CGY MIN for On Tap 3.4.23

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 12 games Saturday.

Western showdown

The Calgary Flames (27-22-13) know the time is now to go on a run if they want to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it must begin against the Minnesota Wild (35-21-6) at Scotiabank Saddledome (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, BSWI, BSNX, ESPN+, SN NOW). After making cosmetic changes before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, the Flames know that reinforcements are not on the way and it is time to find some consistency. The Flames are 3-4-3 in their past 10 games, which is not ideal with a five-point gap between them and the Winnipeg Jets, who hold the second wild card from Western Conference. The Wild, meanwhile, have lost once in regulation in their past 10 (7-1-2). -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

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Maple Leafs look to stay hot against Canucks

When a team makes multiple additions prior to a trade deadline, it can take some time for players to get acclimated to a new system, for everyone to get used to each other. That's not the case with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who acquired, among others, forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari from the St. Louis Blues, defenseman Jake McCabe from the Chicago Blackhawks and defenseman Luke Schenn from the Vancouver Canucks. The Maple Leafs (38-16-8) haven't skipped a beat, winning four of their past five games entering their game against the Vancouver Canucks (24-32-5) on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN). Toronto is second in the Atlantic Division, five points ahead of the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning. The Maple Leafs are playing consistent hockey with their latest additions, a good thing entering the final month-plus of the season. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

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Penguins, Panthers vying for wild cards

If we're being honest, the two wild cards are likely the only two playoff spots still up for grabs in the Eastern Conference, and there are more than a few teams vying for them. That includes the Pittsburgh Penguins (31-21-9), who have won four straight and hold the first wild card, eight points back of the New York Rangers for third in the Metropolitan Division and one point ahead of the New York Islanders. But there are five more teams lurking within five points of the Islanders, including the Florida Panthers (30-27-6), who are four points back of them. The Penguins, who have picked up a few pieces in Mikael Granlund and Nick Bonino, have won four straight games and appear to be rounding into form. The Panthers, who made no moves at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, are in a win one/lose one pattern that goes back for the past 10 games (5-5-0). The teams are set to square off Saturday at FLA Live Arena (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW). With the last quarter of the season left, it's go time for the Penguins and Panthers if they want to still be playing past the middle of April. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Saturday games

Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres (12:30 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSSUNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Lightning (37-19-5) are 4-3-3 in their past 10 games and 1-2-2 in their past five. Forward Tanner Jeannot, acquired from the Nashville Predators on Sunday, got his first point, an assist, with Tampa Bay in a 5-4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday. The Sabres (31-25-4) have lost two in a row. Forward Tage Thompson's career-high, seven-game point streak (six goals, five assists) ended in a 7-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
Detroit Red Wings at New York Islanders (12:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSDET, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Red Wings (28-24-9) are 0-3-1 in their past four games. Goalie Ville Husso is 23-15-6 with a 2.95 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and three shutouts in 45 starts for the Red Wings this season. The Islanders (31-25-8) are 3-1-1 in their past five games. Forward Josh Bailey's goal in New York's 2-1 shootout loss at Minnesota on Thursday was his first since Dec. 27.
New York Rangers at Boston Bruins (1 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN)
Patrick Kane, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, played 19:36 and had four shots on goal in his debut for the Rangers (35-18-9), a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. New York is 2-4-1 in its past seven games. Forward Tyler Bertuzzi, acquired from the Red Wings on Thursday, will make his Bruins debut. Boston (48-8-5) has won nine straight and became the fastest to reach 100 points (101) in a season with a 7-1 win against Buffalo on Thursday. The Bruins did it in 61 games; the previous record was 62 by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens.
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars (3:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, TVAS, SN, SN1)
Forward Mikko Rantanen has a six-game goal streak for the Avalanche (34-20-5). The Stars, (33-16-13) who have won two in a row, acquired forward Max Domi from the Chicago Blackhawks following a 5-2 win against them on Thursday. He led Chicago with 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) in 60 games this season.
Washington Capitals at San Jose Sharks (6 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NBCSWA+, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Capitals (30-27-6) have lost seven of their past 10 games (3-7-0). Forward Tom Wilson has seven goals in 14 games since making his season debut Jan. 8. He had been out recovering from having knee surgery last May. The Sharks (18-32-12) have lost four in a row (0-3-1) and traded forward Nick Bonino to the Penguins on Friday.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jason Zucker has scored in three straight games, including the past two in overtime. If he again scores the game-winner against the Panthers, Zucker would match the Penguins record for the longest such stretch, tying a group that includes Sidney Crosby, Jaromir Jagr and Doug Shedden. Florida hasn't won consecutive games since a three-game run from Jan. 28 to Feb. 9. It's the second of a seven-game homestand for the Panthers.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Vancouver Canucks (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN)
Forward William Nylander has 14 points five goals, nine assists) in his past nine games for the Maple Leafs, who have won seven of 10 (7-3-0). The Canucks have lost six of their past nine games. Forward Vitali Kravtsov, acquired from the Rangers on Feb. 24, had an assist, his first point with the Canucks, in a 2-1 loss to the Wild on Thursday.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; CBC, CITY, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Connor McDavid had a five-game multigoal streak end for Edmonton (34-21-8) in a 6-3 win against Winnipeg on Friday; he was the fifth player in NHL history to have a multigoal streak of that length. The Jets (35-25-2) have lost five in a row (0-4-1) and seven of eight (1-6-1). Defenseman Josh Morrissey had the first four-point game of his NHL career when he had two goals, two assists in Winnipeg's 6-5 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, CITY, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Senators (31-26-4) have won four in a row. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun, acquired from the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, played 19:16 in his Senators debut, a 5-3 win against the Rangers on Thursday. It's the second of a back to back for the Blue Jackets (20-36-6), who lost 4-2 to the Seattle Kraken on Friday.
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Predators (30-23-6) have won four of their past five games. Defenseman Roman Josi has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in his past seven games. The Blackhawks (21-35-5) have lost three in a row. Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, acquired from the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 22, arrived in Chicago on Thursday and is expected to make his Blackhawks debut.
Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, BSWI, BSNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov is on a heater with six goals in his past five games, and 39 for the season. He opened the scoring Wednesday against Vancouver, the eighth game in which he has scored the first goal. He finished with two goals, his second multigoal game in the past three. He has 18 multigoal games in his three NHL seasons, tied for third in Wild history with Eric Staal. Calgary rookie forward Jakob Pelletier has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past five games. He had two points (one goal, one assist) in his first 11.
St. Louis Blues at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Joonas Korpisalo, acquired Wednesday from the Columbus Blue Jackets for goalie Jonathan Quick (who was later traded to the Vegas Golden Knights), could make his first start in goal for the Kings (35-20-8). Los Angeles has won two in a row The Blues (27-29-5) ended a six-game skid (0-4-2) with a 6-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.