CHICAGO -- Ray Emery missed a second day of practice for the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson and Michal Rozsival also sat out for what Chicago coach Joel Quenneville called "maintenance days," as the Blackhawks begin to rest some players following Wednesday's night's clinching of the Western Conference crown while they were idle.

The Columbus Blue Jackets defeating the Anaheim Ducks in overtime Wednesday night assured Chicago of the conference's top spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Quenneville wants a healthy team heading into the postseason. Corey Crawford likely will make the start Friday night at United Center against the Nashville Predators, and goalie Carter Hutton was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Thursday to replace Emery.

"I think at this time we want to make sure we're smart about rest and whether these are … maybe they're small enough [issues] that they could become bigger, and we have that luxury of making sure they are more preventive than anything," Quenneville said. "Corey's been going as well as Ray has, so it's been a fortunate situation with goaltending decision this year."

TORONTO -- John Tavares sat in his stall Thursday morning inside the visitors dressing room at Air Canada Centre answering question after question about his rise to prominence and the New York Islanders' potential to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

That's the way it is when a player is a blossoming superstar who has been in the public eye since he was a teenager. And that's the way it is when that player returns home as a legitimate Hart Trophy candidate.

For Tavares, 22, playing in Toronto has always been special. Having grown up Oakville, Ontario, just a few miles west of the city, he welcomes the opportunity to play in front of friends and family -- the people who helped him in his journey to make it to the NHL. This game, though, has special meaning because for the first time in his young professional career, he is playing on a team that appears destined to make the playoffs.

"I think it's always fun playing here, but the fact we're in a playoff race and I'm playing in front of so many people that have helped me along the way gives this game special meaning," Tavares admitted. "The first couple of games I played in Toronto earlier in my career were a little nutty. There were so many people who wanted to see me. Now we're in a bit of a routine, and to be truthful, my parents look after getting tickets to people more than me."

The United States, which is seeking a fifth straight gold medal at the tournament, suffered a 4-3 setback to host Russia when Vladimir Tkachyov scored with 1:54 left in third period at Bolshoy Ice Dome in a Group A preliminary-round matchup.

The Americans pulled into a 3-3 tie when captain J.T. Compher scored a shorthanded goal 11:14 into the third. The play began when United States forward Tyler Motte stole the puck at the top of the U.S. blue line and skated into the neutral zone with Compher, before the latter got the pass, skated into the Russian end and beat goalie Igor Shestyorkin (34 saves) with a shot under his arm.

As NHL teams make a final push for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs or jockey for seeding, NHL Network will air a tripleheader Saturday -- and each game has postseason implications.

The Boston Bruins will try to move closer to the Northeast Division title and second seed in the Eastern Conference when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit TD Garden (12:30 p.m. ET). The game was postponed from Friday due to events surrounding the Boston Marathon bombings from earlier in the week.

DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche began the season with high hopes after making a serious run for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2011-12, a season in which they had 11 more wins and 20 more points than in 2010-11.

So much for great expectations -- the Avalanche regressed badly and will miss the playoffs for the third year in a row and fifth time in seven seasons.

The Avalanche figured to better with a roster that included Calder Trophy winner Gabriel Landeskog, who became the youngest team captain in NHL history at age 19 in September; free-agent signee PA Parenteau, who was coming off a career-high 67-point season with the New York Islanders; forwards Steve Downie and Jamie McGinn, who played so well down the stretch in 2011-12 after being acquired in late-season deals; and goalies Semyon Varlamov and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who had stabilized what has been an unsettled situation in net since Patrick Roy retired in 2003.

Instead, the Avalanche have spent a good chunk of the season trying to avoid finishing last in the Western Conference and the worst record in the League, a far cry from the team's glory days when it was a perennial Stanley Cup contender. Giguere was so frustrated in April with teammates' effort and attitude that he criticized them in public, saying, "Some guys are more worried about their Vegas trip at the end of the season than playing the games."

This was not a night when a hockey story unfolded around a game; it was a night when an emotional, tragic, heart-wrenching, yet uplifting story about a wounded city and country unfolded around a hockey game.

They call it Boston Strong.

Boston was strong -- in every sense of the phrase -- Wednesday night at TD Garden, epitomizing the spirit that has indelibly linked those words together since the previously unthinkable occurred on Monday at the end of a 26.2-mile journey called the Boston Marathon. In Boston, like nowhere else, the day of the marathon is one filled with joy, but festive feelings were shattered after two bombs exploded at the finish line, killing three and injuring nearly 200 more.

"We all knew that [Wednesday night] was more than just another game," Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference said.

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers entered the 2012-13 season coming off the first division title in franchise history and a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after an 11-year absence, but many observers expected them to take a step back.

Few could have expected the step back would be this big.

Ravaged by injuries, the Panthers went from winning the Southeast Division to finding themselves with the worst record in the NHL heading into the final 10 days of the regular season.

The problems started early, as the Panthers followed a victory in the season opener with five consecutive losses. They appeared to get back on track by going 3-0-1 in their next four games, but that was followed by another five-game losing streak and the Panthers never got to the .500 mark again this season.

Despite the disappointment, general manager Dale Tallon remains optimistic about the direction of the franchise, which is why he refrained from dealing veteran players -- except for fourth-line center Jerred Smithson -- at the NHL Trade Deadline.

The 2012-13 season is racing toward the finish line. In fact, the regular season ends Sunday, April 28. Although the finish line is clearly in sight, the Stanley Cup Playoffs qualification picture is far less clear. To help make sense of the numerous permutations that exist for the playoffs, NHL.com's Playoff Push Primer looks at some of the biggest movers and shakers among the postseason hopefuls.

Teams that clinched Wednesday: Boston Bruins

Teams that can clinch Thursday: In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs can clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the New York Islanders in regulation or overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Winnipeg Jets in any fashion, or if they defeat the Islanders in a shootout and the Hurricanes defeat the Jets in regulation. In the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks can clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Dallas Stars in any fashion.

We're less than two weeks away from the conclusion of the 2012-13 NHL season, so your fantasy hockey team is either battling for a championship or reflecting on the year that was.

As always, our team of fantasy insiders has you covered.

NHL.com fantasy experts get together Thursday, Apr. 18 at 2:30 p.m. ET for the final Google+ hangout of the season to answer all your questions and dish out their picks for positional fantasy awards, including overall MVP.

PITTSBURGH -- Montreal Canadiens rookie wing Brendan Gallagher gingerly went off the ice and into the locker room late in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins after taking a slap shot off his lower left leg, but returned for the second period.

Gallagher went down to block a Matt Niskanen shot with from the left point and stayed on the ice for a few moments before a whistle was blown for a Montreal penalty. Gallagher retreated to the bench, skating while bent over.

Gallagher, 20, is tied for the NHL lead in goals by a rookie with 13 in 38 games. His 24 points are tied for fourth, and he is on a three-game point streak.