NHL On Tap: Kaprizov looks to keep rolling when Wild host Blackhawks

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 three games Friday.

Kaprizov looks to keep rolling for Wild

Kirill Kaprizov is one of the hottest players in the NHL and the forward will try to keep rolling when the Minnesota Wild host the Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET: ESPN+, HULU, TVAS). Consider some of the eye-popping numbers he has posted of late. The 25-year-old has at least one point in 16 of his past 17 games, accruing 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in that span. His two-assist performance against the Anaheim Ducks Nov. 9 kicked off a 13-game point streak that ended against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 10. No matter. Wash, rinse, repeat. Indeed, Kaprizov simply started a new one and will attempt to extend his modest streak to three games against the slumping Blackhawks (7-17-4), who've lost five in a row and are 1-12-1 since Nov. 14. Kaprizov should have plenty of opportunities against Chicago, which ranks 28th in the NHL in goals-against average (3.68). Along with issues keeping pucks out of their own net, the Blackhawks have had struggles finding the other team's and rank 31st in goals scored per game (2.36). --Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Huberdeau, Flames trying to gain traction

Jonathan Huberdeau's first few weeks with the Calgary Flames this season weren't too memorable. The forward, who was acquired with defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Florida Panthers for forward Matthew Tkachuk on July 22, had six points, (one goal, five assists) through his first 11 games. He's been more productive lately, with five points (one goal, four assists) in his past six games but he'd probably like more. Overall, so would the Flames (13-11-6), who have lost four straight (0-1-3) entering their game against the St. Louis Blues (14-15-1) at Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday (9 p.m. ET; SN, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW). Huberdeau has 18 points in (five goals, 13 assists) in 27 games with the Flames. He is coming off his best NHL season, when he had 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) in 80 games for the Panthers in 2021-22. Chances are he'll get back into his productive groove for Calgary, who could use it to get back into a playoff spot in the Pacific Division. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Islanders can't take Coyotes lightly

The New York Islanders (17-12-1) have won two of their past seven games (2-4-1), but they should have an easy game at the Arizona Coyotes (9:30 p.m. ET; BSAZ, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW), right? Nope. Although the Coyotes (9-14-4) are 29th in the NHL, they defeated the Islanders 2-0 on Nov. 10. That was their third win in a row at the time. It also happened to be the third game of a 14-game road odyssey due to work on their temporary home, Mullett Arena. They went 1-7-3 the rest of that stretch, but that's over now. The Coyotes have won two of their past three, including a 4-3 victory over the NHL's top team, the Boston Bruins, at the Mullett on Dec. 9. The Coyotes play six of their next seven at home, giving them a chance to settle in and possibly make up some lost ground in the Western Conference. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Friday games

Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET: ESPN+, HULU, TVAS)
The Blackhawks are 0-6-1 against Central Division opponents. They lost 4-3 to the Wild on Oct. 30. Wild forward Mats Zuccarello has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in an eight-game point streak.
St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SN, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the second of back to back for the Blues, who won their second in a row when they defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a shootout on Thursday. Vladimir Tarasenko forced overtime for St. Louis when the forward scored with 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Flames forward Mikael Backlund has a five-game point streak (one goal, four assists).
New York Islanders at Arizona Coyotes (9:30 p.m. ET; BSAZ, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Islanders are 8-6-1 on the road this season and 10-0-0 when leading after two periods. The Coyotes are 5-4-0 against Metropolitan Division opponents and 7-1-2 when scoring first.