NHL On Tap: Hurricanes visit Flames, each trying to start new streak

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 Saturday.

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Bruins shine spotlight on Chara

The Boston Bruins (4-1-0) will honor recently retired defenseman Zdeno Chara ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild at TD Garden (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, NESN, BSN, BSWI). Chara, who announced his retirement Sept. 20, will drop the ceremonial puck before the game. The 45-year-old led the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup as captain and ranks sixth in Boston history in games played with 1,023 and third in points by a defenseman with 481, behind Ray Bourque (1,506) and Bobby Orr (888). In the game that follows, the Wild (1-3-0) look to build off their first win this season, 4-3 in overtime against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. The Wild, with high hopes for success in 2022-23, begin a five-game road trip after opening with their first four at home. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Hurricanes, Flames look to rebound

The Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames each established themselves as early-season favorites by winning their first three games. Each then stumbled Thursday; the Hurricanes (3-1-0) lost 6-4 at the Edmonton Oilers and the Flames (3-1-0) lost 6-3 at home to the Buffalo Sabres. They'll attempt to bounce back against each other at Scotiabank Saddledome (10 p.m. ET; CITY, SNE, SNW, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW). It will be the fourth of a five-game road trip for Carolina; Calgary will play the third of an eight-game homestand. Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov has scored five goals in his past two games, including his first NHL regular-season hat trick against the Oilers on Thursday, and his six goals rank second in the League behind Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (seven). Center Nazem Kadri has five points (one goal, four assists) in his first four games with the Flames, who signed him to a seven-year, $49 million contract Aug. 18. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

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Nichushkin tries to keep rolling for Avalanche

Valeri Nichushkin aims to continue his sizzling start to the season when the Colorado Avalanche (2-2-1) visit the Vegas Golden Knights (4-1-0) at T-Mobile Arena (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, ALT2, ESPN+, SN NOW). The 27-year-old forward was one of Colorado's best players during its run to the Stanley Cup with 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in 20 postseason games and hasn't missed a beat in the early going this season. He has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in a five-game multipoint streak to begin the campaign and is tied for second in scoring in the NHL with Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, one point behind New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin. Forward Mikko Rantanen (nine points; three goals, six assists) and center Nathan MacKinnon (eight points; two goals, six assists) have also started quickly. For the Golden Knights, centers Jonathan Marchessault (four goals, one assist) and Jack Eichel (three goals, two assists) and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (five assists) each is on a point-per-game pace. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

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Saturday games

Minnesota Wild at Boston Bruins (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, NESN, BSN, BSWI)
The Bruins got a huge performance from goalie Linus Ullmark on Thursday, with 30 saves and no goals allowed in the shootout against the Anaheim Ducks. The 2-1 win marked the first time this season Boston didn't score at least five goals. Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov has eight points (four goals, four assists).
San Jose Sharks at New Jersey Devils (1 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sharks got their first win of the season, 3-2 in overtime, against the New York Rangers on Thursday, in San Jose coach David Quinn's return to Madison Square Garden. The Sharks (1-5-0) are 20-for-20 on the penalty kill to start the season. The Devils have won two straight after two losses and forward Ondrej Palat, who scored twice in a 4-1 win at the New York Islanders on Thursday, has three goals in four games to open the season with his new team.
St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers (4 p.m. ET; SN, BSMW, ESPN+)
McDavid comes in on a four-game point streak to begin the season, with 10 points (five goals, five assists). The center had a goal and three assists Thursday, when the Oilers (2-2-0) handed the Hurricanes their first loss. They'll get a chance to try to do it again, with the Blues coming into Rogers Place 2-0-0.
Arizona Coyotes at Ottawa Senators (4 p.m. ET; TVAS2, TSN5, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
After losing their first two games, the Senators have bounced back to win their next two, including a 5-2 victory against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, when forward Drake Batherson scored twice on the power play. Center Shane Pinto also scored, and has a three-game goal streak. The Coyotes (1-3-0) have allowed six goals in each of their three losses.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; CBC, CITY, SNO, SNW, SNP, ESPN+)
The Maple Leafs (3-2-0) ended the Dallas Stars' three-game winning streak to start the season with a 3-2 overtime victory Thursday. Forward Nicholas Robertson scored twice, including the game-winner on a pass from center Auston Matthews. The Jets are coming off a stretch of three games in four days in which they went 1-2-0, including a 4-3 overtime win at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
Dallas Stars at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CITY, SNE, TVAS, BSSWX)
The Stars (3-0-1) lost for the first time this season at the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, scored his first NHL goal for the Canadiens (3-2-0) in a 6-2 win against the Coyotes on Thursday. The forward became the youngest Slovakia-born player to score his first NHL goal, at 18 years, 204 days, passing Marian Gaborik of the Wild (18 years, 235 days).
Los Angeles Kings at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kings (3-3-0) had a three-game winning streak end with a 6-1 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. The Capitals (2-3-0) allowed two power-play goals in their loss to the Senators on Thursday and are 30th in the NHL in penalty kill percentage (64.3).
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUNX, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Lightning (2-3-0) defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 in overtime on Friday thanks to two goals from center Brayden Point, including the game-winner. The Islanders (2-2-0), who remain perfect on the penalty kill at 15-for-15 this season, will be playing their first road game of 2022-23.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Penguins (3-0-1) scored six goals in a game for the third time this season, winning 6-1 against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Forward Johnny Gaudreau has a chance to extend his home goal streak to four games, having become the first player to score in his first three home games as a member of the Blue Jackets. He has six points (four goals, two assists) this season.
Philadelphia Flyers at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, NBCSP+, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flyers lost for the first time under new coach John Tortorella, 4-3 at the Panthers on Wednesday, after winning three straight to start. Philadelphia has scored one power-play in each of its first four games. After winning two games against the Sharks at the 2022 NHL Global Series in Prague, the Predators have lost four straight (0-3-1).
Buffalo Sabres at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNP, MSG-B, ESPN+)
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is the first defenseman in NHL history to open a season with a four-game goal streak and the third player in Sabres history to do so, joining Thomas Vanek (five games, 2009-09) and Gilbert Perreault (five games, 1979-80). The Canucks enter their home opener as the only winless team in the NHL (0-3-2).
Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, ALT2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche try to bounce back after a 3-2 home loss to the Seattle Kraken on Friday. The Golden Knights aim to win their third home game in as many tries; their lone defeat is a 3-2 loss at the Flames on Tuesday.
Carolina Hurricanes at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CITY, SNE, SNW, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Hurricanes had won 11 straight October games since the start of last season before their loss at the Oilers on Thursday. They'll try to start a new streak against the Flames, who had won nine consecutive October games dating back to last season before their loss to the Sabres on Thursday.