Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan has plenty of playoff experience under his belt, and he sees a few parallels between a series deficit in the postseason and Pittsburgh's current fight for a wild-card spot.

"I think there are similarities because, to a certain extent, your backs are up against a wall," he said following Thursday's practice. "You know the runway is short and you know the margin for error is small. We've gotta bring our best each and every night to give ourselves a chance.

"That's where we're at right now, that's where we've been for a while. ... Everyone involved is well aware of the circumstance that we're in."

The Penguins are nine points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but Pittsburgh has two games in hand.

It'll take a mighty push from Sullivan's squad to avoid missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, as it only has a 3.1% chance of squeaking in, per MoneyPuck.

Lars Eller said the Penguins will need to see if they have the chops to play at the level outlined by his head coach.

"You know you probably need (to win) 10 out of 12," the veteran forward said, per The Athletic's Rob Rossi. "It's gonna test all of us. ... Can we keep the urgency up every single game? Do we have the mental fortitude to do that? That's what we're going to see - if we're made for it going down the stretch."

Pittsburgh's first test comes in the form of a pair of road games against the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche - two top contenders from the Central Division. That isn't great news for the Penguins, who are 12-16-5 away from home this season.

After that, Pittsburgh will have 12 games remaining on its schedule. Seven of those contests are against teams who currently hold a playoff spot, while another is against the Washington Capitals, who are pushing the Red Wings in the wild-card race.

Making the postseason won't be easy, but captain Sidney Crosby is hopeful that the fight will bring out "the best" in the Penguins.

"A playoff mentality is a great way to approach it," he said. "You see a lot of teams that are playing desperate, urgent hockey at the end of the season, and they go on runs in the playoffs because that level becomes their norm - there's not a lot of adjustment.

"You never want to be in this position. But sometimes this position brings it out of you."

The Penguins will take on the Stars on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

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Predators general manager Barry Trotz singled out his captain as Nashville's MVP amid the team's surprising season.

"I don't think there is a better defenseman on the planet - and that's this year, right now - than Roman Josi," Trotz said, according to NHL.com's Nicholas J. Cotsonika. "That's saying a lot because there's some terrific defensemen. But for our team, he's just carried us all year. It shows in his stats night in and night out."

The 33-year-old ranks second on the Predators with 70 points in 69 games this season, while his 18 goals are the most among all NHL blue-liners. He also places in the top three in his position group in wins above replacement (2.9) and goals above replacement (18), per Evolving-Hockey.

Josi has been fueling Nashville's recent red-hot run, too. The Predators last lost in regulation on Feb. 15 and have gone 13-0-2 over their last 15 games. The veteran has chipped in with 21 points over that span and is a plus-20 while averaging a team-high 23 minutes of ice time per contest.

The Preds failed to make the playoffs last season, ending an eight-year run, but they seem set to start a new streak this campaign. They currently have a strong grip on the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a 40-25-4 record.

Trotz conceded that he didn't know what to expect out of Nashville during his first season as general manager.

"I thought we could have a rough season," he said. "It could be not a real strong team. Or, we could be sneaky good."

The executive also probably didn't foresee canceling a trip to see a U2 concert at The Sphere in Las Vegas to punish the Predators for their poor play in mid-February, but they've been lights out ever since.

Nashville's turnaround forced Trotz to change his strategy heading into trade season.

"The trade deadline was very difficult for me," he said. "I had to balance a couple things. Going into it, probably a month before, I was making all the calls to all the general managers here, saying, 'Hey, I'm probably going to be a seller. It doesn't look like we're going to make it, so here's some of my options, and if you're interested in any of these ...'

"And then as we got to the trade deadline, I said to the players, 'Show me, and I'll add.' And then they did."

If the Predators beat the Florida Panthers on Thursday, they'll set a record for the longest point streak (16 games) in franchise history. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios knows his team fell short of the fan base's hopes for improvement this season, and he isn't rushing to promise anyone a playoff berth next spring, either.

"I think the expectations were something that were a bit debilitating for us," he said in an interview with TSN's Gino Reda. "We have a young team, a very good, talented group of players. I think that we'll see how the offseason goes and what we can add, but there has to be growth from within as well."

Ottawa was once again an active player this past offseason, adding Joonas Korpisalo in an attempt to stabilize the crease, and looping in Vladimir Tarasenko to mitigate the loss of Alex DeBrincat. Couple that with another year of experience for the squad's young core, and the Senators seemed primed to push for a playoff spot.

