The Boston Bruins attempt to complete their surge to the top of the Atlantic Division when they host the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night in a battle of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins are 3-0-3 in their last six games after a 5-4 shootout loss at Winnipeg on Tuesday to pull within one point and have won seven of the last eight meetings against the Lightning, including the first two matchups this season.

Not much has gone right this season for both the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, who have been out of the playoff picture and playing out the string for weeks. However, each team will be looking to post consecutive victories for the first time in over a month when they square off in Buffalo on Thursday night.

The New Jersey Devils vie for their fourth straight victory overall and fourth in as many meetings with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season when the Metropolitan Division rivals meet at the Prudential Center on Thursday. The Devils began their current win streak on Friday as Taylor Hall capped a three-point performance by scoring 27 seconds into overtime in a 4-3 victory over the Penguins.

The Florida Panthers failed to take advantage of their chance to gain ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race last time out, making their quest for a postseason berth more difficult. The Panthers give it another try when they continue their four-game road trip Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.

Already assured of home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, the Nashville Predators are trying to wrap up the top overall seed as they inch closer to capturing the Presidents' Trophy. Holding a three-point edge over Tampa Bay for the league's best record, Nashville resumes a three-game homestand against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.

The Dallas Stars likely will have to win out to have a chance to squeeze into the playoffs and the schedule certainly does not favor them the rest of the way. After finally ending an eight-game winless drought (0-6-2), the Stars will visit the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in the front end of a home-and-home series.

The Winnipeg Jets put the wheels in motion on what became a perfect six-game homestand with a resounding 6-2 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks on March 15. The playoff-bound Jets look to turn their season-best win streak into a franchise high-tying one on Thursday as they open a four-game road trip against the Blackhawks.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have won 11 of their last 12 games to improve their standing in the postseason race while the Calgary Flames bowed out of contention for the playoffs following their sixth loss in a row. The Blue Jackets bid to emerge victorious in their sixth consecutive road contest overall and eighth straight encounter in Calgary on Thursday when they make the second stop on their three-game trek.

The Vancouver Canucks have played the spoiler role well the last two games and look to continue their strong play when the Edmonton Oilers pay a visit Thursday for the first of two meetings between the non-playoff teams before the season ends. The Canucks are 3-1-0 in their last four games, including a pair of 4-1 victories against playoff hopefuls Dallas and Anaheim in the past two outings.

The Los Angeles Kings attempt to strengthen their hold on third place in the Pacific Division when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Los Angeles, which is coming off a 3-0 triumph over Calgary on Monday, is even with Anaheim in points with five games remaining but owns the tiebreaker.