NHL On Tap: Avalanche look to keep rolling vs. Red Wings

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 seven games on Friday.

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Avalanche send potent offense against Red Wings

The Colorado Avalanche are 10-2-1 in their past 13 games and begin a three-game homestand against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSDET+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Avalanche (14-7-2) defeated the New York Rangers 7-3 on Wednesday and lead the NHL with an average of 4.26 goals per game. They have scored 23 goals in their past four games (3-0-1). Center Nathan MacKinnon has scored at least one point in 12 of his 13 games this season (18 points; two goals, 16 assists). Center Nazem Kadri, who leads Colorado with 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 22 games, is day to day because of a lower-body injury and will not play. Rookie forward Lucas Raymond leads the Red Wings (13-11-3) with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 27 games. Detroit has lost its past two games, including a 6-2 defeat at the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, after winning five straight. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

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Flyers hope to find some luck in Vegas

The Philadelphia Flyers seek their first win in 11 games when they play at the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, NBCSP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Philadelphia has been outscored 46-18 and has been shut out twice during its 0-8-2 stretch, including 3-0 at the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. The Flyers (8-12-4) have lost their first two games under coach Mike Yeo, who replaced Alain Vigneault on Monday. Their longest stretch without a win is 12 games; they went 0-8-4 (ties) from Feb. 24-March 16, 1999. Vegas (15-10-0) is going for its fourth straight victory following an entertaining 5-4 win against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. Golden Knights forward Mark Stone has scored nine points (three goals, six assists) during a six-game point streak. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

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Crosby, Penguins renew rivalry with Ovechkin, Capitals

Seventeen seasons into their NHL careers, it remains must-see viewing when Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins (12-8-5) face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (16-4-6), with their latest matchup at Washington (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN, TVAS, NHL LIVE). Crosby missed the first seven games of the season recovering from wrist surgery. After making his season debut Oct. 30, the Penguins captain missed another five games in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Since returning to the lineup Nov. 14, he has scored 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 12 games, including 11 points (three goals, eight assists) during a current six-game point streak. Ovechkin has been just as remarkable, scoring 20 goals in 26 games; he's up to 750 goals, fourth in NHL history after passing Marcel Dionne (731) and Brett Hull (741) earlier this season. The Capitals captain's next power-play goal will tie him with Dave Andreychuk for the most in NHL history with 274. It will be the 60th time Crosby and Ovechkin will play against each other in the regular season; Crosby has scored 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists), and Ovechkin has scored 58 points (31 goals, 27 assists) in the first 59 games. -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Friday schedule

New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Rangers (17-5-3) look to start a new winning streak after their seven-game streak was ended against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. The Sabres (8-14-3) are 0-4-1 in their past five, including a 2-0 home loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN, TVAS, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins will be without forward Jake Guentzel, who is week to week with an upper-body injury. Goalie Tristan Jarry is 6-1-1 with a .963 save percentage, 0.99 goals-against average and three shutouts in his past eight games. The Capitals are 6-0-1 in their past seven home games.
Nashville Predators at New Jersey Devils (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Predators (15-10-1) seek their fourth straight win following a 4-3 victory at the New York Islanders on Thursday. Forward Eeli Tolvanen scored for a third straight game when he broke a tie with 11.5 seconds left in regulation. The Devils (10-9-5), who conclude a three-game homestand, ended a four-game skid (0-3-1) with their 3-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Detroit Red Wings at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSDET+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Red Wings are coming off two straight losses but are 5-2-1 in their past eight. This is their fifth set of back-to-back games this season; they're 2-2-0 in the second game of the first four. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar has scored points in nine of his past 10 games (15 points; nine goals, six assists).
Florida Panthers at Arizona Coyotes (9 p.m. ET, BSAZ+, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers (17-4-4) had their three-game winning streak end in a 4-3 overtime loss at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Forward Jonathan Huberdeau leads Florida with 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 25 games, including 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in a four-game point streak. The Coyotes (5-18-2) have lost three in a row and begin a three-game homestand having scored two or fewer goals in each of their past five games (1-4-0).
Winnipeg Jets at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canucks (10-15-2) have won their first two games under coach Bruce Boudreau, who replaced Travis Green on Monday. Vancouver has won four of its past five, being led by center J.T. Miller, who has scored seven points (two goals, five assists) in that span. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves and the Jets (13-9-4) shut out the Seattle Kraken 3-0 on Thursday. Center Paul Stastny's next assist will be the 500th of his NHL career. Stastny has scored 767 points (268 goals, 499 assists) in 1,019 games.
Philadelphia Flyers at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, NBCSP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk will try to end an 11-game goal drought; he has scored one goal in his past 18 games and has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in 24 games this season. Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty has scored at least one point in seven of the eight games he has played this season and has scored five goals in a four-game goal streak.