NHL On Tap: Lightning host Stars in Stanley Cup Final rematch

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 14 games Saturday.

Stanley Cup Final rematch

The Dallas Stars visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SUN, FS-SW, NHL.TV) when the teams play for the first time since Sept. 28, 2020, which was Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton. The Lightning won 2-0 to win the Stanley Cup. There have been zero signs of a Cup hangover for the Lightning. They're first in the Discover Central Division with a .750 points percentage and second in the standings, one point behind the Florida Panthers with a game in hand. They have won three games in a row and 10 of their past 13 (10-3-0). It's been different for the Stars. Their season started late because of a COVID-19 outbreak and they had to pause again because of weather-related problems last week in Dallas. They are 2-5-4 since a 4-0-0 start and lost a 3-2 game against the Panthers on Thursday, when they allowed three goals in a span of 3:11 in the third period. Maybe playing the team that defeated them last season will reignite the spark the Stars had in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season and through the first four games this season. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Maple Leafs, Oilers: power vs. power

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers play the first of three straight games at Rogers Place (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS, NHL.TV). Each has won two games against the other this season, the Oilers winning most recently, 4-3 on Connor McDavid's overtime goal Jan. 30. McDavid scored three points in that game (two goals, one assist) and has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in four games against Toronto this season. He leads the NHL with 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) in 22 games and teammate Leon Draisaitl is second with 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists). Edmonton won't face Toronto center Auston Matthews, who is out and day to day with a wrist injury. Matthews leads the NHL with 18 goals in 20 games and has three goals in three games against Edmonton. The Maple Leafs, who've won four of their past five games, are first in the Scotia North Division and the NHL with 32 points. The Oilers are second in the division with 28 points and have surged to that spot by winning five in a row and nine of their past 11 (9-2-0). -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Kane shoots for 400

Patrick Kane is one goal from becoming the 100th NHL player to score 400 goals and can reach that milestone when the Chicago Blackhawks host the Detroit Red Wings (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSCH, FS-D, NHL.TV). Kane scored his 399th NHL goal in a 2-0 win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. He has scored a goal in each of his past three games and has scored 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in his past seven. The 32-year-old forward is also one goal shy of becoming the ninth United States-born player to score 400 goals in the NHL. The Blackhawks have won two straight games and five of their past six (5-1-0) to move into third place in the Discover Central Division. The Red Wings begin a four-game road trip after scoring a season-high five goals in a 5-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Detroit has not scored a power play goal in 14 games and is tied for the second-longest drought in the NHL expansion era (since 1967-68) with the 1997-98 Toronto Maple Leafs and 2015-16 Ottawa Senators. The 1977-78 Cleveland Barons had a 16-game drought. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Saturday schedule

Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+, SNE, SNO, SNP, MSG-B, NBCSP, NHL.TV)
The Flyers are coming off a 4-3 win against the New York Rangers on Wednesday and expect to have forwards Jakub Voracek, Oskar Lindblom and Scott Laughton back in their lineup after each was in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils, 1 p.m. ET (NHLN, MSG+, NBCSWA, NHL.TV)
Washington is 4-1-1 in its past six games after a four-game losing streak (0-4-0); New Jersey ended a three-game skid (0-3-0) with a 4-3 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
Calgary Flames at Ottawa Senators, 1 p.m. ET (TSN5, RDS, SNW, NHL.TV)
The Senators look to extend their winning streak to a season-high four games when they play the second of three in a row at home against the Flames, whom they defeated 6-1 on Thursday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Nashville Predators, 3 p.m. ET (SN, SN1, FS-TN, FS-O, NHL.TV)
The Predators are 3-1-0 against the Blue Jackets heading into a back-to-back set this weekend at home.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers, 7 p.m. ET (NHLN, CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS, NHL.TV)
Forward Joe Thornton and defenseman Jake Muzzin will return for the Maple Leafs after each missed the past two games with an injury. Thornton has scored 70 points (12 goals, 58 assists) in 68 games against the Oilers.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, 7 p.m. ET (MSG+, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)
The Islanders have not lost in regulation at home this season (6-0-1) after a 7-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.
Dallas Stars at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET (SUN, FS-SW, NHL.TV)
The Lightning are second in the NHL averaging 3.56 goals per game and second in goals against (2.17).
Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. ET (FS-F, FS-CR, NHL.TV)
Carolina looks to end a three-game losing streak in the first of two straight at home against Florida.
Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+, NBCSCH, FS-D, NHL.TV)
The Blackhawks head into the first of a back-to-back set this weekend having won five of their past six games (5-1-0) and 4-0-0 against the Red Wings this season.
Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m. ET (FS-N, FS-WI, FS-W, NHL.TV)
The Wild go for a sweep of this back-to-back set after a 3-1 win against the Kings on Friday that extended their winning streak to five games.
Colorado Avalanche at Arizona Coyotes, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+, FS-A, ALT, NHL.TV)
Nazem Kadri scored three points (one goal, two assists) to help lead the Avalanche to a 3-2 win against the Coyotes on Friday.
Vegas Golden Knights at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET (PRIME, FS-SD, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV)
The Ducks are 0-4-1 in their past five games and have not won since a 1-0 victory against the Golden Knights on Feb. 11.
Montreal Canadiens at Winnipeg Jets, 10 p.m. ET (CBC, SN, TVAS, NHL.TV)
Jets center Mark Scheifele has an NHL career-high 11-game point streak (eight goals, 10 assists), including scoring at least one goal in each of his past six games.
St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSCA, FS-MW, NHL.TV)
The Blues look to end a three-game losing streak (0-3-0) when they open a six-game road trip in San Jose.