There are eight games on the NHL schedule Tuesday, seven of them with playoff implications:
New York Islanders at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBCSWA, NHL.TV): The Capitals, who are 6-2-0 in their past eight games, look to sweep this three-game set against the Islanders after a 6-3 victory Saturday and a 1-0 shootout win Thursday. Washington is second in the East, one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins. New York, which is 2-3-1 in its past six games, is third in the division, three points behind Washington and three ahead of the fourth-place Boston Bruins.
Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, NBCSP, NHL.TV): It’s the second of a four-game set after the Flyers won 4-3 in a shootout Sunday. Philadelphia is sixth in the East, nine points behind Boston for fourth place. New Jersey is 0-9-1 in its past 10 games.
Buffalo Sabres at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG-B, NHL.TV): Rangers center Mika Zibanejad scored a hat trick in a 6-3 win against the Sabres on Sunday and has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in a three-game point streak. New York, which is 7-2-1 in its past 10 games, is fifth in the East, four points behind fourth-place Boston.
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, NESNplus, NHL.TV): The Penguins try to extend their winning streak to five games and hold on to first place in the East. They have a one-point lead on the second-place Capitals and lead the NHL with 20 wins at home (20-3-2). Pittsburgh will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat Boston and the Sabres defeat the Rangers in regulation. The Bruins have lost two in a row after a six-game winning streak and are fourth in the division, four points ahead of the Rangers.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSCH+, BSFL, NHL.TV): The Lightning are 6-0-1 against the Blackhawks heading into the final game of their season series. Tampa Bay has won two straight and is third in the Central, one point behind the second-place Florida Panthers and three behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes. The Lightning will clinch a playoff berth with a win. Chicago is sixth in the division, seven points behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators.
Florida Panthers at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSUN, NHL.TV): The Predators look to sweep this back-to-back set after a 4-1 win Monday. Nashville is fourth in the Central, two points ahead of the Dallas Stars. The Panthers are second in the division, two points behind the Hurricanes and one point ahead of the third-place Lightning. Florida will clinch a playoff berth with a win.
Carolina Hurricanes at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, BSSW+, BSSO, NHL.TV): Rookie forward Jason Robertson has scored 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in an eight-game point streak for the Stars, who look to win two straight against the Hurricanes after a 4-3 overtime victory Monday. Dallas is fifth in the Central, two points behind fourth-place Nashville. Carolina, which clinched a playoff berth Monday despite the loss, is first in the division, two points ahead of Florida.