NHL On Tap: Marner can extend home point streak for Maple Leafs

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 nine games Saturday.

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Marner puts home streak on the line

Mitchell Marner will look extend his 16-game home point streak when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, BSDET). Marner, who was selected to represent Toronto at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game at FLA LIVE Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on Feb. 4, has 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) during the streak and the forward is third on the Maple Leafs with 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) in 39 games this season. Toronto (23-9-7) has lost three of its past four games (1-2-1) and has allowed 3.88 goals per game over its past eight games after giving up 2.35 goals against in its 31 previous games this season. Detroit (16-14-7) has lost three of its past four games (1-3-0). -- Tom Gulitti, Staff Writer

Metropolitan rivals clash in key battle

The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils are heading in opposite directions as they square off for a matinee game at Prudential Center on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSGSN, MSG, SN NOW). New York (22-12-6) has won three straight and is 11-2-1 in its past 14 games. New Jersey (24-12-3) is 3-8-2 in its past 13 games and 0-7-1 in its past eight home games. The Devils began the season 21-4-1 and appeared to be running away with the Metropolitan Division. But entering Saturday, they sit five points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes and would be leapfrogged by the Rangers with a regulation loss. The Rangers are led by Artemi Panarin (45 points), Mika Zibanejad (43 points) and Adam Fox (39 points). The Devils are led by Jack Hughes, who has six goals during a four-game goal streak. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Thompson, Kaprizov look to light lamp in Buffalo

Two of the hottest goal scorers in the NHL clash when the Buffalo Sabres host the Minnesota Wild (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW). Forward Tage Thompson is the League's second-leading goal scorer (30) behind Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (33) and is coming off a hat trick, including the game-winning goal for Buffalo (19-15-2) in their 5-4 overtime win against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Kirill Kaprizov has three goals in his past two games for the Wild (22-13-2), including two in their 5-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, giving him 22 for the season and extending his home point streak to 14 games. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Saturday games

New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSGSN, MSG, SN NOW)
The Rangers, who are 7-1-1 in their past nine road games, have scored at least four goals in four of their past six away games. Center Nico Hischier has a five-game goal streak for the Devils, and defenseman Dougie Hamilton has a four-game point streak (two goals, four assists).
Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets (4 p.m. ET; SN, BSOH, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Hurricanes (25-8-6) have lost two in a row following an 11-game winning streak. They lost to 5-3 to the Nashville Predators on Thursday, stymied by a 64-save performance by Juuse Saros. Columbus is 0-9-1 in their past 10 games and have allowed four power play goals in eight short-handed situations in the past two games. Columbus forward Johnny Gaudreau has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past five games. Carolina forward Martin Necas has eight points (four goals, four assists) during a seven-game point streak.
Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, BSDET)
Robby Fabbri scored his first goal of the season when the Red Wings lost to the Florida Panthers on Friday. It was the forward's second game back after recovering from knee surgery. Auston Matthews needs one goal to reach 20 for the seventh consecutive season for Toronto. The forward would be the fifth Maple Leafs player with seven or more consecutive seasons with at least 20 goals, joining Mats Sundin (13), Ron Ellis (10), Darryl Sittler (9) and Rick Vaive (7).
Minnesota Wild at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Wild seek their third straight win and are 9-2-0 in their past 11 games. Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past five games. The Sabres have won seven of their past eight. Tage Thompson has 30 goals in 36 games. Only two Sabres reached 30 in fewer games: Alexander Mogilny (30 games in 1992-93) and Pat LaFontaine (31 games in 1991-92). Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is one point shy of 200 in the NHL.
Seattle Kraken at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS2, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kraken (21-12-4) go for their fourth straight win after defeating the Maple Leafs 5-1 on Thursday. They are 11-4-2 on the road this season. The Senators (18-17-3) try for their third straight win after a 4-0 home victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday and are 4-1-0 in their past five games. Ottawa forward Claude Giroux has seven points (one goal, six assists) during a four-game point streak.
St. Louis Blues at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; (CITY, SNE, TVAS, BSMW, ESPN+)
It's the second and final meeting this season. The Canadiens defeated the Blues 7-4 on Oct. 29 when Montreal forward Christian Dvorak had a hat trick. Montreal (15-21-3) has lost seven straight games (0-6-1) after a 4-1 loss at home to the New York Rangers on Thursday. St. Louis (19-17-3) has won two straight since losing forward Ryan O'Reilly for six weeks (broken foot) and forward Vladimir Tarasenko for four weeks (hand) and 7-2-2 in its past 11 games. Blues defenseman Justin Faulk is expected to play his 800th NHL game.
Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Golden Knights (27-12-2) look for their fourth straight win following a 5-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. Vegas forward Mark Stone has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in his past seven games. Los Angeles (22-14-6) is 7-2-1 in its past 10 games and six points behind Pacific Division-leading Vegas. Kings forward Phillip Danault has four goals in his past five games.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS2, ALT, ESPN+)
The Avalanche (19-15-3) will try to end a five-game skid (0-4-1), their first since Oct. 25-Nov. 5, 2019, following a 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Colorado defenseman Cale Makar has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past five games. The Oilers (21-17-2) ended their five-game home losing streak with a 4-2 win against the New York Islanders on Thursday. Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist, extending his point and assist streaks (one goal, five assists) to five games.
Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Erik Karlsson will look to extend his 14-game point streak for the Sharks (12-20-8). He had an assist in San Jose's 5-4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday and became the seventh defenseman in the past 30 years with a point streak of at least 14 games. Sharks goalie James Reimer needs one win for 200 in the NHL. The Bruins (30-4-4) are 9-0-3 in their past 12 games and became the first team this season to win 30 games when they defeated the Kings 5-2 on Thursday. Boston forward Taylor Hall is expected to play his 800th NHL game.