NHL On Tap: Islanders back at home, trying to stop skid against Penguins

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 six games on Saturday.

Islanders, Penguins look to stabilize

The New York Islanders want to stop the bleeding when they play against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nassau Coliseum (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, MSG+, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV). The Islanders have lost five in a row (0-3-2) and are in last place in the MassMutual East Division (3-4-2). The Penguins hope that some extra time off because of postponed games against the New Jersey Devils this week might benefit them. Pittsburgh has been reeling with injuries to defensemen Kris Letang (lower body), Brian Dumoulin (lower body), Mike Matheson (upper body), Marcus Pettersson (upper body) and Juuso Riikola (upper body). But Letang and Matheson practiced Friday and each is a game-time decision Saturday, coach Mike Sullivan said. As important for the Penguins is getting their power play in order. They are 0-for-19 with 20 shots on goal on the power play in their past four games. The Penguins spent most of their practice Friday working on it. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Stutzle tries to extend goal streak for Senators

Tim Stutzle
, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, will look to extend his goal streak to four games when the Ottawa Senators play against the Montreal Canadiens at Canadian Tire Centre (1 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, TSN2, NHL.TV). The rookie forward can become the first teenager since the 2018-19 season to score a goal in four consecutive games (New York Rangers forward Filip Chytil, five games, and Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi, four games). Stutzle had his first multipoint game in the NHL when he scored a goal and had two assists in a 3-2 win at Montreal on Thursday to become the second-youngest player (19 years, 20 days) in Ottawa history to score three or more points in a regular-season game (Alexandre Daigle; 18 years, 244 days). It was also the first win for the Senators in 10 games; they had not won since their season opener Jan. 15 (0-8-1). The Canadiens, who are second in the Scotia North Division, are 5-2-0 in their past seven games. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Battle of Alberta, Part 1 of 10

Whichever early appetizer you choose, the main course for viewing Saturday is the first game of the season between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome (10 p.m. ET, NHLN, CBC, SN, TVAS, NHL.TV). The provincial rivals experienced an uptick in combativeness last season in their four games, when the distinct possibility existed that they might be matched up in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, the pause due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus derailed such an enticing potential next chapter, but the teams are back in the same situation vying for playoff spots, this time in the Scotia North Division and with 10 of their 56 regular-season games against each other. It is the first time since 1990-91 that Edmonton and Calgary will play 10 or more games against each other. That season they played 15 games, eight in the regular season and seven in the Division Semifinals, when the Oilers won the series on an overtime goal by Esa Tikkanen in Game 7. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Saturday schedule

Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators, 1 p.m. ET (TSN5, RDS, TSN2, NHL.TV)
The Canadiens lead the NHL scoring 4.18 goals per game; the Senators are allowing 4.55 goals per game, worst in the League.
Arizona Coyotes at St. Louis Blues, 3 p.m. ET (NHLN, FS-MW, FS-A, NHL.TV)
The Coyotes and Blues play for the third time in five days. St. Louis won 4-3 on Tuesday and Arizona won 4-3 on Thursday.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, MSG+, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)
The Penguins are 1-2-1 in their past four games and 1-4-1 on the road this season. The Islanders are 2-0-0 at home.
Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET (NHLN, CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS, NHL.TV)
The Maple Leafs are 5-0-1 in their past six games after a 7-3 win against the Canucks on Thursday, the first of three straight against each other.
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+, PRIME, FS-SD, NBCSCA, NHL.TV)
The Sharks rallied from trailing 3-1 in the third period to defeat the Ducks 5-4 in a shootout in the first game of this back-to-back set Friday.
Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m. ET (NHLN, CBC, SN, TVAS, NHL.TV)
Oilers forwards Connor McDavid (24 points; eight goals, 16 assists) and Leon Draisaitl (22 points; seven goals, 15 assists) are the top two scorers in the NHL and each has an eight-game point streak.