The Buffalo Sabres finally produced a few positives at the end of their West Coast road trip and hope to build on that when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. The Sabres picked up their first victory of the season at Anaheim on Sunday and followed by scoring three times in the final 10 minutes of regulation before dropping a 5-4 decision in overtime at Vegas two days later.

The New Jersey Devils are off to a surprisingly torrid start to the season and hope to continue it Friday, when they begin a month-ending three-game homestand against the San Jose Sharks. New Jersey rallied on the road Thursday to edge Ottawa 5-4 in overtime for its sixth win in seven contests after finishing 29th in the league last season with 28 victories.

Two teams that have fallen back a bit after a strong start meet Friday night when the two-time defending Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals visit the Detroit Red Wings. The Capitals have lost of four of their last five games (1-3-1) since opening with two impressive victories that included seven goals from Alex Ovechkin, and Detroit dropped its last two contests after going 4-1-0 out of the gate.

The Florida Panthers have dropped two games in a row but they will be trying to end a much longer drought when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. The Panthers have not posted a regulation victory over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions in 10 consecutive meetings, including a 4-3 setback in Pittsburgh on Oct. 14.

The Minnesota Wild will be well-rested when they take to the road again to face the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. Minnesota, which began the season with a three-game trek, have been idle for five days after falling to Columbus in overtime 5-4 on Saturday in its home opener.

It took 11 games before the Montreal Canadiens suffered their first regulation loss last season en route to the Atlantic Division title. The reeling Canadiens are hoping it doesn't take that many games to earn their first regulation win this season as they limp into the last stop of a three-game road trip at the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.