NHL Playoff Push & Milestones: 5 Games Tonight

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is NHL News Today. Subscribe to keep up with every headline, every game. Tonight, the NHL has five games on tap, starting with the big one where the Colorado Avalanche visit the Chicago Black Hawks at 8.30 p.m. Eastern. Colorado holds the league's best record at 44 wins, 13 losses, and 10 overtime losses, and they can clinch a playoff spot with just one. Point. Meanwhile, defenseman Kell McCarrer is closing in on 500 career points, needing only three more to pass a Hall of Famer for third-viewers games. By a blue litter, Alex Ovechkin chases another milestone when the Washington Capitals host the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. Eastern. The Capitol star needs one goal to hit 1,000 combined regular season and playoff tallies, joining only Wayne Gretzky in that club. Washington's rookie defenseman, Cole Hudson, impressed in his debut midweek with a goal, adding excitement to their fading playoff push.

1:01Over in Toronto, Sebastian Ajo and the Carolina Hurricanes face the Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. Eastern, with Ajo one point from three straight. 70 point seasons, a rare feat for the franchise. Carolina has owned the Eastern Conference League for 20 straight days. The Leafs play with our Captain Austin Matthews, sideline 12 weeks after knee surgery. The Utah Mammoth host, the Anaheim Ducks at 10 p.m. Eastern, as Utah seeks a third straight win to solidify their wild card hold. Captain Clayton Keller leads them in scoring. Anaheim fights for Pacific Division supremacy, just one point up on Edmonton. Finally, the Florida Panthers visit the Calgary Flames at 9 p.m. with Seth Jones back after injury, logging heavy minutes right away. These matchups pack playoff implications in personal landmarks, setting up an action-filled Friday night across the league.