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Puck Daddy Viewing Guide: Vigneault in Vancouver; Habs, Bolts could clinch

Here is the Puck Daddy Viewing Guide: Spotlighting five things to watch for during tonight's slate of games. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

 

 CREATE A CAPTION: From a campaign between the Blackhawks and DiGiorno.

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Preview: New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. EDT

Preview: Florida Panthers at New York Islanders, 7 p.m. EDT

Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. EDT

Preview: Calgary Flames at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. EDT

Preview: Dallas Stars at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. EDT

Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. EDT

Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. EDT

Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. EDT

Preview: New York Rangers at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. EDT

Preview: Winnipeg Jets at Phoenix Coyotes, 10 p.m. EDT

Preview: Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. EDT

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Five things to know about tonight's NHL games ...

1. Clinchy In Tampa. From the NHL: "The Canadiens would clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they defeat the Lightning in any fashion OR if they get one point against the Lightning AND the Capitals lose to the Stars in any fashion OR if the Capitals lose to the Stars in regulation AND the Devils lose to the Sabres in any fashion. The Lightning would clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they defeat the Canadiens in any fashion AND the Capitals lose to the Stars in regulation AND the Devils lose to the Sabres in any fashion."

2. Missing AV: Ed Willes on what the Canucks lost when they lost Alain Vigneault: "When they make their next hire, the Orcans would do well to remember life under Vigneault. He wasn’t a miracle worker. Here’s a news flash: No one is. But he had a clear idea of the strengths and weaknesses of this team and played to those strengths and weaknesses, which is exactly what he’s done with the Rangers."

3. Leafs Beg Fans. Cody Franson has asked Toronto fans who think his team is an overrated joke crashing back down to expected levels of failure to not drop the pom-poms yet. "So stick with us, we need your support. We want to be in the playoffs more than anyone.”

4. Nate No. 1. Nathan MacKinnon gets top line duty for the Colorado Avalanche with Matt Duchene out. He'll play between Ryan O'Reilly and Jamie McGinn.

5. Imagine If The Devils Could Win A Shootout? From the Trentonian: "In 30 attempts, Rookie forward Reid Boucher owns New Jersey’s only lighting of the lamp in the so-called 'skills competition' when he did so in his NHL debut on December 4. Since then? Nothing."

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Bold Prediction: The Rangers have more blocked shots than Vancouver.