NHL On Tap: Jets host Bruins trying for third straight win

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.

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Surging Bruins play surging Jets

Two teams on the upswing are slated to face off in Winnipeg, when the Boston Bruins visit the Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Though the Bruins (37-19-5) lost Wednesday to the Minnesota Wild, it was their second regulation loss since Feb. 19. In that time, the Bruins are 10-2-1 to solidify their place as the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Jets (28-23-10) seek their third straight win and are 6-2-1 in their past nine. They still have ground to make up in the Western Conference playoff race, where they trail the Vegas Golden Knights by four points for the second wild card with the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks also ahead of them, so each team needs to keep winning to try and move up the standings with the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline looming Monday at 3 p.m. ET. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Jarnkrok to make Flames debut

Calle Jarnkrok is expected to play his first game for the Calgary Flames when they host the Buffalo Sabres (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Flames acquired the 30-year-old forward in a trade with the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday for a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Jarnkrok will be united in Calgary with fellow Gavle, Sweden, natives Elias Lindholm, who is also his cousin, and Jacob Markstrom. The Flames (37-16-7) have won three of their past four and lead the Los Angeles Kings by five points for first place in the Pacific Division. The Sabres (20-33-8) continue a three-game road trip that began with a 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

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Panthers remain on the prowl

Ben Chiarot will not be in the lineup when the Florida Panthers visit the Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, BSW, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) after the defenseman was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens for a first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft and forward prospect Tyler Smilanic on Wednesday. Florida (41-14-6) is first in the Atlantic Division and could be looking to make another deal before the NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Monday. On the ice, the Panthers keep finding success. They were 6-0-1 before a 5-3 loss to the Golden Knights on Thursday, their first regulation defeat since Feb. 26. They'll look to get back into the win column against the Ducks (27-25-11), who've lost five straight (0-3-2). -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

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Friday schedule

Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, NBCSP+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
This is the second half of a back-to-back set for the Flyers (19-30-11), who defeated the Nashville Predators 5-4 on Thursday. The Senators (21-34-5) have lost three in a row and are 2-8-0 in their past 10.
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSSO, NBCSWA+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Evgeny Kuznetsov has scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) in a seven-game point streak for the Capitals (34-18-10), who are coming off a 7-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday and have won three in a row. Jordan Staal is three points shy of 600 in the NHL for the Hurricanes (41-14-5), who have lost two straight, including 3-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
Boston Bruins at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
This is the second and final game between the teams this season; the Bruins won 3-2 at home Jan. 22 when Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist. The Jets are 16-11-2 at home this season, where they'll play five of their next six games.
Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Flames won the only other game played against the Sabres this season, 5-0 in Buffalo on Nov. 18. Markstrom made 27 saves for the shutout and forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Andrew Mangiapane each scored two goals for Calgary. The Sabres are 9-17-4 on the road this season.
Florida Panthers at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, BSW, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers are 1-1-1 so far on a seven-game road trip. Aaron Ekblad has scored 291 points (97 goals, 194 assists) in the NHL, passing Robert Svehla (290) for the most by a defenseman in Panthers history. The Ducks haven't won a game in regulation since defeating the Bruins 4-3 on March 1.
Colorado Avalanche at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Avalanche (43-13-5) have won two in a row, each a 3-0 shutout (against the Flames on Sunday and at the Kings on Tuesday). The Sharks (26-26-8), who lost 3-0 to the Kings on Thursday, will play their fifth game in nine days.