The Penguins are third in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the second-place New York Islanders (46-27-7), who have already clinched a playoff berth. Pittsburgh can assure itself of a 13th straight trip to the postseason, which would extend the longest active streak in the NHL, by defeating the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, FS-D, NHL.TV).
Penguins center Sidney Crosby (95 points; 33 goals, 62 assists) is five points shy of his sixth 100-point season in the NHL entering the second game of a home-and-home series. The Red Wings extended their winning streak to six games by defeating the Penguins 4-1 at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday. Detroit forward Todd Bertuzzi has three points in each of his past four games and will try to become the 10th player in NHL history with at least five consecutive three-point games. The most recent was Jari Kurri of the Los Angeles Kings, who had a six-game streak in 1992-93.
The Hurricanes, who haven't qualified for the playoffs since 2008-09, lead the Columbus Blue Jackets (45-31-4) by one point for the first wild card from the Eastern Conference entering their game against the New Jersey Devils at PNC Arena (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, FS-CR, MSG, NHL.TV). The Montreal Canadiens (43-29-8) are tied in points with the Blue Jackets for the second wild card but trail them 44-41 in regulation/overtime wins (ROW). The Canadiens visit the Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBCSWA, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV), and a loss by Montreal and a regulation win by Carolina will put the Hurricanes into the postseason.
The Avalanche enter their game against Winnipeg Jets at Pepsi Center (9 p.m. ET; ALT, TSN3, NHL.TV) with a four-point lead over the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild card and last remaining playoff berth in the West. They can clinch by getting one point against the Jets or if the Coyotes (38-34-8) lose in any fashion to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN, FS-A, NHL.TV). Colorado is trying to qualify for the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since making it for 10 straight seasons from 1994-95 (as the Quebec Nordiques) through 2003-04.