Instead, Ottawa has plummeted to last place in the Atlantic Division and is projected to finish the campaign with around 75 points - 11 fewer than its total last season.

Part of the issue has been goaltending and defense. The Senators have surrendered 3.57 goals against per game this season, good for the fifth-highest clip in the league. Korpisalo, meanwhile, ranks dead last among all netminders in goals saved above expected (minus-18.33) and second-last in goals saved above average (minus-18.84) at all strengths, per Evolving-Hockey.

Ottawa was reportedly open for business at the trade deadline - barring a handful of untouchables - but only ended up dealing Tarasenko. The Senators appeared to be interested in more than just selling, though, as they also expressed interest in acquiring coveted veteran defenseman Chris Tanev.

For Staios, it's the conversations he had leading up to March 8 that'll set the tone for the summer.

"It's important, the work that we did through the deadline, to establish what we were looking for, what the market would bear," he said. "We have an idea and a game plan and a process going into the offseason, but I think a lot of those discussions over the deadline were important."

Staois will also need to find a new head coach for the Senators, as the 71-year-old Jacques Martin isn't interested in staying behind the bench on a full-time basis. Martin replaced the fired D.J. Smith in December.

"The process has started. We have a list of people," the executive said. "We want to be patient with our approach because things do change into the offseason."

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The San Jose Sharks are signing forward Akim Aliu to an AHL tryout deal for the remainder of the season, general manager Mike Grier confirmed Wednesday, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

"We wanted to give him an opportunity to see what he can do," Grier said.

The Sharks expect him to join their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, within the next day or two, per The Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka.

Aliu hasn't played professional hockey since 2019-2020 in the Czech Extraliga. He suited up for just six games for HC Litvinov, totaling three points.

The 34-year-old's last taste of AHL action came in 2016-17 when he logged three goals and five points in 13 games for the Cleveland Monsters.

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Aliu in the second round of the 2007 draft, but he never played in an NHL game for the organization. He appeared in seven games with the Calgary Flames split between the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, chipping in with two goals and one helper.

Aliu is well-known for his activism off the ice. In June 2020, he spearheaded the formation of the Hockey Diversity Alliance alongside six other players with the aim of fighting racism within the sport.

In total, the 34-year-old has amassed 76 points (46 goals, 30 assists) and 423 penalty minutes in 245 career AHL games. He's also appeared in eight Calder Cup playoff games.

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Don't start filling up the moving boxes just yet.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday that the league "probably" wouldn't have enough time to relocate the Arizona Coyotes for the 2024-25 campaign if owner Alex Meruelo doesn't win June's land auction, per NHL.com's Nicholas J. Cotsonika.

"At this point, there's no call to make yet on Arizona," he said. "We're satisfied with ... where we are. ... If they win the auction, that's the first step in the process. They've got their land. They have the ability to build on it. I think the actual auction itself will provide that certainty, I think."

He added: "I'm focused on, currently, (that) they're going to play hockey games in Arizona next year."

The Coyotes signed a three-year agreement with Arizona State University in February 2022 to play their home games at Mullett Arena.

They've since been looking for an alternative to the 5,000-seat NCAA facility that's served as the NHL club's home for the past two seasons. The organization's hopes of building an arena in Tempe were dashed last May after residents voted against building a $2.1-billion entertainment district in the area.

Now, the Coyotes are eyeing a tract of land in North Phoenix. The Arizona State Land Department Board of Appeals approved the $68.5-million appraisal of the 95-acre plot last Thursday, clearing the way for the organization to bid on it.

The Coyotes' future in Arizona has long been in flux, especially since their lease agreement with Gila River Arena expired at the end of 2021-22. Despite the years of uncertainty, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman once again threw his support behind the Grand Canyon State.

"Well, we would have preferred to be in a new arena by now, but there are certain things that couldn't be controlled. ... So, we deal with what we can deal with. Having said that, we believe Arizona, particularly the greater Phoenix area, is a good NHL market.

"It's a place we want to be."

Neither Bettman nor Daly gave a deadline on when a possible relocation decision would come down, but Daly conceded that "it's getting late," per TSN's Chris Johnston.

NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said in February that he was "extremely disappointed" in the Coyotes' failed pursuits to find a new home, as well as the organization's failure to communicate with the union.

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It's been a down year for Jake Oettinger, but the Dallas Stars goaltender is certain he can turn things around down the stretch.

