NHL Playoffs 2016: Elimination threats [Thursday night open thread]

A break in the Islanders' slow torture of our hopes is a chance to gawk at -- and maybe even appreciate -- others in the playoffs.

Two teams are facing elimination on Thursday night, while a couple more can take commanding leads. Here's an open discussion thread for watching the NHL playoff games. (Talk about the Ryan Pulock injury news, or the Isles prospects in the junior playoffs, or the long Game 5 drought, over there.)

Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning

7 p.m. ET | Game 5, Eastern Conference Round 1
Amalie Arena | Tampa, Fla.
Local: FS-D, FS-F | Nat'l: NBCSN, CBC, TVAS2
Live stream at NBC Live Extra and Rogers GameCentre
More coverage: Red Wings blog | Lightning blog

Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers

7 p.m. ET | Game 4, Eastern Conference Round 1
Madison Square Garden | New York City
Local: MSG, ROOT Nat'l: CNBC, TVAS, SN
Live stream at NBC Live Extra and Rogers GameCentre
More coverage: Penguins blog | Rangers blog

Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators

8:00 p.m. ET | Game 4, Western Conference Round 1
Bridgestone Arena | Nashville, Tenn.
Local: FS-W, FS-TN | Nat'l: CNBC, SN360, TVAS3
Live stream at NBC Live Extra and Rogers GameCentre
More coverage: Ducks blog | Predators blog

Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues

9:30 p.m. ET | Game 5, Western Conference Round 1
Scottrade Center | St. Louis, Mo.
Local: CSN-CH, FS-MW | Nat'l: NBCSN, TVAS, SN
Live stream at NBC Live Extra and Rogers GameCentre
More coverage: Blackhawks blog | Blues blog