Although the Boston Bruins have been besieged by injuries this season, the team has gotten healthy at the expense of the New York Islanders of late. After outscoring the Islanders 13-4 during a three-game season sweep in 2017-18, the Bruins bid for their fifth straight win in the series on Thursday when the teams reconvene at TD Garden.

An inability to finish has plagued the Minnesota Wild, who are showing an alarming inability to protect third-period leads on their home ice over the past 11 games. After frittering away a two-goal cushion in a 4-3 setback to Arizona on Tuesday, the Wild will look to get back on track when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

Despite a major roster overhaul starting at last season's trade deadline, the New York Rangers are among the league's biggest surprises and their improved play at home is a big reason why. Much like last season, though, New York has struggled away from Madison Square Garden and will try to change that when it opens a two-game road trip at the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

The Buffalo Sabres go after a historic victory and attempt to make a major statement when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night for an Atlantic Division showdown. The Sabres can break the franchise record for consecutive victories with their 11th in a row and win for the fourth time in five tries against the high-flying Lightning, including a 2-1 triumph in Buffalo on Nov. 13.

The Nashville Predators look to rebound after seeing their six-game home winning streak come to a halt when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. The Predators answered a 2-1 setback at Arizona on Nov. 15 by winning four of their next five before dropping a 3-2 decision versus Colorado on Tuesday.

The Chicago Blackhawks are just 3-5-2 in the first 10 games since Jeremy Colliton took over for Joel Quenneville as coach and they have dropped three of the past four. Chicago heads to Winnipeg on Thursday to take on the Jets, one of the top offenses in the league, and Colliton recognizes his team has to play better defense after giving up eight goals in a blowout loss at home to Vegas on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Kings will look to defeat the Edmonton Oilers for the second time this week and push their winning streak to a season-high three games on Thursday when the Pacific Division rivals meet at Rogers Place. Jonathan Quick, who was a spectator in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime victory versus Vancouver, is expected to get the nod and end a 12-game absence due to a lower-body injury.

The Vegas Golden Knights have shaken off their early-season malaise and are looking more like the team that barnstormed its way to the Stanley Cup Finals in the franchise's inaugural season. The surging Golden Knights look to make it five consecutive victories when they continue a three-game road trip at the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.