NHL On Tap: Oilers look to sweep back-to-back set against Flames

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 12 games on Saturday.

Battle of Alberta rematch

The Edmonton Oilers will try for a sweep of their back-to-back set when they host the Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET, NHLN, CBC, SN, NHL.TV). The Oilers skated to a 2-1 road victory in Calgary on Friday and did so with neither Connor McDavid nor Leon Draisaitl scoring a point. Forwards Jesse Puljujarvi and Gaetan Haas scored for Edmonton, and goalie Mike Smith improved his record to 4-0-0, making 20 saves in the win. The Oilers are 8-2-0 in their past 10 games; the Flames have lost three of their past four (1-3-0) after a three-game winning streak. The game Saturday is the third of 10 in the Battle of Alberta this season, Calgary having won the first, 6-4 at home Feb. 6., and the intensity is expected to only increase. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Golden Knights, Avalanche take it outside

Don't adjust your television settings, it really will look like the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche are playing in front of a beautiful painting. Instead, it will be the breathtaking views of nature serving as the backdrop for the Bridgestone NHL Outdoors Saturday between the Golden Knights and Avalanche at Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline, Nevada (3 p.m. ET; NBC, SN1, SN, TVAS). Stunning Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada will play as big of a role in the made for TV event as forward Mark Stone and the Golden Knights and center Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche will play in the game. The rink is built atop the 18th fairway on the golf course that is famous for hosting the American Celebrity Championship every summer. The closest edge of the boards is a mere 50 paces to the water. There was a rainbow visible from the rink Friday. The play on the ice will matter, the two points significant in the race for first place in the Honda West Division, but for this game the setting and the images of everything surrounding the ice will be as meaningful as the goals, assists and saves made on it. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Another Crosby milestone

Sidney Crosby will play his 1,000th NHL game and become the first to reach that milestone with the Pittsburgh Penguins when they host the New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, ATTSN-PT, MSG+, NHL.TV). Crosby scored a goal in his 999th game, a 4-1 win against the Islanders at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday, and has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past five games. He has scored 1,276 points (468 goals, 808 assists) and won three Stanley Cup championships (2009, 2016, 2017) since making his NHL debut in a 5-1 loss at the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 5, 2005. The 33-year-old is still going strong, tied with forward Bryan Rust for the Penguins lead with six goals and second with 13 points in 15 games behind Rust (15 points). Crosby is second among Pittsburgh forwards averaging 20:28 in ice time per game (Jake Guentzel, 20:34) and he's won 56 percent of his faceoffs this season. The Penguins, who ended the Islanders' eight-game point streak (5-0-3), have won three of their past four games (3-1-0) and are 6-1-0 at home. The Islanders are 3-1-0 in their past four road games. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Saturday schedule

Buffalo Sabres at New Jersey Devils, 12:30 p.m. ET (MSG+, MSG-B, NHL.TV)
The Devils try for their fourth straight win, including three in a row since returning from a 14-day break because of NHL COVID-19 protocol; the Sabres have lost four straight and have been outscored 9-2 in their past three games.
New York Rangers at Washington Capitals, 12:30 p.m. ET (NHLN, NBCSWA, MSG, NHL.TV)
The Rangers seek consecutive wins for the first time since Feb. 1 and 4; Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has not scored in his past three games.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche (Edgewood Tahoe Resort; Stateline, Nevada), 3 p.m. ET (NBC, SN, SN1, TVAS)
Forward Gabriel Landeskog will return to the lineup for the Avalanche, who play the third of four straight games against the Golden Knights. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury will make his third start in an outdoor game and first with Vegas.
Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings, 5 p.m. ET (FS-D, FS-F, NHL.TV)
The Panthers have won three straight and five of their last six games, including a 7-2 win against the Red Wings on Friday.
Los Angeles Kings at Arizona Coyotes, 7 p.m. ET (FS-A PLUS, FS-W, NHL.TV)
The Kings go for a sweep of the two-game set following a 3-2 shootout win Thursday. Los Angeles has won three games in a row.
San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m. ET (FS-MW, NBCSCA, NHL.TV)
Blues forward David Perron scored three points (one goal, two assists), including the game-winning goal in overtime, in a 3-2 win against the Sharks on Thursday.
New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET (NHLN, ATTSN-PT, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Pittsburgh has won three of its last four games, including 4-1 against New York on Thursday. Sidney Crosby, who will play his 1,000th NHL game, scored a goal Thursday and has scored 116 points (37 goals, 79 assists) in 70 games against the Islanders.
Nashville Predators at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. ET (FS-O, FS-TN, NHL.TV)
Cam Atkinson will try to extend his goal streak to six games for the Blue Jackets; the Predators are 3-7-0 in their past 10 games following a 3-0 loss at Columbus on Thursday.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS, NHL.TV)
Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, who leads the NHL with 16 goals, can extend his personal point streak to 16 games. The Canadiens will play for the first time since a 2-1 win against the Maple Leafs on Feb. 13.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. (ET; FS-CR, SUN, NHL.TV)
The Lightning play for the first time since Monday after having their game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday postponed because of a winter storm. Tampa Bay and Carolina will play each other four times in the next six days.
Minnesota Wild at Anaheim Ducks, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+, PRIME, FS-SD, FS-N, FS-WI, NHL.TV)
The Wild continue a five-game road trip which included a 3-1 win at the Ducks on Thursday. Anaheim has scored three goals in its past three games (1-2-0).
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m. ET; (NHLN, CBC, SN, NHL.TV)
The Flames have scored one goal in three of their past four games (1-3-0) after their 2-1 loss to the Oilers on Friday and are 21st in the NHL, averaging 2.65 goals per game.
Chicago Blackhawks at Carolina Hurricanes, postponed
Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars, postponed