NHL On Tap: Jets visit Flames, seek fourth straight win

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 13 games on Saturday.

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J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!

OK, that chant is for the NFL team of the same nickname, but there are reasons for Winnipeg Jets fans to be cheering right now. The Jets (8-3-1) have won three in a row, have points in seven consecutive games (6-0-1) and are tied with the Dallas Stars for first in the Central Division. They'll look to keep it going when they visit the Calgary Flames (5-6-2) at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ESPN+). What's going right for the Jets? It starts in goal, where Connor Hellebuyck has been outstanding, 7-2-1 with a 1.98 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 starts. Scoring has been steady; no one has more than 12 points this season, with defenseman Josh Morrissey leading the way with a goal and 11 assists. When you're only allowing 2.33 goals per game (third in the NHL), however, you don't need much. A penalty kill that's tied for sixth in the League (83.3 percent) is also key. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

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Giroux returns to Philadelphia with Senators

It's going to be an emotional afternoon for Claude Giroux, who makes his return to Philadelphia when he and the Ottawa Senators visit the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS2, NBCSP, TSN5, SN NOW). It will be Giroux's first game at the building he called home for 15 seasons before he was traded to the Florida Panthers on March 19 and then signed a three-year contract with the Senators on July 13. The forward is second all-time for the Flyers in games played (1,000), assists (609) and points (900), and his 10 seasons as captain (2013-2022) is the longest tenure in team history. "It's going to be one of those games that you're going to remember," Giroux said. He has continued producing for the Senators, with eight points (five goals, three assists) during a seven-game point streak, but Ottawa (4-8-1) is 0-6-1 in its past seven, including a 2-1 loss to the Flyers on Nov. 5 in Ottawa. Forward Travis Konecny has six points (one goal, five assists) during a four-game point streak for Philadelphia (7-4-2). -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

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Panthers seeking consistency, starting to get results

The Florida Panthers (8-5-1) are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. After an offseason in which they had tremendous upheaval, from the trade of forward Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman Mackenzie Weegar for forward Matthew Tkachuk to the addition of Paul Maurice as head coach, it wasn't going to be an easy or quick path back to the powerhouse team that won the Presidents' Trophy last season. But the Panthers are beginning to see results, with three wins in their past four games, including a 3-0 shutout against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Next up are the dynamic Edmonton Oilers (8-7-0) on Saturday at FLA Live Arena (4 p.m. ET; SN, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW). It will be a tall task for either Panthers goalie -- Spencer Knight or Sergei Bobrovsky -- to stop Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but it could be another step forward for Florida in its bid to get back to the heights it reached last season. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Saturday games

Ottawa Senators at Philadelphia Flyers (1 p.m. ET, NHLN, TVAS2, NBCSP, TSN5, SN NOW)
Senators forward Shane Pinto leads NHL rookies with eight goals and is tied for first with nine points in 13 games. The Flyers have averaged 3.33 goals in six home games, and 2.14 goals in seven road games.
Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers (4 p.m. ET; SN, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Oilers center Connor McDavid has a nine-game point streak, with 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) over that span. Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl has a 10-game point streak (seven goals, 12 assists). The Oilers have lost four of their past five games. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad will return for the Panthers after missing the past 11 games with a lower-body injury. Florida is one of two NHL teams (Boston Bruins, 8-0-0) not to have lost in regulation at home this season (4-0-1).
Arizona Coyotes at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Clayton Keller has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) to lead the Coyotes (6-6-1), who have won three in a row. The Devils (11-3-0) have won eight straight games. That includes four straight comeback wins, tying the longest stretch in Devils history (March 6-13, 2001; Jan. 5-11, 2000 and Feb. 28-March 5, 1994).
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Bruins (12-2-0) have won nine of their past 10 games. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy, in his first game after a five-month recovery from shoulder surgery, had a goal and logged 19:18 of ice time in a 3-1 win against the Calgary Flames on Thursday. The Sabres (7-7-0) have lost four in a row, allowing 21 goals in those losses. Forward Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) and has three goals in his past two games.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CITY, SNE, TVAS, ATTSN-PT)
It's the second half of a back-to-back for the Penguins, who defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Friday. Pittsburgh (6-6-2) has won two straight after a seven-game skid (0-6-1). The Canadiens (7-6-1) have won two in a row. This is the second of three meetings this season; Montreal won 3-2 at home Oct. 17.
Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, ESPN+)
This is the third of a five-game road trip for the Canucks (4-7-3). They are 1-1-0 so far and will be without forward Tanner Pearson, who's out 4-6 weeks after having hand surgery Thursday. This is the second half of a back-to-back for the Maple Leafs (7-5-3), who lost to the Penguins 4-2 on Friday. Toronto forward Mitchell Marner has an eight-game point streak (two goals, 10 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN2, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blue Jackets (4-9-0) play their first game after learning Zach Werenski will miss the rest of the season with a separated shoulder and torn labrum and Nick Blankenburg is out 6-8 weeks with a fractured ankle and high ankle sprain. Each defenseman was injured in a 5-2 win against the Flyers on Thursday. The Islanders (9-6-0), who were shut out 2-0 by the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, began the season 28-for-28 on the penalty kill but are 14-for-21 since.
New York Rangers at Nashville Predators (8 p.m.; BSSO, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The six third-period goals the Rangers (7-5-3) scored in an 8-2 win against the Red Wings on Thursday were the most in a period since they scored seven in the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 17, 2021. The Predators (5-8-1) begin a five-home homestand after a 5-3 loss at the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Nashville is averaging 2.64 goals per game, 31st in the NHL.
Carolina Hurricanes at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Goalie Frederik Andersen sustained a lower-body injury in practice on Tuesday and his return is unclear for the Hurricanes (9-4-1). Forward Andre Svechnikov had his second NHL hat trick in a 7-3 win against the Oilers on Thursday; both have come against Edmonton. The Avalanche (7-4-1) have won three in a row. Forward Mikko Rantanen has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in a four-game point streak.
Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Goalie Petr Mrazek, in his first game since sustaining a groin injury against the Red Wings on Oct. 21, made 33 saves for the Blackhawks (5-5-3) in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Forward Troy Terry has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) to lead the Ducks (4-9-1), who have lost two in a row and are 2-6-1 at Honda Center, where they'll play the third of a four-game homestand.
St. Louis Blues at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blues (4-8-0) ended an eight-game losing streak with a 5-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. This is the start of a three-game road trip for St. Louis. The Golden Knights (13-2-0) have won nine in a row, one shy of the longest in their history (10 games from April 11-28, 2021). Forward Jack Eichel, who leads Vegas with 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists), had his third NHL hat trick in a 7-4 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. He has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in a seven-game point streak.
Winnipeg Jets at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ESPN+)
This is the first of a back-to-back for the Jets, who are 6-0-1 in their past seven games. They'll play at the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. Winnipeg forward Pierre-Luc Dubois has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past three games. The Flames are 0-5-2 in their past seven games, their last win coming Oct. 25 (4-1 against the Penguins). That was also the last time forward Jonathan Huberdeau scored a goal, his only one this season.
Detroit Red Wings at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSDET, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the first of a four-game road trip for the Red Wings (7-4-3), who are 2-2-1 away from Little Caesars Arena this season. Goalie Ville Husso is 5-2-0 with a 2.54 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and two shutouts in nine starts for Detroit. The Kings (9-6-1) have won three in a row, all by one goal, and are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.