NHL On Tap: Marleau to tie Messier for second all-time in games played

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 11 games Saturday.

Marleau continues climb up games-played list

Patrick Marleau will tie Mark Messier for second on the NHL all-time games-played list when the San Jose Sharks visit the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; FS-A, NBCSCA, NHL.TV). The game will be Marleau's 1,756th in the NHL regular season. The 41-year-old center has scored 1,194 points (564 goals, 630 assists) in 1,755 regular-season NHL games for the Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins over 23 seasons. He has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in 32 games this season and he has played 886 consecutive games since April 9, 2009, the fourth longest consecutive-games streak in NHL history. Doug Jarvis leads that category with 964 consecutive games from 1975-1987. After matching Messier for games played Saturday, Marleau will be 11 games behind Gordie Howe's all-time leading total of 1,767 and could tie Howe as soon as April 17 at the Minnesota Wild. --Tim Campbell, staff writer

Hamilton hopes to set season standard

Dougie Hamilton will look to extend his point streak to 14 games, which would be the longest in the NHL this season, when the Carolina Hurricanes host the Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, FS-CR, SUN, NHL.TV). The defenseman had an assist in a 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday and has scored 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) during his streak, tying Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews for the longest in the NHL this season. Hamilton is one of two active defensemen to have a point streak of 13 or more games, joining Shayne Gostisbehere of the Philadelphia Flyers (15 games in 2015-16). He also has a chance to tie center Sebastian Aho (14 games, 2019-20) for the third longest by a player in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history; Mike Rogers had an 18-game point streak (1980-81) and 17-game streak (1979-80). Carolina is second in the Discover Central Division, three points behind Tampa Bay. The Lightning lost 4-3 at the Dallas Stars on Thursday after winning five straight. Tampa Bay has won its past three games against Carolina, outscoring the Hurricanes 10-3, and is 3-1-1 in the season series. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

McDavid, Oilers have Maple Leafs in sight

Don't for one second think Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid isn't still bothered by the fact he was held without a point in three straight home losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs by a combined 13-1 between Feb. 27-March 3. The great ones never forget the games that got away. McDavid and the Oilers get their first chance to exact a measure of revenge on the Maple Leafs when they visit them Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS, NHL.TV). McDavid has responded with 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in a nine-game point streak since the three straight losses to Toronto. He comes in hot, as do the Oilers, winners of three straight, but they haven't played in a week, with three postponements against the Montreal Canadiens because of COVID-19 protocols. This is an important game in the Scotia North Division standings, too. The Oilers are two points behind the Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, who are tied for the division lead. Toronto has a game in hand on Edmonton and has won two straight. Can the Maple Leafs keep McDavid down again, for the fourth straight time? Now that would be quite an accomplishment. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Saturday schedule

Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins, 1 p.m. ET (SN1, NESN, MSG-B, NHL.TV)
The Bruins will be without goalie Tuukka Rask, who will miss at least two games with an upper-body injury. The Sabres traded center Eric Staal to the Montreal Canadiens for two picks in the 2021 NHL Draft on Friday.
New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers, 1 p.m. ET (NBCSP, MSG, NHL.TV)
Rangers center Mika Zibanejad has scored 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his last two games against the Flyers, including six points (three goals, three assists) in an 8-3 win Thursday.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche, 3 p.m. ET; (NHLN, ALT, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV)
The Avalanche, who are 8-0-1 in their past nine, look to sweep this two-game set and move past the Golden Knights into first place in the Honda West Division after a 5-1 win Thursday. Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer can extend his winning streak to nine games.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings, 3 p.m. ET (FS-D, FS-O, NHL.TV)
The Blue Jackets are 2-for-21 on the power play in their past 10 games and rank 26th in the NHL (15.5 percent) on the power play this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, FS-CR, SUN, NHL.TV)
Lightning center Yanni Gourde has scored seven points (five goals, two assists) in a five-game goal/point streak.
Edmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET (NHLN, CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS, NHL.TV)
Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner leads NHL forwards in average time on ice per game (22:47) and teammate Auston Matthews is third (22:08). Oilers center Connor McDavid is second (22:26).
New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, ATTSN-PT, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom has scored six points (four goals, two assists) in a five-game point streak and forward Anthony Beauvillier has a three-game goal/point streak (three goals, one assist).
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks, 8 p.m. ET (NBCSCH, FS-TN, NHL.TV)
The Predators are 5-1-0 in their past six games and look to extend their longest winning streak of the season to four games. The Blackhawks have won two straight after four losses in a row.
Florida Panthers at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m. ET (FS-SW, FS-F, NHL.TV)
The Stars try to win consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 22-28, when they started the season 4-0-0, after a 4-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
San Jose Sharks at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m. ET (FS-A, NBCSCA, NHL.TV)
The Coyotes look to win their third straight and match their longest winning streak of 2020-21. Forward Phil Kessel has scored four goals in three games against the Sharks this season.
Winnipeg Jets at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m. ET (NHLN, CBC, SN, TVAS, NHL.TV)
The Jets look to win for the fifth time in seven games against the Flames this season. Center Paul Stastny has scored 67 points (28 goals, 39 assists) in 63 games against Calgary in his NHL career.