NHL On Tap: Bruins roll into Toronto to face Maple Leafs
Avalanche, Blue Jackets conclude Global Series; Giroux faces Flyers
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Bruins, Maple Leafs deal with different situations
When we're talking Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, we're usually talking about their matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which usually end up interesting (and for the Bruins, positive). But this regular-season game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN30, NESN) is interesting as well, just because of where each team is in the standings. The Bruins (10-1-0) have won seven in a row and have the best record in the NHL. Prior to their 5-2 victory against the Flyers on Wednesday, the Maple Leafs (5-4-2) went 1-2-2 on a five-game road trip. Will Boston keep rolling, or will Toronto pick up steam? We shall see. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
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Giroux ready to face Flyers with Senators
Claude Giroux and the Ottawa Senators will host the Philadelphia Flyers at Canadian Tire Centre (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS2, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW). The forward played his first 15 seasons with the Flyers but was traded to the Florida Panthers last season on March 19. Giroux, who played 1,000 games for Philadelphia, had 900 points (291 goals, 609 assists) with the Flyers. He has nine points (five goals, four assists) this season in 10 games for the Senators after signing a three-year, $19.5 million contract July 13. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
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Avalanche, Blue Jackets wrap up Global Series
The Colorado Avalanche and the Columbus Blue Jackets play the finale of their two-game set in the 2022 NHL Global Series at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, BSOH, ALT, SN NOW). Finnish players on each team delivered in the Avalanche's 6-3 win in the first game Friday; Mikko Rantanen scored three goals, including what proved to be the game-winner at 8:54 of the third period, and had an assist for Colorado (5-4-1). Patrik Laine had a goal and an assist for Columbus (3-8-0), which rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie it before allowing the final three goals. The Blue Jackets have lost four in a row but will have a chance to rebound against the reigning Stanley Cup champions Saturday before heading home. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer
Saturday's games
New York Islanders at Detroit Red Wings (1 p.m. ET; SN, BSDET, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Brock Nelson has a four-game goal streak, matching the longest of his career, which he's done five times before. Nelson has five goals in those four games, along with two assists. The Islanders have won five straight games; the Red Wings had lost three of four before defeating the Washington Capitals 3-1 on Thursday.
Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, BSOH, ALT, SN NOW)
Nathan MacKinnon has six assists in his past two games for Colorado (5-4-1), including four in the first game of the NHL Global Series in Tampere, Finland on Friday. Jakub Voracek's second period power-play goal was the first of the season for Columbus (3-8-0) after it went 0-for-25 with the man-advantage in its first 10 games.
Chicago Blackhawks at Winnipeg Jets (3 p.m. ET; TSN3, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Veteran forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews continue to lead the Blackhawks (5-4-2), Kane in points with 10 (two goals, eight assists) and Toews in goals (nine). Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is 5-2-1 with a 2.35 goals-against average .929 save percentage and one shutout for the Jets (6-3-1), who are 4-0-1 in their past five games.
Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers (4 p.m. ET; SN, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Connor McDavid leads the NHL in goals (12) and points (24) this season; , he has two more points than Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl and two more goals than Vancouver Canucks forward Bo Horvat and San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. McDavid has scored in four straight games and has seven goals in that span. The Stars have turned to Scott Wedgewood while Jake Oettinger recovers from a lower-body injury and Wedgewood has played well for them, earning the win in two consecutive games while allowing two goals in each.
Arizona Coyotes at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, BSAZX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
After going 1-2-1 in their initial homestand at Mullett Arena, the Coyotes (3-6-1) begin a stretch of 14 consecutive road games. The trip, which will allow further construction to be completed on their new temporary home to be completed, will match the Canucks' 14-game trek to accommodate the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as the longest in NHL history. The injury-depleted Capitals (5-5-2) have scored eight goals while going 1-2-2 in their past five games. Alex Ovechkin needs one goal to break the NHL record he shares with Gordie Howe for the most with one team (786).
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN30, NESN)
Forward David Pastrnak, who has at least one point in nine of his 11 games this season, leads the Bruins with 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists). This wraps up a four-game road trip for Boston, which will get forward David Krejci back after he missed three games with an upper-body injury; Toronto will play four of its next five at home, where the Maple Leafs are 4-1-0 this season. John Tavares scored his 11th NHL hat trick in Toronto's 5-2 win against Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Victor Olofsson scored again in a 5-3 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday and is the seventh player in Sabres history to score nine goals in the first 11 games of a season. Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin enters with a four-game point streak (two goals, four assists). It's the third of a four-game homestand for the Lightning; they are 1-0-1 thus far and 3-0-1 during a four-game point streak. Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov has a five-game goal streak and nine-game point streak, the sixth time in his career he's had a five-game goal streak.
Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS2, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Senators have lost four straight games after starting the season 4-2-0. Cam Talbot, who missed the start of the season recovering from a broken rib, made his Senators debut in the latest defeat, coming on in relief of Anton Forsberg against the Vegas Golden Knights. Giroux is one goal away from 300 in his career. The Flyers have lost three straight and four of five.
Seattle Kraken at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Kraken forward Matty Beniers didn't score Thursday, ending a five-game point streak, but he still leads all rookies with nine points (five goals, four assists) in 12 games. Morgan Geekie has a three-game goal streak for the Kraken, who have won three straight, a streak that began against the Penguins on Oct. 29. Pittsburgh has lost six in a row after a 4-0-1 start.
Vegas Golden Knights at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, CITY, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+)
The Golden Knights are on a six-game winning streak, highlighted by a four-game point streak for forward Jack Eichel, who has two goals and four assists in that time. Nick Suzuki has scored in three straight games for the Canadiens. Cole Caulfield has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past five games.
Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN360, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
After starting the season with seven straight losses, the Canucks have won three of four, getting five points from Elias Pettersson against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Horvat is looking to continue his run of three straight multigoal games, which would break the franchise record. The Predators have won two of their past four.
New Jersey Devils at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, TVAS2, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jesper Bratt has set a Devils record with at least one point in each of their first 11 games this season, passing Tim Higgins (10 games in 1984-85). New Jersey has won five straight. The Flames have lost three in a row and will play the eighth and final game of a lengthy homestand before heading on the road for a three-game trip. Jonathan Huberdeau is one goal shy of 200 for his NHL career.
Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Erik Karlsson has 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) and four straight multipoint games. He is the fastest defenseman in the NHL modern era (since 1967-68) to score 10 goals in a season, ahead of the Buffalo Sabres' Phil Housley, who had 10 in 15 games in 1987-88. The Ducks were denied their third straight win when they lost 8-5 to the Canucks on Thursday.
Florida Panthers at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Matthew Tkachuk had three assists in the Panthers' 4-3 shootout win at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, bringing his total to 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 11 games for Florida, which is 2-3-1 in its past six games. Arthur Kaliyev has a three-game point streak and has eight (four goals, four assists) in 12 games this season.
