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A focus on the Western Conference on Thursday night as the 11-game NHL schedule is highlighted by the Kings and Blues in St. Louis and the Canucks and Coyotes in Phoenix.
1. How will the Canucks respond after getting embarrassed on Wednesday?
Their 9-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday was about as bad as a team can play in the NHL, so what will the Vancouver Canucks do on Thursday when they travel to Phoenix to take on a slumping Coyotes team? Here's a thought: Not giving a teama 7-minute power play might be beneficial.
2. Which team will be in 8th place in the East when the night is finished?
The Rangers, Red Wings, Devils and Senators are all in action on Thursday, and all four are separated by just one point in the standings entering the day. New York currently has the final wild card spot in the conference, and they host the Red Wings at Madison Square Garden. Ottawa is hosting a slumping Montreal team while New Jersey gets Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche.
3. Will the Jets win a second straight game under new coach Paul Maurice?
In his debut behind the bench Winnipeg played what was perhaps its best game of the season for Paul Maurice in a 5-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. They have a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time since December -- and for just the fifth time this season -- when they take on Calgary.
4. Will the Kings and Blues combine for more than four goals?
They're two of the best teams in the league and two of the toughest teams to score against, entering the night first (Kings) and third (Blues) in goals against. Given their ability to shut teams down, combined with the Kings' recent struggles offensively, four goals between the two of them seems like a reasonable bar to set. Will they reach it?
5. How will Tyler Seguin and Loui Eriksson do against their former teams?
The first time Dallas and Boston met this season it was Tyler Seguin (and Rich Peverley) getting the best of their former team in a shootout win. They meet again on Thursday in Dallas.
More from SB Nation NHL:
• Power rankings: Blues rise to the top
• Here are the midterm 2014 draft rankings
• The factors that drive L.A.’s success
• Olympics:Snubs inevitable for Canada | USA roster analysis
