NHL On Tap: Thornton of Panthers faces Sharks for first time

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 10 games Saturday.

Thornton faces Sharks for first time since departure

Joe Thornton will be back in the lineup for the Florida Panthers (30-9-5) and face his former team for the first time when they host the San Jose Sharks (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The 42-year-old forward, who was a scratch in three straight games and eight of the past nine, played 15 seasons for the Sharks. He is their leader in assists (804), second in points (1,055), third in games played (1,104) and fourth in goals (251). He left San Jose to sign a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 16, 2020, but the teams did not play last season. The Panthers are 22-3-0 at home and have won eight straight at FLA Live Arena, where they've scored at least four goals in 21 of 25 games. Jonathan Huberdeau is tied with Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers for the NHL lead with 59 points and leads the League with 43 assists. The forward is one of nine Panthers skaters who have scored at least 25 points this season. The Sharks (22-19-2) are coming off an impressive 4-1 win at the Washington Capitals on Wednesday and a win against the Panthers would go a long way to show they can play with the elite teams in the NHL. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Evander Kane to make Oilers debut against Canadiens

Evander Kane is expected to make his Oilers debut when they visit the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET, CBC, TVAS, CITY, ESPN+, NHL LIVE), two days after the forward signed a one-year contract. Though was placed on unconditional waivers by the Sharks on Jan. 8 and had his contract terminated, he scored at least 20 goals in each of his past six seasons and could play on a line with Connor McDavid and Draisaitl. In Edmonton's 66 games against Montreal, the three forwards have scored 67 points (18 goals, 48 assists). The Oilers (21-16-2) are riding a three-game winning streak after an 0-5-2 skid. The Canadiens (8-27-7) are 1-6-4 in their past 11 heading into the second of an eight-game homestand. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Golden Knights to complete challenging trip at Lightning

The Vegas Golden Knights will play the finale of a difficult road trip against four of the top teams in the Eastern Conference when they visit the reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSSUN, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE). Vegas (25-16-3) is 1-1-1 on the trip after a 1-0 win at the Capitals on Monday, a 4-3 overtime loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday and a 4-1 loss at the Panthers on Thursday. Tampa Bay (29-10-5) is 8-2-0 in its past 10 games and two points behind Florida for first in the Atlantic Division and NHL standings. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Saturday schedule

Anaheim Ducks at Ottawa Senators (12:30 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, RDS, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Troy Terry has scored 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his past eight games for the Ducks (22-16-8), who are 3-0-1 in their past four games and continue a five-game road trip. The Senators (13-20-4) also have four-game point streak (2-0-2) and will be without forward Josh Norris, who sustained an upper-body injury in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Los Angeles Kings at Philadelphia Flyers (1 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Kings (22-16-6) defeated the Flyers earlier this season (6-3 on Jan. 1) and are 6-2-0 against them in their past eight games. The Flyers (13-22-8) have lost 13 straight games (0-10-3) and have been outscored 50-26 since their last win Dec. 29 (3-2 in overtime against the Seattle Kraken).
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues (3 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Jets (17-16-7) are on a season-high six-game losing skid (0-4-2) when they've been outscored 24 -13. Ryan O'Reilly will play his 900th NHL game. The forward has played 248 of those games for St. Louis (26-12-5), scoring 221 points (74 goals, 147 assists).
San Jose Sharks at Florida Panthers (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sharks continue a four-game trip and try for two straight regulation wins for the first time since Nov. 28 and 30. Panthers forward Anton Lundell (27 points) is tied with Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider for third in scoring among NHL rookies.
Edmonton Oilers at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; CBC, CITY, TVAS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Oilers center Connor McDavid has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in his past three games after three games without a point. Forward Jake Evans scored two goals for the Canadiens in a 5-4 loss to the Ducks on Thursday. Montreal has lost four straight (0-2-2).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; SN, BSDET, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Mitchell Marner will try to score a goal in his fifth straight game (four goals, three assists) for the Maple Leafs (26-10-3). Toronto is 13-1-2 in its past 16 games against Detroit. The Red Wings (19-19-6) lost three straight prior to a 3-2 shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
Vegas Golden Knights at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSSUN, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE)
Forward Chandler Stephenson leads Vegas with 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 43 games but doesn't have a point in his past three. Forward Alex Killorn has scored in 13 of his past 16 games (17 points; six goals, 11 assists) for Tampa Bay.
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Devils (15-22-5) have been outscored 11-5 during a three-game losing streak. The Hurricanes (29-9-2) have won two straight since a 7-4 loss to the Devils on Jan. 22. Carolina forward Sebastian Aho has 15 multipoint games this season.
Buffalo Sabres at Arizona Coyotes (9 p.m. ET; BSAZ, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sabres (13-22-7) could be without their top six goalies because of injuries, NHL COVID-19 protocol and suspension. They are 6-10-4 on the road following a 5-0 loss at the Senators on Tuesday. The Coyotes (10-28-4) are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Friday and have been outscored 19-7 in their past four games.
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canucks (19-19-5) ended a three-game skid with a 5-1 win against the Jets on Thursday. Vancouver forward J.T. Miller had a hat trick and has scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past four games. The Flames (20-13-6) seek to rebound after a 5-1 loss at the Blues on Thursday. They had previously won two straight by a combined 13-1.
Seattle Kraken at New York Islanders, postponed