NHL On Tap: Zegras, Ducks host Kraken in return from break

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 four games Friday.

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Zegras, Ducks play first game since All-Star break

I got to visit with some of the Anaheim Ducks during the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, namely goaltender John Gibson and forwards Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. There was a great optimism from them for good reason. The Ducks (23-16-9) are tied with the Los Angeles Kings for third in the Pacific Division and return from the break to play the Seattle Kraken (15-28-4) at Honda Center (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE). The Ducks are looking for their first berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2017-18, when they were swept in four games by the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference First Round. Terry leads the Ducks with 41 points (25 goals, 16 assists) in 43 games, followed by Zegras, the dazzling rookie, with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 42 games. Gibson has been solid in going 15-10-8 with a 2.49 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and one shutout in 33 games. It's still a long road to the postseason, but the Ducks are on the right track.-- Tracey Myers, staff writer

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Woodcroft debuts as Oilers coach

Jay Woodcroft will make his NHL coaching debut when the Edmonton Oilers play the New York Islanders at Rogers Place (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Oilers (23-18-3)
fired coach Dave Tippett and assistant Jim Playfair on Thursday
and replaced them with Woodcroft and assistant Dave Manson, who were in their fourth season with Bakersfield of the American Hockey League. The Oilers have two of the best players in the world in forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but they lack depth, goaltending and structure amid high expectations. Can Woodcroft make a difference -- and fast? The Islanders (17-17-6) continue their four-game road trip, which began with a 6-3 win at the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

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Robertson tries to keep momentum going

Jason Robertson has been one of the hottest players in the NHL during the past two months and will attempt to stay on a roll when the Dallas Stars host the Winnipeg Jets (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The 22-year-old forward has scored 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in the past 17 games and is coming off a two-goal game that helped Dallas (24-18-2) defeat the visiting Nashville Predators 4-3 on Wednesday. Robertson has scored 43 points (19 goals, 24 assists) in 36 games this season, second on the Stars to forward Joe Pavelski (48 points). While Robertson and Pavelski have helped the Stars go 5-2-0 in their past seven games, the Jets (19-17-7) have struggled and are 3-5-0 in their past eight. They'll try to build off goalie Connor Hellebuyck's 27-save performance in a 2-0 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Winnipeg defeated visiting Dallas 4-3 in a shootout Nov. 2 in the only game between the teams this season. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

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Friday schedule

Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Kyle Connor leads the Jets with 47 points (25 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games. This is the fifth of a six-game homestand for the Stars.
New York Islanders at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Islanders start a set of back-to-back games, playing the Oilers on Friday and at the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Edmonton lost its past two games by a combined score of 8-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights (4-0) on Tuesday and Chicago Blackhawks (4-1) on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Arizona Coyotes (9:30 p.m. ET; BSAZ+, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Lightning (30-11-6) will look to rebound after a 3-2 loss at the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday in their first game back from the All-Star break. Forward Steven Stamkos leads Tampa Bay with 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 46 games. The Coyotes (12-31-4) open a seven-game homestand.
Seattle Kraken at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Kraken, 5-5-0 in their past 10, are playing their second game out of the All-Star break. Seattle is in a power-play slump, going 2-for-35 (5.7 percent) in its past 10. It's a quick stay at home for the Ducks, who start a three-game road trip after this one.