NHL On Tap: Rangers look to extend Metropolitan lead against Hurricanes

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 eight games Friday.

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Rangers aim to widen Metrpolitan Division lead

If they keep winning them, we'll probably have to stop looking at these kinds of games as measuring sticks for the New York Rangers (26-10-4) and realize they simply measure up against the the best in the NHL. The Rangers' latest litmus test will come when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes (26-8-2) at PNC Arena (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSSO, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Rangers have won three straight games and seven of nine. They are in first place in the Metropolitan Division, two points ahead of the Hurricanes, but have played four more games. Carolina has won its past two games by a combined 11-2 against the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins, is 11-2-1 in its past 14 and its .750 points percentage is tied with the Colorado Avalanche for the best in the NHL. The Rangers are coming off a 6-3 come-from-behind win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, when they scored five unanswered goals after a sluggish first period. That was another one of these measuring stick games, as was a 4-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 2. If they come out on top against the Hurricanes, we can stop measuring. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Corey Perry plays first game at Anaheim as a visitor

The Tampa Bay Lightning forward spent the first 14 seasons of his NHL career with the Ducks. He'll face them for the first time as a visiting player when Tampa Bay (27-9-5) at Anaheim (19-16-7) at Honda Center (10 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, BSW, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). It's Perry's second trip to Anaheim since the Ducks terminated his contract on June 19, 2019. He was there on Jan. 9, 2020 as a member of the Dallas Stars; the Ducks held a tribute to him, but he did not play because he was serving a five-game suspension for elbowing Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis at the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. This time it's game on for Perry, who scored 776 points (372 goals, 404 assists) in 988 regular-season games with Anaheim. Only center Ryan Getzlaf has played more games for Anaheim (1,135) and only Teemu Selanne has scored more goals for the Ducks (457). Perry has a different focus now; he has gone to the Stanley Cup Final two straight seasons, with the Stars in 2020 and the Montreal Canadiens last season, and he could get there again this season with the two-time defending Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, who are tied with the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division. But it's still likely to be an emotional night. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Wild, Blackhawks look to rebound in back-to-back

The Minnesota Wild visit the Chicago Blackhawks in the first of a home-and-home, back-to-back set between the Central Division rivals at United Center (8:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSCH+, BSN, BSWI+, NHL LIVE). Minnesota (22-10-3) had a three-game win streak end Monday with a 4-3 shootout loss at the Avalanche. Chicago (15-18-6) will try to bounce back after a 3-2 shootout loss at the Seattle Kraken on Monday that ended a four-game winning streak. Wild forward Mats Zuccarello has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in a six-game point streak and Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in an eight-game point streak. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Friday schedule

New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSSO, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Rangers forward Chris Kreider has scored 25 goals in 40 games, three shy of his NHL career high of 28 in 2016-17 and 2018-19. The Hurricanes, 12-4-1 at home this season, are led by center Sebastian Aho, who has scored 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 33 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; SN, BSOH, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins (24-10-5) have won three straight and are 14-2-0 in their past 16. This is the first of a four-game homestand for the Blue Jackets (18-18-1). Center Boone Jenner has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in a five-game point streak.
Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; BSDET, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the third game in four days for the Stars (19-16-2), who twice came back from being down two goals for a 5-4 win at the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. The Red Wings (18-17-5) are led by center Dylan Larkin, who has scored 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 35 games.
Arizona Coyotes at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSAZ, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Coyotes (10-24-4) look to win three straight for the first time this season, in the second of a four-game road trip. The Islanders (13-13-6) have won their past two, as well as four of their past five at UBS Arena. Goalie Ilya Sorokin is 5-1-1 in his past seven starts.
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSCH+, BSN, BSWI+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild in scoring with 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists) in 34 games. The Blackhawks are 4-0-1 in their past five games. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is 13-11-3 with a 2.69 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and three shutouts in 27 starts this season.
Florida Panthers at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
This is the third of a five-game road trip for the Panthers (27-8-5), who defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-0 on Thursday. Center J.T. Miller has scored 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 39 games to lead the Canucks (18-18-3), who seek their third straight win following a three-game losing streak.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, BSW, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Center Brayden Point has nine points (five goals, four assists) in a seven-game point streak and center Steven Stamkos has seven points (three goals, four assists) in a four-game points streak for Tampa Bay. It has been 133:54 since the Ducks last scored, going back to center Trevor Zegras' third-period goal in their 7-3 loss at the Wild on Jan. 14.
St. Louis Blues at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blues (23-11-5) are 4-1-0 in their past five and begin a three-game road trip; they're 7-7-3 away from Enterprise Center this season. Forward Jordan Eberle leads the Kraken (12-23-4) with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 37 games.