NHL On Tap: Eichel, Golden Knights try to bounce back against Avalanche

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 10 games Saturday.

Eichel, Golden Knights set for rematch against Avalanche

Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) in a rematch of the center's season debut earlier this month. The Avalanche (38-10-4) shut out the Golden Knights (29-19-4) 2-0 in Eichel's first game with Vegas on Feb. 16 after he was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4 and had artificial disk replacement surgery eight days later. Eichel has scored three points (one goal, two assists) in four games with Vegas, which is 1-3-1 in its past five games. This is a matchup of two of the elite teams in the NHL and a potential 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff preview. They met in the 2021 playoffs, when the Golden Knights lost the first two games of their Stanley Cup Second Round series before winning four straight to eliminate the Avalanche. -- Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor

Lightning, Predators head outside for Stadium Series game

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators will get a chance to play outdoors in a distinctly honky-tonk environment when they face off at Nissan Stadium, the home of the NFL's Tennessee Titans (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS2, NHL LIVE), in the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series. The game should have a party feel, in addition to the on-ice fun seeing two of the best teams in the NHL play. The Lightning (33-11-6) are second in the Atlantic Division and have won three straight; the Predators (30-18-4) are fourth in the Central Division and seek their third consecutive victory. For Tampa Bay, it will be their first chance to play an outdoor game, which should raise the stakes for the two-time defending champions, who are readying themselves for yet another Stanley Cup run. The Predators played in the 2020 NHL Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, losing to the Dallas Stars, 4-2. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Rangers, Penguins clash for first time this season

It's the first of four games this season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, when the Metropolitan Division rivals meet at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, SN1, NHL LIVE). They played eight times last season with the Penguins winning six of the games. Pittsburgh (31-14-8) has lost three straight, getting outscored 14-5, and six of seven at home. New York (33-13-5) is 5-0-1 in its past six games after a 4-1 win at home against the Washington Capitals on Thursday. The Rangers have been led by Vezina Trophy candidate, and possible Hart Trophy candidate, Igor Shesterkin, who is 25-5-3 and ranks first in save percentage (.940) and goals-against average (1.98) among goalies to play at least 10 games. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Saturday schedule

Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers (12:30 p.m. ET; SN, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Zach Hyman can extend his goal-scoring streak to six games for the Oilers (28-20-3), who have lost two straight, getting outscored 12-6 since a five-game winning streak. The Panthers (35-12-5) are 23-5-0 at home but have lost their past two. Florida forward Jonathan Huberdeau leads the NHL with 74 points (18 goals, 56 assists).
Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers (12:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSP, NBCSWA, NHL LIVE)
Alex Ovechkin has scored three goals in his past three games for the Capitals (28-16-9) after not scoring in six games. Goalie Carter Hart and forwards Joel Farabee and Derick Brassard are expected to return from injury for the Flyers (15-26-10), who are 0-4-2 in their past six games.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, SN1, NHL LIVE)
The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in six consecutive games and are 7-3-0 against Metropolitan Division teams this season. Sidney Crosby has scored 36 goals and 96 points in 75 games against the Rangers.
Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, SNE, TVAS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canadiens (12-33-7) have won a season-high four straight games powered by forward Cole Caufield who has scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in that span. Montreal begins a five-game road trip. Forward Colin White will make his season debut for the Senators (19-26-5) after having preseason shoulder surgery.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators, 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS2, NHL LIVE)
Predators defenseman Roman Josi is one point from 500 in the NHL. Steven Stamkos has scored four goals in his past three games and leads the Lightning with 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) in 49 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, BSDET, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Auston Matthews leads the NHL with 36 goals and has scored 11 in his past 11 games for the Maple Leafs (33-14-4). The Red Wings (23-23-6) are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday and are in a tough stretch where they play the Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes at home before heading to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers in back-to-back games.
Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Vegas could be without forwards Max Pacioretty and Mattias Janmark after they did not play in the third period of a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday. Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had 14 shots on goal and scored twice in a 6-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday after missing one game because of a lower-body injury.
Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks (10 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
David Pastrnak has scored four goals in his past three games for the Bruins (30-17-4) after going four games without a point. Boston has won three straight and continues a season-high six-game road trip. The Sharks (23-22-6) ended a seven-game skid (0-3-4) with a 4-3 shootout win against the New York Islanders on Thursday. Forward Logan Couture has scored four goals in his past four games.
Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Kevin Fiala has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in his past three games for the Wild (31-15-3), who have lost four of five since winning 11 of 13. The Flames (30-14-6) will try to rebound after their 10-game winning streak ended with a 7-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Calgary forward Elias Lindholm has his eight-game goal streak, and 10-game point streak (16 points; nine goals, seven assists) end in the game.
New York Islanders at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Adrian Kempe had two goals and an assist for the Kings (28-17-7) in a 4-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. He has scored two goals in three of his past four games and eight points (six goals, two assists) in that span. Brock Nelson has a four-game goal streak for the Islanders (19-20-8), who continue a five-game road trip.