NHL On Tap: Panthers try to stay perfect at home

Welcome to the NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they are most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their choices from the 12 games Saturday.

Panthers look to stay perfect at home

The Florida Panthers will try to improve to 10-0-0 at FLA Live Arena when they host the Minnesota Wild (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, BSN, BSWI+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Florida (12-2-3) is 2-0-0 on a four-game homestand after defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Thursday in its first game without center Aleksander Barkov, who is week to week with a knee injury. The Panthers lead the NHL with an average of 4.78 goals per game at home, where they are allowing an average of 2.00 goals per game (tied for fourth). Minnesota (11-5-0) begins a three-game road trip with a back-to-back set, facing the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. Minnesota is 6-3-0 on the road and will seek to carry momentum from a 7-2 home win against the Dallas Stars on Thursday when forward Kirill Kaprizov scored four points (one goal, three assists). -- David Satriano, staff writer

Islanders to christen UBS Arena

After 13 straight road games to begin the season, the New York Islanders open their new home, UBS Arena, against the Calgary Flames (7 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG+, MSG+2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). New York (5-6-2) hopes to bring some of the magic from Nassau Coliseum, where it was 21-4-3 last season, and can use some home cooking after getting outscored 19-4 in losing its past four games. Losing defenseman Ryan Pulock for 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury and having forwards Anders Lee, Josh Bailey and Ross Johnston in NHL COVID-19 protocol won't help. Calgary (9-3-5) is 2-1-2 through five-games of a season-high seven-game trip and 7-2-2 on the road this season. Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves for his NHL-leading fifth shutout of the season in a 5-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Oilers, Blackhawks could fill highlight reel

Anytime you have Connor McDavid and Patrick Kane on the ice in the same game, there's a good chance of something spectacular happening. So, when the Edmonton Oilers (12-4-0) host the Chicago Blackhawks (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE), get your popcorn ready. McDavid extended his season-opening point streak to 16 games with another amazing goal in a 2-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, going 1-on-3 before beating goalie Connor Hellebuyck high to the blocker side. The center is second in the NHL with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) behind teammate Leon Draisaitl (33 points; 17 goals, 16 assists). And Kane remains a dazzling offensive force. He leads the Blackhawks (5-9-2) with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 12 games, is coming off consecutive two-point games, and his work with linemate Alex DeBrincat has been outstanding; just check out their puck movement and passing that led to defenseman Seth Jones scoring on a tap-in during a 4-2 win against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Saturday schedule

Carolina Hurricanes at Los Angeles Kings (4 p.m. ET; BSW, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Hurricanes (13-2-0), looking to extend their three-game winning streak, are 7-1-0 on the road after wins at the Vegas Golden Knights (4-2) and the Anaheim Ducks (2-1) to start a six-game trip. The Kings (8-6-2) had an eight-game point streak (7-0-1) end with a 2-0 loss to the Washington Capitals in the first game of their seven-game homestand Wednesday. Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick is 4-1-0 with a 1.19 goals-against average and a .963 save percentage in his past five starts.
New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning (4 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, BSSUN, MSG+, NHL LIVE)
The Devils (7-5-3) have lost three straight (0-2-1) heading into their visit to Amalie Arena. The Lightning (9-3-3) have points in nine consecutive games (7-0-2) overall and are 4-0-2 in their past six at home. Tampa Bay forward Brayden Point has scored a goal in three consecutive games. Dougie Hamilton's five goals for New Jersey are tied with Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers for second in the NHL among defensemen behind Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators (six).
Minnesota Wild at Florida Panthers (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, BSN, BSWI+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers have won 13 regular-season games in a row at home, including nine this season, dating to April 24 of last season. The Wild are averaging 2.78 goals per game on the road compared to 4.29 at home.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN1, SNO, SNP, ATTSN-PT, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins (6-6-4) ended a three-game losing streak with a 6-0 win at the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday to begin a three-game road trip. The Maple Leafs (12-5-1) have won five in a row and 10 of their past 11. Center Sidney Crosby, who missed 12 of Pittsburgh's first 13 games while recovering from offseason wrist surgery and in NHL COVID-19 protocol, scored his first goal of the season Thursday. Toronto center Auston Matthews has scored seven points during a five-game point streak (two goals, five assists).
Nashville Predators at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; CITY, SNE, TVAS, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canadiens (4-13-2) will try for their first win in five games (0-3-1) when they host the Predators (9-6-1). Nashville had a three-game winning streak end with a 3-0 loss at Toronto on Tuesday. Montreal is 31st in the NHL with an average of 2.00 goals per game and 30th with an average of 3.53 goals allowed per game.
Calgary Flames at New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG+, MSG+2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Brock Nelson leads New York with seven goals and nine points. Forward Andrew Mangiapane has scored 11 of his Calgary-high 12 goals on the road. Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington has scored five points (two goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak. Calgary is fifth in the NHL on the penalty kill (87.3 percent), and New York is 31st on the power play (12.5 percent).
Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Flyers (8-4-3) will wrap up a three-game homestand; they are 1-0-1 on it following a 4-3 shootout loss to the Lightning on Thursday. The Bruins (8-5-0) will resume play after five days off following a 5-2 win against the Canadiens on Sunday. Philadelphia forward Kevin Hayes' status is unclear after he missed the game Thursday with an undisclosed injury.
Detroit Red Wings at Arizona Coyotes (8 p.m. ET; BSAZ, BSDET, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Red Wings (8-9-2) will try to salvage the finale of their four-game road trip after losing the first three games. The Coyotes (2-13-2) have points in two straight (1-0-1) for the first time this season following a 5-4 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Goalie Scott Wedgewood is 2-1-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .932 save percentage in five games (three starts) since Arizona claimed him off waivers from New Jersey on Nov. 4. Rookie defenseman Moritz Seider practiced with Detroit on Friday after leaving in the third period of a 5-2 loss at the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday when he blocked a shot with his right knee.
St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET; BSSW, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Dallas (6-7-2) opens a three-game homestand looking to rebound from a 7-2 loss at Minnesota on Thursday. St. Louis (9-5-2) got its first win in five games (1-3-1) with a 4-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Blues forward Jordan Kyrou has scored eight points (six goals, two assists) during an NHL career-high six-game point streak.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Golden Knights (10-7-0) are 4-1-0 through the first five games of a six-game homestand that they'll finish against the Blue Jackets (9-5-0), who have won their past two games. Columbus forward Max Domi returns to the lineup after being removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol and Vegas forward Max Pacioretty could play for the first time since Oct. 14 (broken foot). Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek has scored 10 points (one goal, nine assists) during a seven-game point streak.
Chicago Blackhawks at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman Duncan Keith, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with Chicago, will face the Blackhawks for the first time since being traded to the Oilers on July 12. Chicago is 4-0-0 since Derek King took over as coach when Jeremy Colliton was fired Nov. 6. Edmonton is 7-1-0 at home, including a 2-1 shootout victory against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
Washington Capitals at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sharks (8-7-1) return home to host the Capitals (10-2-5) after going 2-3-0 on a five-game road trip. Washington is 5-0-1 in its past six games, including 1-0-1 through the first two of its four-game road trip. San Jose forward Timo Meier has scored six points (two goals, four assists) during a four-game point streak. Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway has five goals and one assist in the past four games after not scoring a point in the first 13.
New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators, postponed