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PHT’s top five NHL games for the weekend

Boston Bruins v Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 11: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins handles the puck in front of Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins during the game at Consol Energy Center on March 11, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Justin K. Aller

Friday (8 p.m. ET) -- Dallas at St. Louis

Even after trading away Brenden Morrow, Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy prior to the deadline, the inspiring Stars find themselves in a heated race with the Red Wings and Blue Jackets for the final playoff spot in the West. Dallas beat the Canucks, 5-1, last night at home. The Blues, meanwhile, are winning games -- and that’s good -- but they sure aren’t scoring many goals.

Saturday (12:30 p.m. ET) -- Pittsburgh at Boston

The tentatively scheduled make-up game after today’s postponement. Hopefully, the manhunt is over and Boston sports fans can enjoy a potential preview of the Eastern Conference finals. Coming at this purely from a hockey perspective (which is basically impossible), the Bruins need to get their act together before the playoffs. They haven’t won in their last three, and there was even talk that Milan Lucic could be a healthy scratch against the Pens. Will B’s fans get to see Carl Soderberg for the first time?

Saturday (3 p.m. ET) -- NY Islanders at Winnipeg

The Islanders have won seven of their last nine, but it won’t be easy at what should be an insane MTS Centre. Winnipeg is also hot, having won five in a row after a five-game losing skid that most thought had ended the Jets’ playoff hopes. A loss to the Islanders would, well, really hurt the Jets’ playoff hopes.

Saturday (10 p.m. ET) -- Detroit at Vancouver

Red Wings fans will be staying up late for this one, as their team desperately needs to make up for Wednesday’s 3-2 loss in Calgary. The Wings have just three wins in their last 10 games, putting their 21-straight-playoffs streak very much in jeopardy. Detroit beat Vancouver handily in each of the teams’ first two meetings. With just one win in their last four, the Canucks are stumbling at the wrong time.

Sunday (3 p.m. ET) -- New Jersey at NY Rangers

On NBC! The hard-luck Devils are pretty much done, but perhaps they could take some solace by spoiling the Rangers’ playoff dreams. The two teams play again next Saturday, also at MSG. (And also on NBC!)