"I could let in 10 goals a game for the next five games, and I'll never stop believing in myself," he said, according to The Athletic's Saad Yousuf. "I know what I'm capable of. No matter what happens, what people think about me or say about me, I believe in my heart that I'm one of the best goalies in the world.

"It's up to me to show it now. I know I can do it. I know I can be one of the best."

Oettinger finished fifth in Vezina Trophy voting last season after an outstanding campaign in which he logged a .919 save percentage to go along with a 37-11-11 record. As a result of that performance, theScore considered him one of the front-runners to contend for the hardware prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.

However, Oettinger hasn't been able to repeat that success. His .896 save percentage through 43 outings ranks 47th out of 60 goaltenders to appear in at least 20 games this season. He also sits near the bottom of the league in goals saved above average (minus-10.15) and goals saved above expected (minus-7.76), per Evolving-Hockey.

Despite his struggles, Oettinger's 25 wins are the eighth-most in the NHL.

Though the 25-year-old missed 12 games with a lower-body injury earlier this season, he said he's grappled the most with the mental side of the game.

"It's been probably the hardest season, mentally, that I've had in my life," he said. "I feel like I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself and letting outside factors get to me and take the fun out of it."

He added: "If I can get back to being a kid and having fun in there, just compete and be more desperate and aggressive, that's what I'm working on right now. I'm trying to do my job and let guys around me do their job. It's been tough."

Dallas is once again one of the top teams in the Central Division, boasting a 41-19-9 record. Oettinger has started all 26 playoff games for the Stars over the past two seasons, and they'll need him in tip-top shape once again this spring.

Head coach Peter DeBoer said he believes Oettinger will be able to rise to the challenge.

"This happens to every elite goalie in the league," he said. "I'm glad it's happening now and not a month from now. I'm very confident that he's going to find his elite level again, at the most important time."

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Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde couldn't be more relieved to see Lucas Raymond stepping up with Dylan Larkin sidelined.

"He's been excellent of late. Thank God," the bench boss said after the forward's two-goal performance during Tuesday's emotional 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"At this time last year, (Raymond) was tiring," Lalonde added. "He was not very good. We were worried how much we could play him down the stretch. ... With Dylan being out, he's literally driven us to stay in this battle."

Larkin has missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury, and though Detroit owns a paltry 2-6-0 record in the captain's absence, Raymond has been a bright spot. The 21-year-old leads the Red Wings with seven goals and eight points, all of which have come in his last five outings.

Raymond is just the third player in franchise history to record a five-game goal streak before turning 22, joining Steve Yzerman and Norm Ullman, per Bally Sports Detroit.

The Red Wings have stabilized following a seven-game losing streak, winning two out of their last three games.

Tuesday's victory didn't come easy, though. Lalonde admitted he was "flabbergasted" by his team's abysmal first period in which the Blue Jackets took a 2-0 lead while outshooting Detroit 20-5.

"We talked it through in the first (intermission), how much adversity and bounce back this group has shown this year. ... And they didn't quit, obviously," he said. "Huge credit to the guys."

It was Raymond who fueled the turnaround. He got the Red Wings on the board in the second period and forced overtime in the dying seconds of regulation to set the table for Patrick Kane's winner in the extra frame.

The Red Wings have reclaimed the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and now have a 24.7% chance of making the playoffs, per MoneyPuck. The Washington Capitals are in hot pursuit, though, sitting one point behind Detroit with two games in hand.

Lalonde is hoping Tuesday's victory can serve as a turning point for the rest of the season.

"So many emotional narratives this time of year," he said. "Obviously, if we lose, there's a big narrative. ... (The win is) huge, but it means nothing if we don't get a little more battle to start and stop feeling sorry for ourselves.

"It's got to come from everyone."

The Red Wings will face the New York Islanders on Thursday.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have been one of the league's biggest surprises this season, but Scott Laughton believes his team needs to pick up the pace to secure its first playoff berth since 2020.

"At this time of year, you've got to be ready to play," the forward told reporters following the Flyers' 6-2 shakedown at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "You can't just go out there and put your stick on the ice and hope for the best. The last three games haven't been good enough. ... Everyone's got to look in the mirror here and figure out what we need to do collectively as a group here to get better."

Thursday's resounding defeat marked Philadelphia's second loss in three games since the March 8 trade deadline. The Flyers lost 7-0 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and narrowly beat the basement-dwelling San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Tuesday.

