3.11 Kaprizov MIN On tap

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 four games Friday.

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Kaprizov looks to extend point streak

Kirill Kaprizov will try to extend his point streak to eight games when the Minnesota Wild face the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) in the finale of back-to-back road games. Kaprizov has 10 points (six goals, four assists) since Feb. 26, including a goal in Minnesota's 6-5 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. Rookie Matt Boldy scored two goals for Minnesota (34-19-3) and has 23 points in 25 games this season. The Blue Jackets (28-27-3) have lost four straight. -- William Douglas, staff writer

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Ovechkin takes another shot at passing Jagr

Alex Ovechkin will try again to pass Jaromir Jagr for sole possession of third place on the NHL goals list when the Washington Capitals wrap up a three-game road against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena (10 p.m. ET; SNP, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). After Ovechkin scored twice in a 5-4 win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday for the Capitals (31-18-10) to tie Jagr with 766 goals, he had eight shots on goal and numerous chances but was unable to score in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. However, Ovechkin loves scoring against his former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, now with the Canucks (29-23-6). Ovechkin has scored nine goals in 12 games against Boudreau-coached teams (Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, Canucks) since he was fired by the Capitals in 2011, including one against the Canucks on Jan. 16. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

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Golden Knights need to rebound

The Vegas Golden Knights need to rebound against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SNW, SNP, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE) after losing to the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 on Thursday in Jack Eichel's return to Buffalo. The Eichel storyline -- the trade Nov. 4, the neck surgery Nov. 12, his Vegas debut Feb. 16 -- shouldn't overshadow the fact the Golden Knights (32-23-4) have lost two straight, are 4-7-1 in their past 12 and in danger of missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since they entered the NHL as an expansion team in 2017-18. They're third in the Pacific Division, two points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, who are not in a playoff spot. The Penguins (34-15-9) have lost two straight. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

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Friday games

Vegas Golden Knights at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SNW, SNP, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE)
Sidney Crosby has scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) during a seven-game point streak for the Penguins. The center has 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in his past 22 games. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has no goals in his past 12 games for the Golden Knights.
Minnesota Wild at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Columbus plays the second game of a back-to-back after a 6-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday. Forward Patrik Laine has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five games for the Blue Jackets. Forward Kevin Fiala has eight points (three goals, five assists) in a five-game point streak.
Winnipeg Jets at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Kyle Connor has scored 35 goals for the Jets (26-22-10), who have won two straight. Connor is fifth in the NHL in goals and has scored three in his past four games and six in his past seven. Anders Lee has five goals in his past two games for the Islanders (22-24-8), who are 2-2-0 on a six-game homestand.
Washington Capitals at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, NBCSWA+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
J.T. Miller has scored 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) during a 10-game point streak for the Canucks, who have won three in a row and eight of their past 10 games. Washington has points in four straight games (3-0-1).