The Arizona Coyotes have rarely, if ever, been in the position of guarding against a letdown this season, but that may be the case Wednesday night when they open a six-game road trip against the Buffalo Sabres. The teams are sitting in last place in their respective conferences as the race for the No. 1 spot in the NHL Draft winds down.

The Pittsburgh Penguins squandered a chance to keep pace with first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division but can get back within two points of the top spot when they host the offensively challenged Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Pittsburgh dropped a 4-1 road decision against the New York Islanders on Tuesday to fall four behind the Capitals and are even in points with Columbus for second place with nine games remaining.

The St. Louis Blues have answered a disastrous 1-7-2 stretch with wins in four of their last five contests, including consecutive overtime triumphs that moved them within three points of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Blues aim to continue their recent surge on Wednesday when they host the Boston Bruins, who have dropped three of five in their bid to push Tampa Bay for the top spot in the East.

Rickard Rakell and the Anaheim Ducks are in the midst of a strong 10-game stretch, with the former recording 14 points (nine goals, five assists) to help the latter notch a second three-game winning streak of the month. Rakell looks to keep the Ducks ascending in the standings as they open a four-game Canadian trek with a tilt versus the Calgary Flames.