Wild looking to clinch; Atkinson re-signs with Blue Jackets (Puck Previews)

Back by popular demand, here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

• He may look callow and boyish in this photo, but Cam Atkinson has proven himself in Columbus. The diminutive forward has re-signed for two years at $2.3 million. [Blue Jackets]

Preview: New York Islanders at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

The Islanders are in and the Sabres are not, but there's still plenty to play for. Ryan Miller will be starting his 500th game for the Sabres, and possibly his last. As for the Islanders, a win sees them leapfrog up to 6th place for the time being. A loss and they're be flying to Pittsburgh for Round 1.

Preview: Edmonton Oilers at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m. ET

The Wild can still move all the way up to sixth place in the Western Conference, but first they just need to clinch. A win versus the Oilers will do that for them, and they couldn't have picked a better time to face Edmonton: the Oilers have dropped 3 straight, 9 of their last 10, and 29 of their last 46.

Preview: Calgary Flames at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET

Just a tune-up for the Presidents' Trophy winners versus the Flames, who are closing out their fourth straight season outside the top eight in the West.

Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche, 10 p.m. ET

Both of these teams are eliminated from the playoffs, but there's still something to play for: the Gilles Marotte Trophy. Derek Morris has a league-leading 68 shots without a goal. Erik Johnson is second with 62 shots. Can Johnson can Morris? Can one of these two guys score? This is the primary reason to watch this game.

Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Goalie Post.

Evening Reading

• Relive some of the great moments in the Detroit Red Wings' 21-year playoff streak. [Grantland]

• The Senators could be a handful in the postseason. [The Globe & Mail]

• Why the Canucks are cheering for the Wild to win tonight. [Canucks Army]

• Gary Bettman is happy and everything is great. [PHT]

Bold Prediction: I don't know how bold it is to predict the Oilers will lose right now, but, yeah. Minnesota clinches.