This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
Saturday is the last big night of the NHL regular season slate. All 30 teams are in play and the options for your roster are basically everyone... unless that player has anything worse than a bruise and might stop a tanking team from grabbing one more loss. Or unless a player has anything worse than a bruise and their team is headed to the postseason.
One of the stranger aspects of Saturday's games are that 15 of the remaining 17 games in the 2015-16 season are tomorrow, and zero of the playoff match-ups are set in place.
Even if many teams don't have a lot of individual motivation to win, a lot will be determined by tomorrow's games.
Let's take a look at the day.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Senators (Andrew Hammond) at Bruins (Tuukka Rask), 12:30 PM
Red Wings (Jimmy Howard) at Rangers (Antti Raanta), 12:30 PM
Penguins (Matt Murray) at Flyers (Steve Mason), 3:00 PM
Ducks (Frederik Andersen) at Avalanche (Semyon Varlamov), 5:30 PM
Lightning (Ben Bishop) at Canadiens (Mike Condon), 7:00 PM
Hurricanes (Cam Ward) at Panthers (Roberto Luongo), 7:00 PM
Maple Leafs (Garret Sparks) at Devils (Cory Schneider), 7:00 PM
Blackhawks (Scott Darling) at Blue Jackets (Joonas Korpisalo), 7:00 PM
Flames (Niklas Backstrom) at Wild (Devan Dubnyk), 7:00 PM
Sabres (Chad Johnson) at Islanders (Thomas Greiss), 7:30 PM
Capitals (Braden Holtby) at Blues (Brian Elliott), 8:00 PM
Predators (Pekka Rinne) at Stars (Kari Lehtonen), 8:00 PM
Oilers (Cam Talbot) at Canucks (Ryan Miller), 10:00 PM
Jets (Ondrej Pavelec) at Kings (Jonathan Quick), 10:00 PM
Coyotes (Mike Smith) at Sharks (Martin Jones), 10:30 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Saturday
Ottawa Senators
Chris Phillips, D (back) - will not play again this season
Scott Gomez, C (undisclosed) - is questionable for Saturday
Dion Phaneuf, D (lower body) - will not play again this season
Clarke MacArthur, LW (concussion) - will not play again this season
Marc Methot, D (illness) - didn't play Thursday
Kyle Turris, C (ankle) - is out indefinitely
Mark Stone, RW (upper body) - will not play again this season
Mark Borowiecki, D (knee) - will not play again this season
Patrick Wiercioch, D (upper body) - is unlikely for Saturday
Boston Bruins
Brett Connolly, RW (lower body) - didn't practice Friday
Jimmy Hayes, RW (undisclosed) - didn't practice Friday
Chris Kelly, RW (leg) - practiced with the team on Monday
Dennis Seidenberg, D (undisclosed) - didn't practice Friday
Detroit Red Wings
Drew Miller, LW (lower body) - will not play again this season
Justin Abdelkader, LW (lower body) - didn't practice Friday
Johan Franzen, RW (concussion) - will not play again this season
New York Rangers
Dan Girardi, D (upper body) - won't play Saturday
Ryan McDonagh, D (upper body) - will not play again during the regular season
Viktor Stalberg, LW (lower body) - won't play Saturday
Mats Zuccarello, RW (lower body) - won't play Saturday
Pittsburgh Penguins
Marc-Andre Fleury, G (concussion) - will not play again during the regular season
Evgeni Malkin, C (upper body) - will not play again during the regular season
Patric Hornqvist, RW (back) - is likely to play Saturday
Kevin Porter, C (ankle) - is on IR
Olli Maatta, D (lower body) - will not play again during the regular season
Scott Wilson, LW (lower body) - is on IR
Bryan Rust, RW (lower body) - will not play again during the regular season
Philadelphia Flyers
Michael Del Zotto, D (wrist) - will not play again this season
Anaheim Ducks
Brandon Pirri, C (upper body) - is questionable
Rickard Rakell, C (appendicitis) - won't play Saturday
Sami Vatanen, D (illness) - is questionable
Frederik Andersen, G (concussion) - could play over the weekend
Kevin Bieksa, D (undisclosed) - remains out
David Perron, LW (shoulder) - will not play again during the regular season
Colorado Avalanche
Jesse Winchester, LW (concussion) - will not play again this season
Nathan MacKinnon, C (knee) - didn't play Thursday
Ben Street, C (chest) - will not play again this season
Brad Stuart, D (back) - will not play again this season
Tampa Bay Lightning
Ryan Callahan, RW (lower body) - didn't play Thursday
Anton Stralman, D (leg) - will not play again during the regular season
Victor Hedman, D (upper body) - didn't play Thursday, but has practiced
Steven Stamkos, C (blood clot) - will not play again during the regular season
Montreal Canadiens
Mark Barberio, D (concussion) - will not play again this season
