NHL On Tap: Islanders look for first win in eight games
Kadri will try to run point streak to 11 for Avalanche; Rangers play Bruins in Thanksgiving Showdown
By
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
New York invades Boston
It's always a treat to watch the New York Rangers play the Boston Bruins, and even more so with the resurgence the Rangers have had this season entering the 2021 NHL Thanksgiving Showdown at TD Garden (1 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, NHL LIVE). New York (12-4-3) is coming of age quickly in arguably the League's toughest division, having won two straight and six of its past seven games. Chris Kreider scored two goals in a 4-1 win against the rival New York Islanders on Wednesday to give him 15 on the season, which is tied for second in the NHL with Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Andrew Mangiapane of the Calgary Flames (Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers is first with 20). The Bruins (10-6-0), meanwhile, aren't exactly where they'd like to be despite having won four of their past five, including a 5-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. They should be raring to go after some Thanksgiving home cooking. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Kadri, Avalanche, look to extend streaks
Nazem Kadri will try to extend his point streak to 11 games for the Colorado Avalanche, who will look for their seventh straight win when they visit the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center (7:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, ALT2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Kadri had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday and has scored 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) during his point streak, which is the longest active in the NHL. Defenseman Cale Makar is also hot, having scored six goals and eight points in the past four games for the Avalanche (10-5-1), who have outscored their opponents 36-15 during their winning streak. The Stars (8-7-2) have also found a groove offensively of late, having scored 20 goals in their past five games (4-1-0). -- Tim Campbell, staff writer
Islanders try to end long losing streak
The New York Islanders will look for their first win in eight games, and first at UBS Arena, when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins (7:30 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS, MSG+, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Islanders (5-9-2), who have been outscored 31-7 during their seven-game losing streak, will need to find a way to get back on track without forwards Anders Lee and Josh Bailey, and defensemen Adam Pelech, Andy Greene and Zdeno Chara, who are in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Center Brock Nelson and defenseman Ryan Pulock are also out with lower-body injuries. The Penguins (9-6-4) are trending in the opposite direction of the Islanders, having won four straight and outscored their opponents 15-2 in that span. --Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Friday schedule
New York Rangers at Boston Bruins (1 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins host the Rangers following a good showing against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, when they scored four goals in a 5:31 span in the first period after being shut out 4-0 by the Calgary Flames on Sunday. New York is 7-3-2 on the road this season.
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks (3:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Blues (10-7-2) have struggled the past few weeks, having lost two of their past three games and six of their past eight (2-5-1). The Blackhawks (6-11-2) will enter fresh off a four-game road trip, during which they went 2-2-0.
Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild (3:30 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWI, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Wild (12-6-1) start a five-game homestand against their division rival, who they defeated 6-5 in overtime in their first meeting this season on Oct. 19. The Jets' (9-6-4) offense has dried up of late, having scored four goals in their past four games (0-3-1).
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers (3:30 p.m. ET; SN, NBCSP, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Hurricanes (14-3-1) will return to the east coast for the finale of a six-game road trip. They won the first three games of the trip before losing the past two, including 2-1 at the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. The Flyers (8-6-4) are averaging 1.73 goals per game in November, which is 31st in the League, ahead of only the New York Islanders (1.67).
Ottawa Senators at Anaheim Ducks (4 p.m. ET; BSW, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Trevor Zegras has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past five games for the Ducks (10-7-3), who have lost their past three games after winning eight in a row. The Senators (4-12-1) have scored eight goals but have allowed 13 in two games since returning from their COVID-19 pause.
Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals (5 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers (14-2-3) swept their recent four-game homestand to improve to 11-0-0 at FLA Live Arena this season. However, they have struggled a bit on the road, going 3-2-3. Alex Ovechkin continues to stay hot with seven points (three goals, four assists) in the past three games for the Capitals (12-3-5). He is third in the NHL with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 20 games.
New Jersey Devils at Nashville Predators (6 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Devils (8-5-4) have slowed down a bit following their hot start, going 1-2-2 in their past five games. Matt Duchene has done the opposite for the Predators (10-8-1), who have lost three of four. After scoring one goal in his first five games this season, Duchene has scored 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in the past 14 games. Defenseman Roman Josi is expected to play his 700th NHL game.
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Since starting the season 5-1-1, the Sabres (7-10-2) have lost 10 of their past 12 games, including four straight. The Canadiens have lost five of their past six (1-4-1) and are 1-8-1 on the road. The Sabres, who are 5-5-1 at home, won the first meeting between the teams this season, 5-1 in Buffalo on Oct. 14.
Seattle Kraken at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Steven Stamkos has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past five games for the Lightning (11-4-3), who are 7-1-2 in November. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy's next win will be his 200th in the NHL. The Kraken (6-12-1) have won two in a row following six straight losses and are led by Jaden Schwartz, who has scored 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 19 games.
Vancouver Canucks at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canucks (6-12-2) have lost seven of their past eight games (1-6-1) and have been outscored 33-14 during that span. Zach Werenski has scored eight points (three goals, five assists) during a six-game point streak for the Blue Jackets (11-6-0), who have won two straight and four of five.
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars (7:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, ALT2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Since being recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League on Nov. 13 because of injuries to Braden Holtby and Ben Bishop, Jake Oettinger has gone 3-0-0 with a 1.29 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in four games for the Stars (8-7-2). Nathan MacKinnon has been skating but is expected to miss his seventh straight game for the Avalanche (10-5-1) because of a lower-body injury. Colorado coach Jared Bednar said earlier this week that MacKinnon is likely on track to return to the lineup next week.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS, MSG+, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Islanders (5-9-2) rank 31st in the NHL in goals per game (2.00), ahead of only the Arizona Coyotes (1.85), and are last in the League on the power play (10.6 percent). The Penguins (9-6-4) have been led by Jake Guentzel, who has scored eight points (five goals, three assists) during a seven-game point streak, and Tristan Jarry, who is 4-0-0 with a 0.50 GAA, .983 save percentage (two goals on 118 shots) and two shutouts in his past four starts.
Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, SNO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Maple Leafs (14-6-1) have won two in a row and seven of their past eight games. During that span, Jack Campbell has helped Toronto outscore its opponents 24-10 by going 5-1-0 with a 1.00 GAA, .967 save percentage and two shutouts. The Sharks (10-8-1) have won two straight after beginning their four-game homestand with a 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals. Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic is expected to play his 1,100th NHL game.
