NHL On Tap: Giordano to play 1,000th NHL game when Kraken visit Capitals

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.

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Giordano to play 1,000th NHL game

Mark Giordano is expected to play his 1,000th NHL game when the Seattle Kraken visit the Washington Capitals on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The defenseman and captain of the Kraken (17-34-5) has scored 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 50 games and could be playing his final weeks in Seattle, as he might be moved prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on March 21. Giordano, who previously spent 15 seasons with the Calgary Flames, has scored 532 points (149 goals, 383 assists) in 999 NHL games and will become the 51st defenseman to reach the milestone. Alex Ovechkin is three goals from tying Jaromir Jagr (766) for third on the NHL goals list. The forward scored on a game-high six shots for the Capitals (29-18-9) in a 5-2 win against the Kraken on Nov. 21. -- David Satriano, staff writer

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Division leaders Avalanche, Flames face off

The Colorado Avalanche host the Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) in a battle between the Central and Pacific Division leaders. This is the first of three games between the teams this season, each scheduled for this month (March 13 at Colorado, March 29 at Calgary). The matchup features two of the top offenses in the NHL; Colorado (40-11-4) ranks second in goals per game (3.93) this season and Calgary (32-14-7) is sixth (3.47). Three of the top 10 players in points per game in the NHL will play in this game, Nathan MacKinnon (1.33; tied for 5th) and Nazem Kadri (1.31; T-7th) of the Avalanche and Johnny Gaudreau (1.28; 9th) of the Flames. -- Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor

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Reunions abound in Columbus

Saturday marks a big day for the Columbus Blue Jackets and two of their former players. Not only will Rick Nash see his No. 61 retired by the Blue Jackets (28-25-2), but another former captain will be in the building when Nick Foligno faces Columbus for the first time with the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSOH, NESN, NHL LIVE). Nash will be the first player to have his number retired by the Blue Jackets, after scoring 547 points (289 goals, 258 assists) in 674 games over nine seasons for Columbus. Foligno, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Blue Jackets on April 11, 2021 and signed with the Bruins (33-18-4) on July 28, also spent nine seasons with Columbus, scoring 334 points (142 goals, 192 assists) in 599 games. Foligno was named captain in 2015, the first since Nash, who held the role for four seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers on July 23, 2012. The two were never teammates with the Blue Jackets, but they share a past connection and will be saluted by the Blue Jackets on Saturday. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Saturday schedule

St. Louis Blues at New York Islanders (12:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSG+, BSMW, NHL LIVE)
Forward Jordan Kyrou has a five-game point streak (seven points; three goals, four assists) for the Blues (32-15-6), who play the first of back-to-back road games this weekend; they will visit the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. The Islanders (20-23-8) have lost four of their past five and could be without center Mathew Barzal (lower body) and defenseman Zdeno Chara (upper body) for a fourth straight game.
Chicago Blackhawks at Philadelphia Flyers (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, NHL LIVE)
Forward Patrick Kane has scored five goals and three multipoint games in his past four games for the Blackhawks (20-27-8), who seek consecutive wins for the first time since winning four in a row Jan. 8- 15. The Flyers are 1-4-1 during a season-high eight-game homestand and have three wins in their past 24 games (3-16-5). Forward Kevin Hayes could return to the Flyers lineup; he has been out since Jan. 18 due to an infection in his groin area.
Ottawa Senators at Arizona Coyotes (4 p.m. ET; BSAZ, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Senators (19-29-5) have lost three straight games, getting outscored 10-3. They have scored two goals or fewer in eight of their past 11 games, including getting shutout three times. The Coyotes (15-35-4) are coming off an impressive 2-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Forward Clayton Keller has scored at least one point in 13 of his past 15 games for Arizona.
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers (6 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Red Wings (24-25-6) scored 11 goals in two games prior to a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday. Rookie defenseman Moritz Seider has an eight-game point streak (12 points; one goal, 11 assists) for Detroit. Forward Jonathan Huberdeau had his 10-game assist streak end for the Panthers (36-13-5) in a 3-0 win against the Senators on Thursday but ranks third in the NHL with 75 points.
Montreal Canadiens at Edmonton Oilers (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SN360, CITY, TVAS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Canadiens goalie Andrew Hammond was placed on injured reserve Friday after winning his first three starts (.925 save percentage) since being traded to Montreal by the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 12. Forward Cole Caufield leads Montreal (14-34-7) with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 10 games since coach Martin St. Louis was hired Feb. 9. Forward Evander Kane has scored 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 16 games with the Oilers (30-21-4), including his first multigoal game Thursday against the Blackhawks.
Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; SN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward J.T. Miller has scored 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) during an eight-game point streak for the Canucks (27-23-6), who have won six of eight. Forward Mitchell Marner seeks to extend his point streak to six games (12 points; four goals, eight assists) for the Maple Leafs (35-15-4). Forward Wayne Simmonds is expected to play his 1,000th NHL game; he has scored 521 points (262 goals, 259 assists) with 1,219 penalty minutes in 999 games.
Seattle Kraken at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Kraken defeated the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Wednesday and seek two straight wins for the first time since Jan. 17 and 20. The Capitals had lost six straight home games prior to a 4-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday and go for two straight at Capital One Arena, where they are 13-11-5.
Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSOH, NESN, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins are coming off a 5-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday and are in the sixth and final game of a road trip. Boston is 4-1-0 on the trip and 6-1-0 in its past seven games. The Blue Jackets lost to the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime on Friday and are 8-3-1 in their past 12 games.
Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks (8 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Nashville (30-20-4) has lost seven of its past 10 games (3-6-1). Forward Matt Duchene scored two goals in a 4-3 loss to the Kraken on Wednesday after not scoring a goal in his previous five games. Goalie Alex Stalock could make his first NHL start since the 2015-16 season for the Sharks (24-24-6) after he was acquired for future considerations from the Oilers on Tuesday. San Jose has two wins in its past 11 games (2-5-4).
Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Avalanche defenseman and Calgary native Cale Makar has a 10-game assist streak (15 assists), tied with Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau (Jan. 27 to Feb. 26) for the longest in the NHL this season. Flames forwards Blake Coleman and Andrew Mangiapane each has a five-game point streak. Mangiapane has scored 21 of his 29 goals this season on the road.