NHL On Tap: Panthers return home, look to stay hot against Blackhawks

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 Saturday.

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Blackhawks vs. Panthers, each in playoff position

The third game of the season between the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers at BB&T Center (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, FS-F, NBCSCH, NHL.TV) features each team on a trajectory for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blackhawks (14-9-5) have made a sharp reversal since losing their first four games of the season (0-3-1), including two (0-1-1) at Florida on Jan. 17 and Jan. 19. Chicago is fourth in the Discover Central Division after a 4-2 win at the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Forward Patrick Kane remains hot, with nine points (one goal, eight assists) in his past six games. Florida (17-5-4) is five points ahead of Chicago and tied for second place in the division with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers return home after a 4-1-0 road trip and forward Jonathan Huberdeau has eight points (two goals, six assists) during a five-game point streak. He leads Florida in scoring with 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 26 games. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

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Ovechkin inches closer to Esposito on all-time goals list

Alex Ovechkin is three goals from passing Phil Esposito (717) for sixth place in NHL history with the Washington Capitals visiting the Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSP, NBCSWA, NHL.TV). The forward scored his 715th goal in a 5-3 win at the Flyers on Thursday. The odds of the Capitals captain scoring three goals to pass Esposito are pretty good: His 27 career hat tricks are the most among active skaters and eighth all-time in the NHL. Ovechkin also had seven shots on goal against the Flyers to give him 5,635, two behind Jaromir Jagr for second in NHL history; Ray Bourque is the all-time leader with 6,209. Flyers center Sean Couturier has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 12 games since his return to the lineup from a rib injury. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

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Flames want to build on first win under Sutter

The Calgary Flames got off to a solid start under new coach Darryl Sutter with a hard-working, patient, 60-minute effort in a 2-1 home win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. In their rematch against the Canadiens at Scotiabank Saddledome (7 p.m. ET; CITY, SNE, SNW, SNP, TVAS, NHL.TV), the Flames will try to stay consistent with that pressure, forechecking, physicality and quick puck-moving. If Calgary can do that, it can climb back into the Scotia North Division race; the Flames (12-12-3) are in fifth place, four points behind the Canadiens, who hold a game in hand. The top four teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Calgary will need more from its top forwards; Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Sean Monahan combined for six shots on goal and 10 shot attempts. Defenseman Jeff Petry is the Canadiens' leading scorer with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 26 games, including at least one point in five of his past six games. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Saturday schedule

New York Rangers at Boston Bruins, 1 p.m. ET (NHLN, SN, NESN, MSG+, NHL.TV)
The Rangers look to end a three-game losing streak after a 4-0 loss at the Bruins on Thursday. Boston is 4-1-0 with two shutouts against New York this season.
Dallas Stars at Columbus Blue Jackets, 5 p.m. ET (FS-O, FS-SW, NHL.TV)
The Stars and Blue Jackets open a two-game set. Dallas is 2-5-1 in its past eight games; Columbus is 2-6-2 in its past 10.
Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames, 7 p.m. ET (CITY, SNE, SNW, SNP, TVAS, NHL.TV)
The Flames are 2-1-0 against the Canadiens this season and have allowed one goal in their two victories.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET (NHLN, MSG-B, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)
The Sabres have lost nine straight (0-7-2) after a 5-2 defeat to the Penguins on Thursday. Pittsburgh has won four in a row, outscoring opponents 18-8.
New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. ET (MSG, MSG+, NHL.TV)
The Islanders try to win their eighth straight game, but will be without captain Anders Lee, who is out indefinitely after sustaining a lower-body injury during a 5-3 win against the Devils on Thursday.
Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, NBCSP, NBCSWA, NHL.TV)
Forward Jakub Vrana has scored five points (three goals, two assists) during a four-game point streak for the Capitals, including an assist in their 5-3 win at the Flyers on Thursday.
Nashville Predators at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET (SUN, FS-TN, NHL.TV)
The Lightning are 9-1-0 at home this season. They lead the NHL in scoring (3.64 goals per game) and are second defensively (2.24 goals against per game).
Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, FS-F, NBCSCH, NHL.TV)
Chicago forward Alex DeBrincat has scored six goals in his past seven games. His 15 goals this season are tied for third in the NHL.
Winnipeg Jets at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET (CBC, SNO, NHL.TV)
It's the final game of a three-game set in Toronto. The Jets won the first game 4-3 on Tuesday and the Maple Leafs won 4-3 in overtime Thursday. Center Auston Matthews, who leads the NHL with 21 goals, scored the winner Thursday and has scored three goals in three games against Winnipeg this season.
Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. ET (FS-MW, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV)
The Golden Knights, who lead the Honda West Division, will try to win the second half of this back-to-back set after a 5-4 overtime win at the Blues on Friday. Forward Mark Stone has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) during a six-game point streak for Vegas.
Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. ET (NHLN, CBC, SN, TVAS2, NHL.TV)
Oilers captain Connor McDavid became the first NHL player to reach 50 points this season with a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win home against the Ottawa Senators on Friday. McDavid has scored 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists) in 29 games for Edmonton, which has won four straight.
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET (PRIME, FS-SD, NBCSCA, NHL.TV)
The Sharks will try to build on their 6-0 win at the Ducks on Friday, when six different players scored, including rookie forward Fredrik Handemark, who scored his first NHL goal in his second game. Anaheim is 2-8-3 in its past 13 games.