NHL GAME PREVIEWS & BETTING TIPS

The Toronto Maple Leafs head to UBS Arena on Thursday night in a game that means a lot more to one side than the other. Toronto is 32-32-14 and already eliminated, while the Islanders are 42-31-5 and still trying to revive a fading playoff push after a coaching change that grabbed plenty of attention. Peter DeBoer makes his debut behind

The Florida Panthers head to Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night looking more dangerous than their record suggests, but still badly shorthanded and still trying to stop a slide. Florida is 37-37-4 and has dropped six of its last eight, while Ottawa is 41-27-10 and sitting in a much better late-season position after a 6-2 win over Tampa Bay on

The Pittsburgh Penguins head to Prudential Center on Thursday night with a chance to lock up a playoff berth, and that gives this game a little more weight than a standard April matchup. Pittsburgh is 40-22-16 and sitting second in the Metropolitan Division, while New Jersey is 40-35-3 and already on the wrong side of the playoff line. Puck drop

This is one of the better games on Thursday’s NHL board, and maybe one of the trickier ones too. Tampa Bay comes into Bell Centre at 48-24-6, while Montreal sits at 46-22-10, with both teams still tangled in the Atlantic race near the top of the Eastern Conference. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and this

The Philadelphia Flyers head to Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night in a game that still matters quite a bit in the Eastern playoff race. Philadelphia is 40-26-12 and holding third place in the Metropolitan Division, while Detroit is 40-29-9 and trying to keep its wild-card hopes alive after a painful 4-3 shootout loss to Columbus on Tuesday. Puck drop

The Columbus Blue Jackets head to KeyBank Center on Thursday night in a game that still carries real pressure for both sides, even if the pressure is a little different. Columbus is 39-27-12 and still chasing the final playoff spots in both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern wild-card race, while Buffalo is 48-23-8 and now sits alone in first

The Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues meet Thursday night at Enterprise Center in a game that feels bigger than the records alone suggest. Winnipeg comes in at 34-31-12, St. Louis at 33-32-12, and both teams are still trying to hang around the Western wild-card picture with very little margin left. Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on

Carolina heads to United Center on Thursday night with the Metropolitan Division already locked up, but the work is not finished. The Hurricanes are 50-22-6, they still have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the East, and this four-game road trip is really about holding that edge all the way into the postseason. Chicago, at 28-36-14, is out

This one looks like a playoff preview, and maybe it is. Minnesota comes into Dallas at 45-21-12 riding a four-game winning streak, while the Stars sit at 46-20-12 and are trying to hold off the Wild in the Central Division race. Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. ET at American Airlines Center on ESPN+, and with both teams already