NHL On Tap: Jets, Avalanche face off as Central race tightens

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 six games Friday.

Avalanche, Jets in key Central clash

The surging Colorado Avalanche are on the heels of the Winnipeg Jets and will continue the pursuit of their Central Division foes when they clash at Canada Life Centre (8 p.m. ET; ALT, TSN3, TVAS, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Jets (35-22-1) return home from a 1-3-0 road trip against Eastern Conference teams but are one point behind the Dallas Stars for the Central Division lead and can pass them with a win. The defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche have won three in a row, are 4-0-1 in their past five and 11-2-2 in their past 15. Colorado, which holds the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, is four points behind the Jets for second place in the Central and two points behind the Minnesota Wild for third. The Avalanche (31-19-5) also have three games in hand on the Jets. Defenseman Cale Makar, the 2022 Conn Smythe winner as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, skated before practice Thursday but remains in concussion protocol and won't play. Winnipeg will be without rookie center Cole Perfetti, who was placed on injured reserve this week with an upper body injury. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Hurricane warning

The Carolina Hurricanes look to extend their winning streak to five games and remain in control of the Metropolitan Division when they host the Ottawa Senators at PNC Arena (7 p.m. ET: BSSO, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Hurricanes (38-10-8), who are first in the Metropolitan Division, three points ahead of the second-place New Jersey Devils, are playing the first of back-to-back home games (Anaheim Ducks on Saturday). Center Sebastian Aho has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past three games for Carolina, which is 13-1-1 in its past 15 games. The Senators (27-25-4), six points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference, are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Kopitar looks to extend goal streak

Anze Kopitar will try to stretch a four-game goal streak when the Los Angeles Kings visit the New York Islanders at UBS Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW). The 35-year-old center had a goal and an assist for the Kings (32-19-8) in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Devils on Thursday. Center Brock Nelson can extend an eight-game home point streak (11 points; six goals, five assists) for the Islanders (30-24-7). New York has won three of their past four games, including a 2-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, and hold the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Friday games

Buffalo Sabres at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; SN, BSFL, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sabres (29-23-4) have won three of their past four games to move within two points of the Panthers (29-25-6), who are tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the final wild card in the East. Buffalo center Tage Thompson has six points (four goals, two assists) during a four-game point streak and leads the NHL with 22 goals on the road. Florida looks for its third win in the season series following a 4-3 victory at KeyBank Center on Oct. 15 and a 4-1 road win on Jan. 16.
Minnesota Wild at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, BSNX, BSWIX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Wild (32-21-5) have won four straight and are 5-1-1 in their past seven games. The Maple Leafs (35-15-8) are 4-2-0 in their past six games. Center Ryan O'Reilly, acquired from the St. Louis Blues on Friday in a three-team trade that included Minnesota, has five points (three goals, two assists) in three games with Toronto, including a hat trick in a 6-3 win at Buffalo on Tuesday.
Montreal Canadiens at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flyers (23-26-10) are 1-4-1 in their past six games and return home after a 1-3-0 road trip. Philadelphia defenseman Travis Sanheim needs one assist for 100 in his NHL career. The Canadiens (24-29-4) wrap up a four-game road trip (1-2-0). Montreal center Christian Dvorak has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past five games.
Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Brady Tkachuk has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in his past nine games for the Senators. Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen is 9-1-0 with a 2.22 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in his past 11 starts.
Los Angeles Kings at New York Islanders (MSGSN, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kings look to rebound after their overtime loss at the Devils on Thursday, their second straight defeat following a four-game winning streak. Islanders forward Matt Martin has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past six games.
Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN3, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Jets have won each of their previous two meetings with Colorado this season, outscoring the Avalanche 9-3. Winnipeg plays six of its next seven games at home, where it is 20-8-0 this season. Colorado center Nathan McKinnon has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in a five-game multipoint streak.