman Seth Jones will make his much-anticipated Columbus Blue Jackets debut against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.

Johansen to make Predators debut against Avalanche
Center Ryan Johansen, who was acquired Wednesday from the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Seth Jones, will make his Nashville Predators debut against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on Friday.

Stars sign general manager Nill to five-year extension
Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill has signed a five-year contract extension, the Stars announced Friday.

Injures force Devils to turn to AHL call-ups vs. Bruins
The New Jersey Devils will have a new look against the Boston Bruins at Prudential Center on Friday.

Flyers defenseman Gostisbehere out vs. Islanders
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere will not play Saturday against the New York Islanders because of a lower-body injury, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said Friday.