"It's hard at this time of year. It's hard to win hockey games," Laughton said. "Everyone's trying to get (into the playoffs), everyone's trying to solidify their spot. We've gotta realize in this room, we've gotta make a push here."

It's been tough sledding for the Flyers of late. With one eye on the future, general manager Danny Briere dealt pending unrestricted free-agent rearguard Sean Walker to the Colorado Avalanche before the deadline and didn't spend major assets to bolster his squad. The team is also trying to make do with a battered blue line, with Rasmus Ristolainen, Jamie Drysdale, and Nick Seeler all sidelined with injuries.

Philadelphia is still third in the Metropolitan Division at 34-25-8 with an 82.7% chance of making the postseason, per MoneyPuck. However, the New York Islanders are four points behind with two games in hand.

Further complicating things for the Flyers is their upcoming schedule. Their next six opponents are all playoff contenders, including the Maple Leafs in another clash Tuesday.

Associate coach Brad Shaw - who's filling in for the suspended John Tortorella - hopes Thursday's loss can serve as "a good lesson."

"Toronto's got a battle-hardened group there that's been through some hard knocks. ... We've got a lot of guys that still have to learn all that," he said. "They have to recognize how hard you have to play to have any chance at this time of year."

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Brayden Point is optimistic the Tampa Bay Lightning's 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday will provide a shot in the arm amid the team's scrap for playoff positioning.

"I think it gives us confidence, especially coming back against a team like New York, a very good hockey team," he told reporters postgame. "I think it hopefully gives us some belief down the stretch here that we're not out of games, we can still climb back."

The Bolts headed into the first intermission down 2-0, and Point was on the ice for both goals against. He responded by putting up a hat trick and three assists, including four points in the final frame.

The 28-year-old tied a franchise record for most points in a game. Nikita Kucherov accomplished the feat in 2023, while Doug Crossman pulled it off in 1992.

"It's very cool," Point said. "Just one of those nights where everything kind of seems to work out."

Jack Roslovic broke the 2-2 tie in the Rangers' favor early in the third period, but Point responded less than two minutes later for the first of four unanswered goals for Tampa Bay.

The Lightning currently hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a four-point edge over the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings. They have a 93.4% chance of making the playoffs for the seventh straight season, per MoneyPuck.

Despite that, head coach Jon Cooper isn't allowing the Lightning to rest on their laurels.

"We have a group that wants to make the playoffs, and they believe they can," he said. "By no means is one win putting us in the playoffs. We still have a long way to go, but early in the year, I think with this group, and with so many new faces that we had, we probably found a way to lose that game.

"And now, with under 20 (games) left, this team is finding a way to win those games."

Next up for the Bolts is a clash against the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

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Pittsburgh Penguins blue-liner Erik Karlsson doesn't seem too convinced by recent speculation linking him back to the Ottawa Senators.

"Yeah, that's Canada for you," he told reporters Thursday, including The Hockey News' Nick Horwat. "I played there for a long time so I kinda know how that game works. They've got a lot of things to talk about every day because they've got a lot of airtime, but very few things to actually discuss.

"They like to make up these what-if scenarios, and that's just the way it is. It's not something that I really look into or worry too much about."

Karlsson spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the Senators after Ottawa drafted him with the 15th overall pick in 2008. He skated in 627 games with the franchise and is still its all-time leader in goals (126) and points (518) among defensemen.

The Senators made the playoffs five times during Karlsson's tenure, including a trip to the conference finals in 2017. The puck-moving Swede amassed 18 points in 19 games and was a plus-13 during that particular run.

In a recent column, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wondered if the Senators would consider a Karlsson reunion because of his ties to Daniel Alfredsson. A fellow Swede, Alfredsson currently serves as an assistant coach in Ottawa and was a teammate of Karlsson for four seasons. The insider broached the topic again during Monday's edition of "32 Thoughts: The Podcast."

Though the Penguins have stumbled during Karlsson's first season in Pittsburgh, their flashy offseason addition leads the defense corps with eight goals and 44 points in 64 games.

The Senators were reportedly interested in adding veteran rearguard Chris Tanev as a foundational piece to aid their young blue line. The pending unrestricted free agent ended up getting traded to the Dallas Stars.

Karlsson has three more years remaining on his current deal, which includes a full no-move clause. His salary is $11.5 million, but the San Jose Sharks are retaining $1.5 million as part of the agreement that sent Karlsson to Pittsburgh in August.

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