NHL schedule: Five questions for Sunday

USA TODAY Sports

A daily feature which asks the five hardest-hitting questions about this day in the NHL. Will our queries be answered? (That doesn't count as one of the five questions.)

1. Will the Bruins get revenge for Tuesday? With seven minutes left in the third period, the Boston Bruins probably felt they had two points wrapped up, and two big ones at that on the road in Pittsburgh. A Chris Kunitz goal and two Brandon Sutter tallies in four minutes and 15 seconds and the Penguins had stolen it away from Boston. The two clubs return to the scene of the crime (or Consol Energy Center) in Sunday's lone matinee, as both come off Saturday afternoon wins. Will Boston finish the job this time around?

2. Will Sidney Crosby be held pointless? Sid the Kid was held off the scoresheet in the Pens 3-0 whitewash of the New York Rangers yesterday. If the Bruins can keep him from getting a point, not only would it go a long way to getting them a win, it would mark just the second time this season that the Crosby is held without a point in two consecutive games. The only other time that's happened this year? A Feb. 9 and 10 home-and-home with the New Jersey Devils. The Penguin captain has, overall, been held off the scoresheet just seven times this season.

3. Now that Winnipeg leads the Southeast Division, can they gain ground? I was surprised myself to realize that their shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night had gotten the Winnipeg Jets into the driver's seat in the final chase for a Southeast Division banner. The Jets can extend their lead on the Carolina Hurricanes to three points with a win in Ottawa later today. With an odd start time (5 p.m. ET after a 7 p.m. ET game last night) and an Ottawa team that seemingly won't go away, it should be a challenge for the Jets.

4. Is there any chance for the winner of Sabres-Capitals to turn things around? Washington and Buffalo meet tonight in the Battle of the Eastern Disappointments. The winner will land in 12th place with about 20 games to go. Is there time for either to get back in the chase? Maybe Washington can, as they remain only eight points back of a playoff spot and nine back of a division lead. But for Buffalo, playing in a division with four teams in the top eight, it may officially be last gasp time starting today.

5. Is tonight a must-win for Nashville? The Predators are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, and the Columbus Blue Jackets caught up with them at 10th in the Western Conference last night. This is the time when things can start to slip away. A regulation loss to the Oilers in Edmonton tonight and the Oilers pass them in the standings on a tie-break. For a team in a division with Chicago, two other teams in the top eight, and whatever the hell is going on in Columbus, they can't afford to let things get worse.