NHL Highlights: 21 Matchups That Will Shape the NHL Playoffs
It started six months ago. And after a grueling, arduous season of regular season hockey, several playoff hopefuls are running out of time.
Save for Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and Colorado, every other NHL team's schedule is reduced to a mere three games, with razor-thin seeding margins still in play.
Some are fighting to make the playoffs, while others already locked into the second season seek more advantageous seeding opportunities.
Here is a night-by-night list of the most critical matchups any NHL fan should be glued to this week.
(all times Eastern)
Tuesday, April 3
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres: 7 p.m., HSBC Arena
- New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers: 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Center
- Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins: 7:30 p.m., TD Bank North Garden
- San Jose Sharks at Dallas Stars: 8:30 p.m., American Airlines Center
- Columbus Blue Jackets at Phoenix Coyotes: 10 p.m., Jobing.com Arena
Wednesday, April 4
- Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues: 7:30 p.m., Scottrade Center
Thursday, April 5
- Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers: 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Center
- New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins: 7 p.m., Consol Energy Center
- Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals: 7 p.m., Verizon Center
- New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings: 7:30 p.m., Joe Louis Arena
- Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators: 8 p.m., Bridgestone Arena
- Columbus Blue Jackets at Colorado Avalanche: 9 p.m., Pepsi Center
- San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings: 10:30 p.m., Staples Center
Friday, April 6
- Phoenix Coyotes at St. Louis Blues: 7:30 p.m., Scottrade Center
Saturday, April 7
- Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins: 4 p.m., TD Bank North Garden
- Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins: 4 p.m., Consol Energy Center
- Washington Capitals at New York Rangers: 6:30 p.m., Madison Square Garden
- Phoenix Coyotes at Minnesota Wild: 8 p.m., XCel Energy Center
- St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars: 8 p.m., American Airlines Center
- Nashville Predators at Colorado Avalanche: 9 p.m., Pepsi Center
- Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks: 10:30 p.m., HP Pavilion
Ryan O'Leary is a writer and researcher for Bleacher Report's Video Production Department with seven years experience in the sports industry.


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