NHL On Tap: Flames, Oilers resume Battle of Alberta rivalry

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 14 games Saturday.

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Back to the Battle

The Battle of Alberta resumes when the Calgary Flames visit the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ESPN+, SN NOW), with both teams 1-0-0 to start the season. When last we saw these two teams play, the Oilers eliminated the Flames in five games in the best-of-7 Western Conference Second Round, adding yet another chapter to the storied rivalry. There's a lot that has changed since, with the Flames new additions (Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Nazem Kadri) getting their first chance to experience the Battle of Alberta against the Oilers and all-world forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. And with the teams set to be top contenders in the Pacific Division, there will be no shortage of drama. This is the epitome of must-watch hockey. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Beniers hopes to continue offensive surge

Matty Beniers will look to build on the successful start to his NHL career for the Seattle Kraken (1-0-1) in their home opener against the Vegas Golden Knights at Climate Pledge Arena (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW). The 19-year-old center has three points (one goal, two assists) in two games and has at least one point in 11 of his first 12 NHL games, dating to last season. He is the third teenager, joining Joe Sakic and Jonathan Toews, and sixth player in NHL history to do so (Sakic, Dmitri Kvartalnov, Toews, Rob Gaudreau, Teemu Selanne). Goalie Logan Thompson has won his first two starts to begin the season for the Golden Knights (2-0-0), including a shutout in a 1-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. The 25-year-old has a 1.50 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in two games. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

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Ontario clash

The Battle of Ontario begins anew for the 2022-23 season when the Ottawa Senators visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNP, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW). Matt Murray was expected to start for the Maple Leafs against his former team in this Hockey Night in Canada matchup but is expected to miss at least four weeks because of an adductor injury after the goalie was struck by a shot during the morning skate. Murray was traded from the Senators to the Maple Leafs for two draft picks July 11. He made 19 saves in a 4-3 loss at the Montreal Canadiens in his Maple Leafs debut Wednesday. Ilya Samsonov got the start Saturday for Toronto (1-1-0), which won three of four games against Ottawa (0-1-0) last season. -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

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Saturday games

Florida Panthers at Buffalo Sabres (1 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Each team won its opener Thursday. Victor Olofsson scored two goals and Craig Anderson made 35 saves to lead the Sabres to a 4-1 win against the Ottawa Senators. Coach Paul Maurice won his Panthers debut with a 3-1 road victory at the New York Islanders. Matthew Tkachuk, in his first game with the Panthers, scored a goal and Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves.
Vancouver Canucks at Philadelphia Flyers (4 p.m. ET: SNP, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Canucks (0-1-0) are still smarting from a 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, a game in which they blew a 3-0 lead. Canucks forward J.T. Miller had two points (one goal, one assist) and Andrei Kuzmenko scored his first NHL goal. The Flyers won their season opener Thursday, 5-2 against the New Jersey Devils. They will be without injured forwards Owen Tippett and Cam Atkinson and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
Arizona Coyotes at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NESN, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Nick Ritchie is coming off a two-goal game in the Coyotes season opener, a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Arizona allowed 53 shots in the loss. It is the home opener for the Bruins, who started the season with a 5-2 road win against the Washington Capitals. David Krejci (one goal, two assists) had three points in his return to the Bruins after playing last season in the Czech Republic and David Pastrnak had four points (one goal, three assists).
Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG, BSDET, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Nico Hischier will make his season debut for the Devils after missing their opener because of a hamstring injury. New Jersey lost 5-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. Goalie Vitek Vanecek will start and make his Devils debut. The Red Wings are coming off a 3-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Goalie Ville Husso made 29 saves in his Red Wings debut. Alex Nedeljkovic is expected to start for Detroit against New Jersey.
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; CITY, SNE, TVAS, NBCSWA, ESPN+)
The Canadiens (1-1-0) were shut out by the Red Wings on Friday. Montreal goalie Jake Allen stopped 37 of 38 shots before Detroit scored two empty-net goals. The Capitals (0-2-0) are winless and have been outscored 8-4. Washington forward Alex Ovechkin does not have a point and is minus-3.
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNP, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Maple Leafs forward John Tavares is two points shy of 900 in the NHL. Alex DeBrincat did not score but had seven shots on goal in his Senators debut against the Sabres on Thursday.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, ATTSN-PT, BSSUN, SN NOW)
The Lightning (1-1-) got their first win of the season on Friday, defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has three goals in the first two games. The Penguins are coming off a 6-2 season-opening win against the Coyotes. Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists, one of six Penguins with multiple points in the victory.
Anaheim Ducks at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BCSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Islanders (0-1-0) lost the debut of coach Lane Lambert, 3-1 to the Panthers on Thursday. Defenseman Noah Dobson scored their only goal. The Ducks (1-0-0) begin a five-game road trip. Troy Terry had two goals, including the overtime game-winner, and Trevor Zegras had a goal and an assist to lead the Ducks to a wild 5-4 win against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blue Jackets (0-2-0) lost 5-2 to the Lightning in their home opener on Friday. Forward Johnny Gaudreau scored his first goal with Columbus on Friday. Blue Jacket forward Patrik Laine is out for at least three weeks with an elbow sprain. It's the season openmer for the Blues, the last of the 32 teams to play a game. Goalie Jordan Binnington is expected to startfor the Blues. He has won each of his two starts against the Blue Jackets.
Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWIX, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Kevin Fiala, who was acquired by the Kings from the Wild on June 29, returns to Minnesota for the first time since the trade. He had NHL career highs in goals (33), assists (52) and points (85) with the Wild last season. The Kings (0-2-0) are looking for their first win of the season; the Wild (0-1-0) lost their season opener Thursday, 7-3 to the New York Rangers.
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars, (8 p.m. ET; BSSW, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the back end of a home-and-home set. The Stars (1-0-0) won 4-1 on Thursday, getting two goals from Mason Marchment and one each from rookie Wyatt Johnston and Joe Pavelski. Jake Oettinger made 31 saves for Dallas. Forward Ryan Johansen scored for the Predators (2-1-0) and has two points (one goal, one assist) in three games.
Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Seattle forward Shane Wright was a healthy scratch at Los Angeles on Thursday after the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft had no points with 6:14 of ice time in his NHL debut at Anaheim on Wednesday. Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague, who signed a three-year contract on Monday, was plus-1 with two blocked shots in 13:51 of ice time Thursday.
Chicago Blackhawks at San Jose Sharks (10 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blackhawks (0-2-0) have not scored an even-strength goal in their first two games, losses to the Colorado Avalanche and Golden Knights. The Sharks (0-2-0) are playing their home opener after losing two games to the Predators in the Czech Republic during the Global Series last week.
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Both the Flames and Oilers won their season openers, with the Flames defeating the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche on Thursday for coach Darryl Sutter's 700th career regular-season win. Connor McDavid had a four-point opener for the Oilers, scoring three goals and adding an assist in the 5-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks. He is the sixth-fastest player to reach 700 career points -- 242 goals, 459 assists in 488 games -- in NHL history.