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At the Rink blog
Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 5:36 PM

By John Kreiser -  NHL.com Managing Editor /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Blue Jackets at Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Happily for the New York Islanders, their final regular-season game at Nassau Coliseum won't be the last time they take the ice at the only building they've ever called home.

The Islanders play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday in their last regular-season game before moving to Barclays Center in Brooklyn in the fall. But after advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three years, the Islanders are assured of at least two more games at the Coliseum when they play the Washington Capitals in an Eastern Conference First Round series.

New York locked up third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-1 victory at the Pittsburgh Penguinson Friday. The Islanders will have a chance to jump into second place with a victory after the Capitals lost 4-2 to the New York Rangers in an afternoon game.

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 4:57 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Oilers at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- For Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller it’s hard to imagine a better team to play against in his return from a knee injury than the Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; CBC).

Miller’s start against Edmonton on Saturday will be his first in almost seven weeks, and he has never lost to the Oilers in his career, going 11-0-0 with a .930 save percentage

It might be an important game for the Canucks.

If the Calgary Flames beat the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon, Vancouver needs at least one point against the Oilers to maintain home-ice advantage in the Western Conference First Round against Calgary. Coach Willie Desjardins said he wants two goalies ready for the playoffs so it’s just as important for Miller to get into a game.

"It would be tough on Ryan if he ended up playing in the playoffs without having played in so long," Desjardins said after a 5-0 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Vancouver did not skate Friday or Saturday.

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 4:32 PM

By Rick Sadowski  -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Blackhawks at Avalanche

DENVER -- The Chicago Blackhawks want to end the regular season on a positive note heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, regardless of their opponent in the Western Conference First Round.

The Blackhawks (48-27-6), who play the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on Saturday, would clinch the No. 3 seed in the Central Division with at least a point or if the Minnesota Wild lose to the St. Louis Blues.

Goalie Scott Darling will start against the Avalanche (38-31-12), who have won three of their past four games but have been eliminated from the postseason. They need a win to become the fifth team in the Central Division with at least 90 points.

The Blackhawks have lost three consecutive games, all by 2-1 scores. They've gone 0-for-11 on power plays in the past five games and allowed one power-play goal in three of the past four games.

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 3:44 PM

By Steve Gorten -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Devils at Panthers

SUNRISE, FL – After missing the past month with a groin injury, backup goalie Al Montoya will start the Florida Panthers' season finale Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

Roberto Luongo made 34 saves in a 4-2 win Thursday, finishing the season 28-19-12 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. Montoya is 5-7-2 with a 3.08 GAA and .888 save percentage in 19 games played.

"He battled back from that injury, so it's good he gets a chance to start," Panthers coach Gerald Gallant said.

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 2:51 PM

By Jerry Brown -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Ducks at Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Anaheim Ducks want to end the 2014-15 regular season on a high note and with the top seed in the Western Conference.

The Ducks would be the top seed in the Western Conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they defeat the Arizona Coyotes in regulation or overtime. They would also finish first if they defeat the Coyotes in a shootout and the St. Louis Blues fail to defeat the Minnesota Wild in regulation or overtime Saturday. Anaheim could still get the top seed with one point Saturday if the Blues lose to the Wild in regulation.

Anaheim also would like some positive momentum heading into the playoffs. They have lost two straight and were defeated 4-0 at home against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 2:16 PM

By Steve Hunt -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Predators at Stars

DALLAS -- When the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars meet Saturday at American Airlines Center, both teams will be missing key players.

Nashville (47-24-10, 104 points) has locked up second place in the Central Division, but the Predators will be without their top defensive pair against Dallas because Roman Josi and Shea Weber are both out with lower-body injuries.

The Predators have recalled defenseman Joe Piskula from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League to provide depth.

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 1:21 PM

By Corey Long -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Bruins at Lightning

TAMPA -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are still playing for a division title and the Boston Bruins are playing with the hopes that their season will not end at Amalie Arena on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN1, NESN).

Boston (41-27-13) trails the Pittsburgh Penguins by one point for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Bruins also trail the Ottawa Senators by two points for the first wild card and each spot is in play Saturday.

The Bruins will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Lightning in any fashion and either the Senators or Penguins lose in regulation. They would also qualify with a win over the Lightning and a Senators regulation loss and a Penguins loss in any fashion.

“We had a chance to control our destiny and now we don’t,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “Right now all we can control is our game [Saturday] against Tampa. We can’t worry about anything other than doing our job.”

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 1:09 PM

By Louie Korac -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Wild at Blues

ST. LOUIS -- Both the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues know they will be part of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when everything gets underway Wednesday.

Who they play and when is still to be determined.

The game Saturday between the Wild (46-27-8) and Blues (50-24-7) [3 p.m. ET; NBC] has more meaning for the Blues than it does Minnesota.

St. Louis still has a shot at the top seed in the Western Conference, but they need some help from the Arizona Coyotes, who play the Anaheim Ducks [9 p.m. ET].

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 12:57 PM

By Mike Brophy -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Canadiens at Maple Leafs

TORONTO -- The Montreal Canadiens will be looking to clinch first place in the Atlantic Division and home ice advantage in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs when the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVA).

Montreal can secure the Atlantic Division with a win or overtime loss against Toronto. If the Canadiens lose in regulation, the Tampa Bay Lightning could clinch the division, and the second seed in the Eastern Conference, with a win against the Boston Bruins.

“As a team you always want to get to the highest point in the standings as you possibly can and we have an opportunity to get even higher than we are right now,” said Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban. “I think we have played a lot of good hockey this year and of late we have done a good job paying attention to the details that are going to make us a better hockey team come the post-season.”

Posted On Saturday, 04.11.2015 / 12:38 PM

By Joe Yerdon -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Penguins at Sabres

BUFFALO -- The Pittsburgh Penguins will be looking to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when they face the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CITY, ROOT, MSG-B).

The Penguins are coming off a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday and can clinch a wild card berth in the postseason with a win in any fashion against the Sabres.

The Penguins can also qualify for the playoffs if they get one point against the Sabres and either the Ottawa Senators lose to the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation or the Boston Bruins fail to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in regulation or overtime, or if the Bruins lose to the Lightning in any fashion.

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