WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Jets' push to earn the franchise's first berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2007 continues Thursday against the Florida Panthers.

The clubs meet at MTS Centre, where the Jets play the third game on their six-game homestand. They'll do so without defenseman Tobias Enstrom, who exited their 4-1 win Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres after a heavy hit from Steve Ott. Jets coach Claude Noel labeled Enstrom as day-to-day with what was termed a mid-body injury. Paul Postma will replace Enstrom.

Defenseman Mike Weaver (lower body) did not accompany the Panthers on their one-game trip to Winnipeg, but his return reportedly is imminent. Center Drew Shore has missed three games but could dress Thursday.

It is expected Jacob Markstrom will start in goal for the Panthers after a one-game respite Sunday. Ondrej Pavelec will make his 38th appearance for the Jets, ranking him second in the NHL to Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators.

Here are the projected lineups for the Panthers and Jets:

PHILADELPHIA -- Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean said there are no messages being sent by center Jean-Gabriel Pageau being called up from Binghamton of the American Hockey League and inserted into the lineup for the game Thursday at the Philadelphia Flyers.

"We're trying to put the best team on the ice to give us a chance to win the game," MacLean, whose team has lost six straight, said after the team's morning skate here at Wells Fargo Center. "Right now we're not winning games, so we need to find a better group to do that with and that's what this is about."

VOORHEES, N.J. -- A year ago Thursday, the Philadelphia Flyers were in Pittsburgh, preparing for Game 1 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Penguins.

If they have any hope of getting back to the postseason this year, they'll need what Flyers forward Scott Hartnell called an "epic" final nine games of the regular season, starting with their game Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators.

The Flyers are 12th in the Eastern Conference, seven points out of a playoff spot.

"We need to have an epic ending to the season," Hartnell said after practice Thursday morning. "Basically we need to win them all to have a chance. We need to get back to our winning ways. Hopefully we can come out here hard, lay it all out on the ice."

BUFFALO -- The Montreal Canadiens have a chance to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday and the players are well aware of that opportunity.

The Canadiens can qualify for the playoffs with a win against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center, or if they earn one point against the Sabres and the Florida Panthers defeat the Winnipeg Jets in any fashion Thursday.

"At the start of this season, your first goal is to get into the playoffs, and we have an opportunity tonight to reach that first goal," Canadiens alternate captain Josh Gorges said. "I think we have to understand and respect the importance of tonight's game and understand the opponent that we're facing too."

TAMPA -- Benoit Pouliot leads all Tampa Bay Lightning forwards with a plus-9 rating and has recorded three points (one goal and two assists) in the past three games he has played. Tom Pyatt ranks first among Lightning forwards with 33 blocked shots.

Both skaters, however, will be off the ice, scratched for the second consecutive game, when Tampa Bay faces the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night at Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Significant? Not to Lightning coach Jon Cooper.

"I wouldn't read too much into it about the guys that are scratched," Cooper said. "We're just caught between that, we're trying to win, we're trying to win, we're trying to win, but we are also trying to see what we have. What guys can handle this? What guys can play next year? It's tough to do; it's tough to balance."

BOSTON – Boston Bruins wing Brad Marchand’s health was being reassessed Thursday morning, coach Claude Julien said.

If Marchand, who was elbowed in the head by New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov on Wednesday night, is unable to play against the New York Islanders, the Bruins will be missing two-thirds of what’s been their most productive forward line this season.

Patrice Bergeron has been out since suffering a concussion April 2. He skated with the Bruins’ scratches during an optional morning skate at TD Garden. Tyler Seguin had been the other member of that line.

The Bruins should have Adam McQuaid back in the lineup for the first time since March 19, when he strained his shoulder.

Here are the projected lineups for the Bruins and Islanders:

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma told the media that defenseman Kris Letang will return to the lineup Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Letang has missed the past six games with a lower-body injury believed to be a broken toe. He is third among NHL defensemen with 28 points despite playing in 28 games.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Here is how the lines for the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild could look when the teams face off Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center:

Injured Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron is taking part in the team's optional morning skate Thursday at TD Garden.

Bergeron has missed the past four games with a concussion, but Wednesday, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli told a local radio station, 98.5 The Sports Hub, that Bergeron had begun working out and is "on his road to recovery."

In addition, Boston coach Claude Julien said injured forward Brad Marchand "was being reassessed by doctors this morning, so we'll have an update later today."

The Detroit Red Wings can create a little breathing room in their bid for a 22nd consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs berth if they can get past the San Jose Sharks on Thursday at Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings sit one point ahead of the ninth-place Phoenix Coyotes, who beat the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. The Red Wings are four points behind the fifth-place Sharks.

Here are the projected lineups for the Sharks and Red Wings: