NHL On Tap: Islanders look to keep rolling behind goalies

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 three games Friday.

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Goaltending coming up big for Islanders

It's been a good season for the New York Islanders, (15-9-0) and their goaltending is a big reason for that entering their game against the Nashville Predators (11-9-2) at home (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW). Ilya Sorokin is 10-6-0 with a 2.18 goals-against average, .933 save percentage and two shutouts in 17 games (16 starts), and Semyon Varlamov is 5-3-0 with a 2.84 GAA and .916 save percentage in eight starts. It's a pretty nice situation when you can turn to either goalie and know you're going to get a strong outing, and their performances show in the overall statistics as well as individual ones. The Islanders, who have won four of their past five games, have allowed 2.58 goals per game (fifth in the NHL) and their penalty kill is also fifth in the League (83.1 percent). -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Hellebuyck, Jets seek fourth straight win

The Winnipeg Jets go for their fourth straight victory when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW). Winnipeg (14-6-1) has outscored opponents 17-6 in its past three games, all with Connor Hellebuyck in goal, including his 40-save performance in a 5-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Blake Wheeler has been a catalyst with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in his past five games, highlighted by a hat trick and an assist Tuesday. Columbus (7-12-2) is 0-2-1 in its past three games and coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, but help may be on the way. Forward Patrik Laine (ankle) and goalie Elvis Merzlikins (hip) were activated from injured reserve Thursday. Laine has missed seven games, and Merzlikins has missed six. Laine, Columbus' third-leading scorer last season with 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) in 56 games, has four points (two goals, two assists) in eight games this season. Merzlikins 2-5-0 with 4.74 goals-against average and .864 save percentage in nine games (eight starts). -- William Douglas, staff writer

Rangers look to top Senators again

The New York Rangers will be trying to sweep a home-and-home set against Ottawa Senators when the teams meet for the second time in three days, this time at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Rangers won 3-1 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Wednesday to end a three-game losing streak. Defenseman Ryan Lindgren had three assists for his first three-point NHL game to spark New York (11-9-4). Top-six forward Drake Batherson is a team-worst minus-16 for Ottawa (8-13-1) and has to be better at 5-on-5. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Friday games

Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Rangers forward Chris Kreider has five points (four goals, one assist) in his past five games and is tied with center Mika Zibanejad for the team lead with 11 goals. The Senators are 3-6-1 on the road but have won their past two away from Canadian Tire Centre.
Nashville Predators at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW)
This is the second half of a back-to-back set for the Predators, who won 4-3 in overtime at the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. Nashville is 4-6-0 on the road this season. Islanders forward Josh Bailey, who missed a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday with an upper-body injury, is day to day. The same goes for New York forward Cal Clutterbuck, who left that game with an undisclosed injury in the first period.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck is 7-2-0 in nine home starts this season with a 1.22 goals-against average, .959 gave percentage and three shutouts. Columbus is 1-4-1 on the road this season. Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner needs one point for 300 in his NHL career. He scored in Columbus' 3-2 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.