Victor Bartley, D (lower body) - will not play again this season
Nathan Beaulieu, D (thumb) - will not play again this season
Lucas Lessio, LW (knee) - will not play again this season
Brian Flynn, C (lower body) - will not play again this season
Brett Lernout, D (knee) - will not play again this season
P.K. Subban, D (neck) - will not play again this season
Carey Price, G (knee) - will not play again this season
Jeff Petry, D (lower body) - will not play again this season
Tom Gilbert, D (knee) - will not play again this season
Carolina Hurricanes
James Wisniewski, D (knee) - will not play again this season
Andrej Nestrasil, C (back) - will not play again this season
Phil Di Giuseppe, LW (undisclosed) - is unlikely to play Saturday
Derek Ryan, C (upper body) - was injured Thursday
Florida Panthers
Steve Kampfer, D (undisclosed) - left Thursday's game
Erik Gudbranson, D (upper body) - did not play Thursday
Vincent Trocheck, C (ankle) - will not play again during the regular season
Dave Bolland, C (lower body) - is on IR
Willie Mitchell, D (concussion) - may never play again
Toronto Maple Leafs
Raffi Torres, LW (knee) - will not play again this season
Joffrey Lupul, LW (abdomen) - will not play again this season
Milan Michalek, LW (knee) - will not play again this season
Matt Hunwick, D (hernia) - will not play again this season
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) - will not play again this season
Leo Komarov, LW (lower body) - is possible for Saturday
James van Riemsdyk, LW (foot) - will not play again this season
Nazem Kadri, C (suspension) - is suspended for the rest of the season
Peter Holland, C (concussion) - is questionable
New Jersey Devils
Jon Merrill, D (shoulder) - will not play again this season
Jiri Tlusty, LW (wrist) - will not play again this season
Michael Cammalleri, LW (hand) - will not play again this season
Jordin Tootoo, RW (wrist) - will not play again this season
Chicago Blackhawks
Artem Anisimov, C (upper body) - won't play Saturday
Andrew Shaw, C (undisclosed) - will not play again this season
Marian Hossa, RW (knee) - will not play again this season
Corey Crawford, G (upper body) - could play Saturday
Duncan Keith, D (suspension) - has been suspended for the rest of the rest of the season and the first playoff game
Columbus Blue Jackets
Fedor Tyutin, D (undisclosed) - is unlikely to play Saturday
Jack Johnson, D (shoulder) - will not play again this season
David Clarkson, RW (lower body) - is on IR
Curtis McElhinney, G (knee) - will not play again this season
Cody Goloubef, D (oblique) - is unlikely for Saturday's game
Calgary Flames
Ladislav Smid, D (upper body) - will not play again this season
Karri Ramo, G (ACL) - will not play again this season
Dennis Wideman, D (tricep) - will not play again this season
Michael Frolik, LW (lower body) - will not play again this season
Lance Bouma, C (oblique) - will not play again this season
Deryk Engelland, D (undisclosed) - will be a game-time decision
Derek Grant, C (groin) - will not play again this season
Jakub Nakladal, D (undisclosed) - is questionable for Saturday's game
Minnesota Wild
Thomas Vanek, LW (lower body) - is out Saturday and will miss at least the first couple games of the season
Zach Parise, LW (maintenance) - will not play Saturday
Buffalo Sabres
Cody McCormick, C (blood clots) - will not play again this season
Cody Franson, D (concussion) - will not play again this season
Tyler Ennis, LW (concussion) - will not play again this season
Robin Lehner, G (ankle) - will not play again this season
Evander Kane, LW (upper body) - will not play again this season
New York Islanders
Jean-Francois Berube, G (lower body) - skated Thursday
Matt Martin, LW (upper body) - is day-to-day
Brian Strait, D (upper body) - didn't play Thursday
Anders Lee, C (leg) - will not play again this season
Adam Pelech, D (upper body) - is in the AHL on conditioning
Travis Hamonic, D (knee) - took a light workout Thursday
Cal Clutterbuck, RW (lower body) - did not play Thursday
Jaroslav Halak, G (groin) - will not play again during the regular season
Mikhail Grabovski, C (concussion) - is not skating
St. Louis Blues
Steve Ott, C (hamstring/colitis) - will be out for at least another two weeks
David Backes, RW (lower body) - will not play again during the regular season
Jake Allen, G (lower body) - will not play again during the regular season
Nashville Predators
Miikka Salomaki, RW (undisclosed) - is day-to-day
