NHL On Tap: Rangers try to sweep season series against Lightning

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 11 games Saturday.

#

Rangers can sweep seasons series against Lightning

Two of the top goalies in the NHL could start against each other when Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers visit Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, NHL LIVE). The Rangers (38-18-5) have won their first two games against the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning (39-15-6) and could sweep the season series with a win Saturday. Shesterkin started each of the first two games and stopped a combined 63 of 66 shots faced (.955 save percentage), including a 4-0 shutout Jan. 2; Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 21 shots faced in that game, his lone appearance against the Rangers this season. Shesterkin leads NHL goalies with a 2.07 goals-against average and .938 save percentage; Vasilevskiy has 32 wins, most in the League. This matchup features two of the top eight teams in NHL points percentage (Lightning: .700, fourth; Rangers: .664, eighth). -- Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor

#

Red Wings aim for road trip split against Kraken

The Detroit Red Wings are in Seattle to close out a four-game road trip against the Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSDET, NHL LIVE). Shut out 3-0 by the Calgary Flames on March 12 then handed a 7-5 loss by the Edmonton Oilers two nights later, the Red Wings (25-29-7) rebounded against the Vancouver Canucks with a 1-0 win Thursday, when goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made 43 saves. The win ended a 0-5-1 skid for Detroit. The Kraken (18-38-6) are home for their second game after a five-game trip, having dropped a 4-1 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. Seattle forward Yanni Gourde has had a bit of a hot hand of late, scoring seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past seven games. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

#

Lee, Islanders look to extend streaks

Anders Lee will try to extend his six-game goal streak when the New York Islanders host the Dallas Stars (2 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE), looking to extend a five-game point streak (4-0-1). The Islanders (25-24-9) are coming off a 2-1 win against the Rangers on Thursday; Lee scored in the second period, giving him nine goals in his past six games. The Stars (33-23-3) are coming off a 4-3 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Defenseman John Klingberg scored two goals, including the game-winner, and hasscored eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past five games. -- William Douglas, staff writer

#

Saturday games

Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSN, BSWI, NBCSC, NHL LIVE)
The Wild (35-20-4) look to complete a sweep of this season series, having outscored the Blackhawks 14-3 in winning the first three games. Minnesota forward Mats Zuccarello has scored six points (one goal, five assists) in three games against Chicago this season. Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has scored points in eight of his last 10 games; he's scored multiple points in six of those games.
Dallas Stars at New York Islanders (2 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the first of back-to-back weekend games for the Islanders, who visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Kyle Palmieri has a six-game point streak (four goals, three assists) for New York. Stars forward Tyler Seguin is one goal shy of 300 in the NHL.
New Jersey Devils at Edmonton Oilers (3 p.m. ET; SN, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
New Jersey (22-34-5) has lost two in a row and three of four after consecutive 6-3 defeats at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday and Calgary Flames on Wednesday and will wrap up a three-game road trip. Edmonton (34-23-4) has won four straight, outscoring opponents 21-10 in the span and will conclude a five-game homestand. Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto has a four-game goal streak with a combined seven points (four goals, three assists) playing on the top line with Connor McDavid and Evander Kane.
Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights (4 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Golden Knights center Jack Eichel will play after he left a 5-3 win against the Florida Panthers on Thursday late in the second period with an upper-body injury. That win ended a five-game losing streak for Vegas (33-26-4). The Kings (34-21-8) are coming off a 3-0 win against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Beginning with a 4-3 win against the Golden Knights on Feb. 18, the Kings are 10-4-1 in their past 15 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Arizona Coyotes (5 p.m. ET; BSAZ, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forwards Nick Schmaltz (seven goals, 10 assists) and Clayton Keller (four goals, nine assists) have seven-game points streaks for Arizona (20-36-4), which has won six of its past seven. Pittsburgh (37-16-9) ends a three-game road trip after a 4-1 loss at the Nashville Predators on Tuesday and a 3-2 shootout win at the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
St. Louis Blues at Columbus Blue Jackets (5 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
David Perron has scored seven points (six goals, one assist) in a five-game point streak and nine goals in his past eight games for the Blues (34-21-9), who are 2-3-3 in their past eight. The Blue Jackets (31-28-3) look to rebound after a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday that ended a three-game winning streak. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski has a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Auston Matthews will return for Toronto (39-17-5), which seeks its third straight win. The forward was suspended two games for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin at the 2022 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic. Forward Filip Forsberg has scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) during a five-game point streak for Nashville (35-22-4) and defenseman Roman Josi has scored 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in an eight-game point streak.
Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; SN360, CITY, SNE, TVAS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Josh Norris has scored seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past five games for Ottawa (21-34-5), which begins a three-game road trip. Forward Nick Suzuki has scored 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his past eight games for Montreal (16-36-9).
New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Rangers have scored on the power play in four straight games and are 2-3-0 in their past five. Brandon Hagel will make his Lightning debut after the forward was acquired in a trade with the Blackhawks on Friday.
Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
J.T. Miller has scored 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in his past 14 games for the Canucks (30-25-7), who look to rebound from a 1-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. The Flames (37-16-8) play the second of back-to-back games after a 1-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
Detroit Red Wings at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSDET, NHL LIVE)
It's the second and final game between the teams this season; the Red Wings won 4-3 at home Dec. 1. Forward Ryan Donato scored twice in the loss for the Kraken and has scored two goals in his past three games.