NHL On Tap: Blues host Wild, look to gain ground in Central

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 12 games Saturday.

The St. Louis Blues are playing themselves all the way back into the Stanley Cup Playoff race in the Western Conference. Getting two points in a regulation win against the Minnesota Wild at Enterprise Center on Saturday (6 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW) would go a long way to bolstering their run. This is one of those potential four-point swing divisional games that the team on the outside of the race, in this case the Blues (17-16-3), can't afford to lose. Making up ground in the NHL is hard, as the Blues are finding out, so this is a big opportunity. They've been better of late, 6-2-3 in 11 games since losing six of seven in regulation from Nov. 23-Dec. 5. The Blues have earned a point in goalie Jordan Binnington's seven starts since Dec. 11 (4-0-3). They were 0-6-0 with Binnington in net from Nov. 23-Dec. 5. But even 15 out of 22 points in their past 11 games hasn't gotten them much. They are fifth in the Central Division, four points behind the Colorado Avalanche, who have played two fewer games. Eleven games ago they were sixth in the division, five points behind the fourth-place Avalanche, who had played two fewer games. But St. Louis has an opportunity Saturday to move the needle and get within three points of Minnesota (20-13-2), which is currently in third place with only one fewer game than St. Louis. The Wild have lost two of three since winning six in a row and 10 of 11. Maybe the Blues are catching them at the right time? Either way, this is one to keep an eye on. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer
Nathan MacKinnon could play for the Colorado Avalanche when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Ball Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW) after being sidelined for 11 games with an upper-body injury. The forward joined Colorado for its practice Friday for the first time since he was injured against the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 5. MacKinnon's return would be a boost for Colorado, which is also missing forwards Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Valeri Nichushkin (upper body), Darren Helm (hip), Shane Bowers (upper body) and Martin Kaut (upper body), and defensemen Bowen Byram (lower body) and Josh Manson (lower body). MacKinnon had 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists) in 23 games before he was injured. The Avalanche (19-12-3) have lost their past two games (0-1-1) following a four-game winning streak. The Maple Leafs (22-8-6) complete a three-game road trip in which they are 1-1-0, including a 6-3 loss at the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer
Drake Batherson looks to extend his 12-game point streak when the Ottawa Senators visit the Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, BSDET, ESPN+). The forward had an assist in Ottawa's 4-3 overtime win against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, giving him 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) during the streak. Alex DeBrincat scored the game-tying goal and overtime winner for the Senators (16-16-3), who have won two straight and are 6-2-1 in their past nine. The Red Wings (15-12-7) begin a three-game homestand following a 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Detroit forward Dylan Larkin has three goals in his past five games. -- William Douglas, staff writer
Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins (1 p.m. ET; SN, NESN, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sabres (17-14-2) will try to win six games in a row for the first time since a 10-game winning streak from Nov. 8-27, 2018. Buffalo forward Jeff Skinner has five goals in a four-game goal streak and 12 goals in his past 12 games. The Bruins (28-4-3) are 7-0-2 in their past nine games and seek their fourth straight home win. Boston forward Patrice Bergeron has four goals in his past five games, including one in the Bruins' 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.
Chicago Blackhawks at Columbus Blue Jackets (1 p.m. ET; BSOH, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blue Jackets (10-22-2) look to end a seven-game losing streak following a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday. They will be without forward Patrik Laine (COVID-19 protocol) for the second straight game. The Blackhawks (8-22-4) have lost 18 of their past 20 games (2-17-1) after losing 3-1 to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. They have scored two or fewer goals in nine of their past 11. Patrick Kane has two goals in his past five games, including one in loss to the St. Louis.
Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights (3 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists in his 600th NHL game for the Predators (15-14-5) in their 6-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. Nashville is 3-5-3 in their past 11 games. Forward Mark Stone has four goals in four games for Vegas (24-12-2), including one in their 3-2 shootout loss to the Ducks on Wednesday.
Philadelphia Flyers at Los Angeles Kings (4 p.m. ET; BSW, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Travis Konecny has five goals in his past four games for the Flyers (12-17-7), including two in their 4-3 comeback overtime win against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. The Kings (21-12-6) are riding a seven-game point streak (6-0-1) and are looking for their fifth straight win at Crypto.com Arena. King forward Phillip Danault has eight points (four goals, four assists) during a six-game point streak.
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals (4 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, NBCSWA, ESPN+)
The Canadiens (15-18-3) have lost four straight (0-3-1) and are 1-6-1 in their past eight games following a 7-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Defenseman Arber Xhekaj has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past five games for Montreal. The Capitals (20-13-5) had their five-game winning streak end when they lost 4-3 to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Washington defenseman Erik Gustafsson had a goal to extend his point streak (five goals, five assists) to six games.
Arizona Coyotes at Tampa Bay Lightning (5 p.m.; BSSUNX, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes (13-16-5) begin a four-game road trip, seeking their fourth straight win after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Thursday. Arizona forward Nick Schmaltz has three goals in five games. The Lightning (22-11-1) will try for their third straight win following their 2-1 shootout victory against the New York Rangers on Thursday. Lightning forward Brayden Point scored his 20th goal of the season. It was his fourth goal in the past three games, and he's scored in seven straight home games.
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues (6 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov has points in 21 of 23 games since Nov. 9, totaling 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists). He scored his 20th goal of the season in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday. The Blues are 4-4-1 against Central Division opponents after a 3-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. Minnesota is 6-3-0 in the division after losing to Dallas.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Colorado Avalanche (7 p.m.; SN, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman Connor Timmins has eight assists in 10 games with Toronto since being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 23. Mikko Rantanen has seven points (three goals, four assists) during a four-game point streak and leads the Avalanche with 45 points (24 goals, 21 assists) in 34 games.
Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, BSDET, ESPN+)
Ottawa forward Alex DeBrincat has four goals in his past three games and at least one point in 12 of his past 13 (seven goals, 11 assists). Forward Michael Rasmussen has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past five games for Detroit, which is 2-5-2 in its past nine.
San Jose Sharks at Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET; BSSWX, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jamie Benn has a seven-game point streak (four goals, four assists) and Jason Robertson has a six-game point streak (one goal, eight assists) for the Stars (22-9-6), who have won three straight. The Sharks (11-19-7) look to rebound from a 4-3 overtime loss to the Flyers on Thursday. Erik Karlsson had two assists to become the first defenseman to reach 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists) in the NHL this season and extend his point streak to 11 games (two goals, 16 assists), the longest by a defenseman in Sharks history.
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; SN1, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Tyler Toffoli has five goals in his past six games for the Flames (17-13-7), including one in their 3-2 win against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. Elias Pettersson has nine points (three goals, six assists) during a four-game point streak for the Canucks (16-16-3).
Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m.; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Connor McDavid has 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) during a 17-game point streak for the Oilers (20-15-2). He's on a four-game goal streak after he scored and had four assists in Edmonton's 7-2 win against the Kraken on Friday. He leads the NHL with 72 points (32 goals, 40 assists). Mark Scheifele has four goals in his past five games for the Jets (22-13-1), including a hat trick in their 4-2 win against the Canucks on Thursday.