Desperate Bruins need wins over Sabres

The Boston Bruins' pursuit of a playoff berth continues in front of a nationally television audience as part of the NHL's nine-game schedule on Thursday night.

Boston, now just one point ahead of the New York Rangers for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference, hosts the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden at 7 p.m. ET. Buffalo clinched the Northeast Division on Tuesday night, but is still vying with the New Jersey Devils for the No. 2 seed. The game can be seen on Versus in the U.S.

Four more games get under way at 7:30 ET. In a game that can be seen on TSN and RDS in Canada, the Montreal Canadiens can clinch a playoff berth against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Center. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins play their final regular-season game at Mellon Arena against the New York Islanders on the NHL Network in the U.S.

Also, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Ottawa Senators, while the Devils visit the Florida Panthers.

At 8:30 p.m. ET, the Dallas Stars face the Anaheim Ducks at the American Airlines Center in what could be the final home game for Stars' center Mike Modano, the highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history. The Calgary Flames -- who were eliminated from postseason contention on Tuesday -- battle the Minnesota Wild at the Pengrowth Saddledome at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The final two games get under way at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings battle for playoff seeding against the Phoenix Coyotes at the Staples Center, while the San Jose Sharks, vying for first place in the West, take on the Vancouver Canucks at HP Pavilion.

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