Dallas Stars
Mattias Janmark, C (upper body) - missed Thursday's game
Tyler Seguin, C (Achilles) - will not play again during the regular season
Patrik Nemeth, D (illness) - didn't practice Friday
Edmonton Oilers
Andrew Ference, D (hip) - will not play again this season
Benoit Pouliot, LW (shoulder) - will not play again this season
Eric Gryba, D (knee) - will not play again this season
Oscar Klefbom, D (infection) - will not play again this season
Brandon Davidson, D (lower body) - will not play again this season
Vancouver Canucks
Jared McCann, C (undisclosed) - did not play Thursday
Linden Vey, C (upper body) - did not play Thursday
Sven Baertschi, LW (undiscosed) - is day-to-day
Alexander Edler, D (leg) - will not play again this season
Brandon Prust, LW (ankle) - will not play again this season
Brandon Sutter, C (jaw) - will not play again this season
Luca Sbisa, D (upper body) - will not play again this season
Radim Vrbata, RW (knee) - will not play again this season
Chris Higgins, LW (lower body) - will not play again this season
Winnipeg Jets
Toby Enstrom, D (knee) - will not play again this season
Mathieu Perreault, C (concussion) - will not play again this season
Tyler Myers, D (hip/knee) - will not play again this season
Bryan Little, C (back) - will not play again this season
Anthony Peluso, RW (shoulder) - will not play again this season
J.C. Lipon, RW (upper body) - has been out
Los Angeles Kings
Jordan Nolan, RW (back) - is out indefinitely
Matt Greene, D (shoulder) - will not play again this season
Alec Martinez, D (undisclosed) - is day-to-day
Marian Gaborik, RW (knee) - will not play again during the regular season
Arizona Coyotes
Nicklas Grossmann, D (personal) - left the team to be with his pregnant wife
Martin Hanzal, C (upper body) - will not play again this season
Michael Stone, D (ACL/MCL) - will not play again this season
Joe Vitale, C (concussion) - will not play again this season
Anders Lindback, G (Achilles) - will not play again this season
Jarred Tinordi, D (suspension) - continues to serve a suspension for PED use
Louis Domingue, G (personal) - has temporarily left the team
Eric Selleck, LW (upper body) - did not play Thursday
San Jose Sharks
Matt Tennyson, D (concussion) - has not yet been cleared to return
Matthew Nieto, LW (hand) - will not play again during the regular season
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, D (lower body) - will not play again during the regular season
Hot
Nick Bjugstad, C, FLA — Bjugstad has managed to turn Vincent Trocheck's injury into an opportunity to reclaim his second-line center role. His minutes haven't been huge, but he's put up two goals and an assist in the last four games, while averaging 4.75 shots a game. He's putting up those totals on modest ice time. He could earn more and is being given some power play action as well. He's on the rebound.
Johnny Gaudreau, LW, CGY — The diminutive winger is bringing a career-year to a close with some fire. He has three goals and four assists in his last six games with an average of 3.8 shots per game. His utility is dependent on scoring and racking up shots though. He doesn't get penalties, the team's struggles make his plus/minus tough to project, and he has one hit and no blocked shots over the last seven games.
Cold
Tyson Barrie, D, COL — The offensive defenseman has gone south with the rest of the Avs. It's been a disappointing end to the season. With a postseason berth on the line, they've gone 1-7-0 in their last eight, missing the playoffs for the second season in a row. Barrie has struggled throughout, going goalless in his last eight, with two assists, 1.6 shots per game, six hits and seven blocked shots. There's a little depth value, but it's a long way from what you expect from Barrie.
Tyler Johnson, C, TBL — He hasn't entered the postseason on a tear like he did last year when he was arguably the Lightning's postseason MVP. He has no goals and a single assist in the last six games, and outside of a nine-shot performance in one game, he has just five shots in the other five games.
Recommended Pickup
Jonathan Drouin, LW, TBL — In case you missed it when he was called up, he'd been tearing up the AHL, with 10 points in his last 10 games. He came into his first NHL game since December 30 and scored the game-winner on one of his four shots. He's a man with something to prove right now, giving him a little more motivation than most on the penultimate day of the season.
