Clash in the Atlantic, with a record on the line
At one point this season, there was concern over the Toronto Maple Leafs and their results. Now, that seems far in the distant past. The Maple Leafs (15-5-5) have strung together a 10-game point streak (8-0-2) along with five straight wins, and the Tampa Bay Lightning (14-8-1) aren’t far behind. In their past nine games, the Lightning are 7-2-0, with both losses coming at the hands of the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins (19-3-0). So, while an early-December game between two of the Atlantic Division heavyweights doesn’t mean everything, it also doesn’t mean anything. And it could mean even more for Mitchell Marner, whose empty-net goal Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks gave him an 18-game point streak and tied him with Darryl Sittler (1977-78) and Eddie Olczyk (1989-90) for the longest in Toronto history. On Saturday, Marner, who has 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) during the streak, will have a chance to own the record outright at Amalie Arena in Tampa (7 pm ET; NHLN, SN, BSSUN). — Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Ovechkin keeps going
Alex Ovechkin is truly a marvel. The 37-year-old forward isn’t slowing down one bit and leads the Washington Capitals in points (25) and goals (13). His quest to pass Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for goals scored in an NHL career continues as well when the Capitals play the Calgary Flames (10-10-3) at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Saturday (10 pm ET; CBC, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS2, NBCSWA). Ovechkin has 793 goals, eight behind Howe (801). He has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past two games and is trying to help Washington (10-11-4) get back in the thick of the Metropolitan Division. How many more games will it take for Ovechkin to move into second place? At the rate the “Great 8” is going, it shouldn’t be much longer. — Tracey Myers, staff writer
McDavid magic returns home
The Connor McDavid The offensive super show returns to Edmonton when the Oilers (13-11-0) play the Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Place (7 pm ET; CBC, SN360, TVAS, ESPN+, SN NOW). McDavid had back-to-back games on the road with a goal and an assist in a 5-4 win at the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday and a 5-3 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Along the way, McDavid ran his point streak to four games (three goals, five assists) and became the first player in the NHL to reach 40 points; he leads the NHL with 43 (19 goals, 24 assists) in 24 games. McDavid has done well against the Canadiens in his career, with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 21 games, but didn’t have a point against them in two games last season. Montreal (12-10-1) plays the second of a four-game western road trip. The Canadiens will have to be tighter defensively then they were in the first game, when they won 2-1 at the Calgary Flames on Thursday despite getting outshot 46-19. — Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor
Saturday schedule
Anaheim Ducks at Minnesota Wild (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, BSN, BSWI, BSW)
Forward Kirill Kaprizov is on a career-high 10-game point streak (six goals, 11 assists) for the Wild (11-9-2), who have won two in a row and four of their past five. The Ducks (6-16-2) have lost four straight (0-3-1) and have scored one goal or been held scoreless in three of those games.
Montreal Canadiens at Edmonton Oilers (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SN360, TVAS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Cole Caufield has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past six games for Montreal, which is 4-1-1 in its past six road games. Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl has seven points (five goals, two assists) during a four-game point streak.
Colorado Avalanche at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NESN, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Bruins (19-3-0) will look to continue their success at TD Garden, where they are an NHL record 13-0-0 to start the season and 20-0-0 since April 16. They’re also 13- 0-0 when scoring first this season. The Avalanche (13-7-1) are 7-3-0 in their past 10 games. Forward Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and three assists, the fifth five-point game of his career, in Colorado’s 6-4 win against the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday.
New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Jack Hughes has 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) to lead the Devils (19-4-1), who have lost twice in their past 18 games (16-1-1). The Flyers (8-11-5) have lost 10 of their past 11 (1-7-3).
San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, TVAS2, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Erik Karlsson of San Jose leads all NHL defensemen in goals (11) and points (32) and is tied with Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks for the League lead in assists (21). The Sharks (8-14-4) have lost four of their past five (1-3-1). This is the second half of a back to back for the Senators (8-13-1), who defeated the New York Rangers in overtime 3-2 on Friday.
St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Jordan Kyrou has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his past 10 games for the Blues (11-12-0), who have lost two in a row and four of their past five. This is the fourth of a five-game homestand for the Penguins (12-8-4), who are 6-2-2 in their past 10 games.
TToronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, BSSUN)
Maple Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok (groin) will be out at least two weeks; he will be replaced by Wayne Simmonds for Toronto. Lightning forward Steven Stamkos is coming off a momentous night Thursday when he got the 1,000th point of his career, all with Tampa Bay. The Lightning have scored a power-play goal in nine straight games, the longest in the NHL since the Oilers had 10 straight last season, from Oct. 13-Nov. 5, 2021.
Vegas Golden Knights at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Tyler Bertuzzi is out six weeks for the Red Wings (11-6-5) after having surgery on his left hand on Friday; the forward left Detroit’s 5-4 shootout loss late in the third period after being hit on that hand with a shot. Goaltender Logan Thompsonwho made a career-high 43 saves in a 4-3 loss to the Penguins on Thursday, is 12-5-0 with a 2.54 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and two shutouts for the Golden Knights (17-7 -1).
Chicago Blackhawks at New York Rangers (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the second half of a back-to-back for the Rangers (11-9-4), who lost 3-2 in overtime at home to the Senators on Friday. The Blackhawks (6-12-4) have lost eight in a row (0-7-1), they haven’t won since Nov. 12 (3-2 against the Anaheim Ducks).
Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, SNP, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the 12th of 14 straight road games for the Coyotes (7-11-3), who have lost three in a row (0-2-1) and are 6-9-2 on the road this season. The Canucks (9-12-3) will be without goalie Thatcher Demko, who sustained a lower-body injury in the first period of their 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
Florida Panthers at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSFLX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kraken (15-5-3) have won seven in a row. Seattle rookie forward Matty Beniers has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) during a six-game point streak. The Panthers (11-9-4) have struggled with consistency, going 3-4-3 in their past 10 games, but they scored three times in 59 seconds to defeat the Canucks 5-1 on Thursday.
Washington Capitals at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS2, NBCSWA)
Forward Dylan Strome is second on the Capitals, behind Ovechkin, with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists). Washington is 1-1-1 thus far on a six-game road trip. This is the third of a six-game homestand for the Flames, who have lost four of their past five and 12 of 17 (5-9-3).
Carolina Hurricanes at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Hurricanes (13-6-5) have won three in a row and are led by forwards Martin Necas with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists). The Kings (13-9-4) have scored two power-play goals in three straight games and are 24.7 percent on the power play this season.
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