NHL On Tap: McDavid of Oilers going for 100th point against Rangers

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 five games Friday.

McDavid going for 100th point against rolling Rangers

Connor McDavid needs one point to become the first player in the NHL to reach 100 this season when the Edmonton Oilers host the surging New York Rangers at Rogers Place (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW). McDavid, who would reach 100 points for the sixth time in seven seasons, leads the NHL with 42 goals and 99 points and is tied for the League lead with Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning with 57 assists. The last time McDavid faced the Rangers in Edmonton, on Nov. 5, 2021, he stick-handled his way around four players before scoring the tying goal with 2:59 left in the third period. The Oilers went on to win 6-5 in overtime. New York (32-14-8) has won six in a row, including three straight since acquiring forward Vladimir Tarasenko in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 9. Edmonton (30-19-6) has lost its past two games (0-1-1) but is 9-1-3 in its past 13. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Kempe looks to stay hot for Kings

Adrian Kempe looks to extend his torrid scoring streak when the Los Angeles Kings face the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW). Kempe has seven goals in his past three games for the Kings (30-18-7), including one in their 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, and four in a 6-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The Ducks (17-32-6) will try to end a three-game losing streak in which they've been outscored 20-8 in the first period. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Islanders trying to stay in the playoff race

The New York Islanders were feeling great going into and coming out of the All-Star break. They acquired Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks, and the forward scored in his second game with the Islanders. They were ready to make the push to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But following their first two games after the break, wins against the Philadelphia Flyers (2-1) and Seattle Kraken (4-0), things have gone in the other direction; New York (27-23-7) is 0-1-2 in its past three games and hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins (27-17-9) at UBS Arena on Friday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, MSGSN, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Islanders have 61 points, one behind the Washington Capitals for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference. The Penguins are two points ahead of the Islanders and hold the first wild card. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Friday games

Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
It's Senators forward Alex DeBrincat's first game against his former team since Chicago (16-32-5) traded him to Ottawa (26-24-3) for the Nos. 7 and 39 picks in the 2022 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on July 8, 2022. He has 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 53 games. The Senators have won two in a row and the Blackhawks have lost three in a row. Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews is on injured reserve with a non-COVID-19 illness.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, MSGSN, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Sidney Crosby has 41 assists this season, the 14th time he's reached 40 in the NHL and the most of any active player (Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has 13). This is the end of a four-game road trip for the Penguins, who are 2-1-0 thus far. Islanders center Brock Nelson has an 11-game point streak (13 points; seven goals, six assists). This is the first half of a back to back for New York, which visits the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWIX, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Stars (30-14-11) are 1-1-2 since returning from the All-Star break and their bye week. Forward Jason Robertson has 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) in 55 games, tying Mike Modano (39 goals, 33 assists in 1993-94) for the fewest games to reach 70 points in franchise history. The Wild (28-21-5) have lost five of their past six (1-4-1). Kirill Kaprizov leads them with 64 points (31 goals, 33 assists) in 54 games and has scored in each of the past two and three of four.
Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW)
The Kings seek their third straight win, and second against the Ducks this season. Los Angeles defeated Anaheim 4-1 at Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 20, and the teams will play again in the regular-season finale April 13. Forward Trevor Zegras has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past five games for the Ducks, who have been outshot 56-16 in the first period during their three-game skid.
New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Artemi Panarin has eight points (six goals, two assists) in his past two games for the Rangers (32-14-8), including five (four goals, one assist) in a 6-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Panarin has six goals and six assists) during a five-game point streak. The Oilers (30-19-6) are the first team with four players to score at least 25 goals through its first 55 games -- McDavid (42), Leon Draisaitl (31), Zach Hyman (27) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (26) -- since the 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins.