This is the big one Thursday night, and it will go a long way toward determining whether the Ottawa Senators are going to stay in the playoff race. They enter play four points back of the Bruins for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and a win on home ice (in regulation) can close that gap down to just two while the Senators would still have a game in hand. The Bruins are 7-1-2 over their past 10 games and are starting to play what might be some of their best hockey of the season at the right time. Ottawa, meanwhile, has been nearly unbeatable since was called up as he carries his 11-0-1 record into Thursday's game. He has to lose a game in regulation at some point, doesn't he? Pick: Bruins 3, Senators 2 Along with the big game in the Eastern Conference, Thursday is also Bo Naylor Jersey a pretty important night in the Western Conference wild-card race. Most of the teams competing for the remaining spots are all in action, starting with San Jose visiting a Maple Leafs team that seems to just be playing out the string. The Sharks are coming off a pair of brutal lo ses to Chicago and Winnipeg that saw them get outscored 11-4. They continue their seven-game road trip in Toronto, starting the night five points out of a playoff spot. The Maple Leafs have won just eight out of their past 40 games since starting the season 19-9-3. Pick: Sharks 4, Maple Leafs 1 The Jets open the day with just a one-point cushion over the Calgary Flames for the first non-playoff spot in the West and enter the game riding a two-game winning streak after knocking off Tampa Bay and then blowing out San Jose. Their remaining schedule is pretty brutal and features nine of their remaining 12 games against teams currently in the playoffs. That includes Thursday's game against a St. Louis team that is trying to hold on to to the top spot in the Central Division and is 7-2-1 in its past 10 games. Pick: Blues 4, Jets 3 (overtime) Losing back-to-back games has knocked the Flames out of the top eight in the West and put them a single point behind both Winnipeg (wild card) and Los Angeles (third playoff spot in the Pacific Division). With a win and a little bit of help Thursday (like a Jets regulation lo s in St. Louis) they could jump back over both teams. Getting a Flyers team at home that has won just three of its past 12 games is a nice advantage on the schedule for this night. Pick: Flames 4, Flyers 2 at , 7 p.m. ET at , 7:30 p.m. ET at , 8 p.m. ET at , 8:30 p.m. ET at , 10 p.m. ET at 10, p.m. ET 1. , Washington Capitals: Ovechkin didn't record a point in the Capitals' most recent game, a shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres, but he attempted 22(!) shots in that game and was a one-man wrecking crew, running over people and constantly firing pucks at the net. It was one of his most impre sive games of the season as he continues to show why he should be in the MVP discu sion.2. , St. Louis Blues: The Blues' best offensive player has eight points in his past eight games, is tied for the fourth most goals in the league and is only one point away from being in the top five in total points. 3. , Montreal Canadiens: Pacioretty has already recorded his third 30-goal season in the past four years (the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season was the only year he did not reach 30 over that stretch) and is within striking distance of the first 40-goal season of his career. He needs one more hot streak (six goals in 11 games) to do it. Erik Sabrowski Jersey