NHL On Tap: Toews to play in 1,000th NHL game for Blackhawks at Panthers

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 Thursday.

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Toews reaches 1,000-game milestone

Jonathan Toews will play his 1,000th NHL regular-season game when the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSFL, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Blackhawks captain has scored 844 points (355 goals, 489 assists) in 999 games and won the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015) during his 14 NHL seasons. The 33-year-old center has scored 119 points (45 goals, 74 assists) in 137 playoff games, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy, voted as playoff MVP in 2010, and the Selke Trophy, voted as the NHL's top defensive forward, in 2012-13. "A lot of great memories over the years," Toews said, "and it's a moment where you get to kind of stop and look back and appreciate all of that and how far you've come, how many great people you've met and players you've played with, and teammates you made friendships with and on and on." Chicago (24-33-10) is 2-3-2 in its past seven games. Florida (45-15-6) leads the Atlantic Division, and is four points back of the Colorado Avalanche for the most points in the NHL. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

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Matthews goes for first 50-goal season in NHL

Auston Matthews can score 50 goals in the NHL for the first time when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Arena (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The center is tied with Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl for the NHL goal-scoring lead and has earned serious consideration for the Hart Trophy, voted as most valuable player in the NHL. The Maple Leafs (42-19-5) are third in the Atlantic Division, one point behind the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning, and Matthews could become the third different player to score at least 50 goals in one season since Draisaitl (50) and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (51) in 2018-19, and perhaps the first to score 60 since center Steven Stamkos did it for the Lightning in 2011-12. The Jets (33-25-10) are two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference with 14 games left, but missing forward Kyle Connor (82 points; 41 goals, 41 assists) and defenseman Nate Schmidt because of NHL COVID-19 protocol. Winnipeg seeks its fourth straight victory following a 3-2 shootout win at the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

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Kaprizov aims for Wild mark

Kirill Kaprizov stands two points from the Minnesota Wild (41-20-4) single-season scoring record and could acheive it against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xcel Energy Center (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWIX, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The 24-year-old forward scored the game-winning goal in a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, giving him 82 points (37 goals, 45 assists) in 64 games this season, one shy of the Wild record of 83 points, set by Marian Gaborik (42 goals, 41 assists) in 2007-08. Kaprizov also has a chance to break the Minnesota record for most goals in a single month; with 13 in March, he's tied with Eric Staal, who established the mark in February 2018. The goal by Kaprizov also extended the Wild's winning streak to seven games, the longest active streak in the NHL, and can equal their longest run of the season (Nov. 24-Dec. 9) with a win against the Penguins (40-18-10). -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Thursday schedule

New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, NESN, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Devils (24-37-5) play for the first time since a 3-2 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday and are 2-5-0 in their past seven games. New Jersey can be eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention with a regulation loss. David Pastrnak has scored 38 goals in 66 games for the Bruins (41-20-5), the fifth 30-goal season of the 25-year-old forward's NHL career. He scored an NHL career-high 48 in 70 games before the 2019-20 season was paused due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
Winnipeg Jets at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois is one goal from 100 in the NHL for the Jets, who are 8-13-2 against the Eastern Conference this season. Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner has scored 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in a seven-game point streak, and his 55 points (22 goals, 33 assists) since Jan. 2 is third in the NHL behind Calgary Flames forwards Johnny Gaudreau (57 points; 18 goals, 39 assists) and Matthew Tkachuk (57 points; 19 goals, 38 assists) in that span.
Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSFL, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Jonathan Huberdeau has scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in a five-game point streak for the Panthers, who are 4-1-0 in their past five games, including a 7-4 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Forward Patrick Kane has scored 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in a six-game point streak for the Blackhawks, who are 2-3-2 in their past seven games, including a 6-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman Zach Werenski will miss the next two games with an upper-body injury for the Blue Jackets (32-30-5), who have lost four in a row (0-2-2) and are coming off a 4-3 home loss to the Islanders on Tuesday. Center Brock Nelson has scored at least one goal in four straight games and has scored nine points (five goals, four assists) in a five-game point streak for the Islanders (29-27-9).
Montreal Canadiens at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Hurricanes (44-15-8) are 3-0-2 in their past five games and hold a three-point lead over the New York Rangers for first place in the the Metropolitan Division. Center Nick Suzuki has scored 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in his past 18 games for the Canadiens (18-38-11), who are 3-4-4 in their past 10.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWIX, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins could see the return of Jason Zucker; the forward will be a game-time decision after missing 30 games and 37 of the past 38 because of core muscle surgery on Jan. 25. Pittsburgh is 1-2-1 in its past four games, with each regulation loss to the Rangers. The exception was an 11-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. The Wild have not lost since a 6-2 defeat to the Nashville Predators on March 13.
San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Center Nathan MacKinnon will return after missing one game with an upper-body injury, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said on his weekly radio show. Colorado (47-14-6) holds a 14-point lead over Minnesota for first place in the Central Division and is 6-1-1 in its past eight games. Forward Timo Meier has scored eight points (five goals, three assists) in a five-game point streak for the Sharks (29-29-8), who lost 5-2 at the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Center Anze Kopitar has scored five points (one goal, four assists) in his past five games for the Kings (36-23-10), who began a three-game road trip with a 4-3 shootout loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. Forward Matthew Tkachuk has scored 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in a five-game point streak for the Flames (40-18-8), coming off a 2-1 home loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday. Calgary holds a six-point lead on Los Angeles for first place in the Pacific Division.
Dallas Stars at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, KCOP-13, BSSC, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Center Roope Hintz has scored seven points (six goals, one assist) in his past five games for the Stars (37-25-3), who trail the Vegas Golden Knights by one point for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. Dallas and Anaheim play at Honda Center for the second straight time following a 3-2 Stars win on Tuesday. The Ducks (27-30-11) will try to end a season-long 10-game losing streak (0-8-2).