NHL On Tap: Tkachuk brothers meet in Atlantic battle

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.

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Tkachuk brother battle begins new chapter

Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk meet for the first time as Atlantic Division rivals when Matthew and the Florida Panthers host Brady and the Ottawa Senators at FLA Live Arena (4 p.m. ET; TVAS2, BSFL, TSN5, ESPN+, SN NOW). Things changed for the brothers when Matthew was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Panthers on July 22. They went from playing in two different conferences with two family-friendly meetings per season to teams battling for position in the same division that might potentially meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Florida (4-3-1) leads Ottawa (4-3-0) by one point heading into the first of three games between them this season. Matthew leads the Panthers with four goals, six assists and 10 points in eight games. Brady is tied for the Senators' lead with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in seven games. In 15 previous regular-season games between them, Matthew has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) and Brady has eight (four goals four assists). -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

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Robertson's production there from the start

Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson missed the first two weeks of training camp while awaiting a new contract. That wait ended on Oct. 6 when he signed a four-year, $31 million contract. The Stars, however, didn't have to wait at all for Robertson's scoring to return. The 23-year-old has eight points (three goals, five assists), tied for the Stars lead with linemate Roope Hintz (two goals, six assists). Robertson will look for more when the Stars (5-2-1) host the New York Rangers (3-3-2) at American Airlines Arena (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, BSSW, MSG, SN NOW). The Rangers have lost four straight (0-2-2) and need to slow down Robertson and the Stars on Saturday. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

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Will Kadri match up against McDavid in Calgary?

The Battle of Alberta resumes when the Edmonton Oilers (5-3-0) visit the Calgary Flames (5-1-0) at Scotiabank Saddledome (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN1, CITY, TVAS2, ESPN+, SN NOW). In the first edition this season, the Flames defeated the Oilers 4-3 in Edmonton on Oct. 15, taking a 4-1 lead in the first period and holding on. Nazem Kadri scored his first goal for Calgary and added an assist. Connor McDavid scored for Edmonton, and Leon Draisaitl had two assists. It will be interesting to see if Kadri matches up against McDavid with the Flames having the last line change at home. He has been a pain to play against for McDavid in the past. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

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Saturday games

Dallas Stars at New York Rangers (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, BSSW, MSG, SN NOW)
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger is 5-1-0 with a 1.17 goals-against average, .960 save percentage and one shutout. He led Dallas to a 2-0 win against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, when he made 27 saves. Forward Artemi Panarin has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in eight games to lead the Rangers, who are coming off a 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Wednesday.
Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers (4 p.m. ET; TVAS2, BSFL, TSN5, ESPN+, SN NOW)
After having the final three seasons of his contact bought out by the Senators after last season, Colin White has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his first eight games with the Panthers, who are 1-2-1 in their past four games. Alex DeBrincat has assists and points (two goals, six assists) in six straight games for the Senators, who will look to rebound after their four-game winning streak ended with a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
Tampa Bay Lightning at San Jose Sharks (4:30 p.m. ET; SN, SN1, NBCSCA, BSSUNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Nikita Kucherov has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) during a six-game point streak for the Lightning (4-4-0), who have come from behind in three of their four victories. Tampa Bay split the first two games on this three-game California road trip. The Sharks (3-7-0) have two of their three wins in overtime with defenseman Erik Karlsson scoring the winning goal in each.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Los Angeles Kings (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN1, BSW, SN NOW)
The Maple Leafs (4-3-1) are 1-1-1 on their five-game road trip. John Tavares had at least one point in each of the first three games (two goals, two assists) and leads Toronto with nine points (three goals, six assists). Gabriel Vilardi leads the Kings (4-5-0) with six goals and 10 points. Los Angeles is 1-3-0 at home.
Montreal Canadiens at St. Louis Blues (7 p.m. ET; SN360, CITY, TVAS, BSMW, ESPN+)
Two of Josh Anderson's three goals this season have been game-winners for the Canadiens (4-4-0), including one in their 3-2 victory at the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. The Blues (3-3-0) have lost three in a row, getting outscored 13-3, since opening the season 3-0-0.
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Carter Hart has helped the Flyers (5-2-0) get off to a strong start under first-year coach John Tortorella by going 5-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in five starts. The Hurricanes (4-2-1) will look to rebound from a 6-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday. Andrei Svechnikov (seven goals, two assists), Martin Necas (four goals, five assists) and Sebastian Aho (four goals, five assists) share the Carolina lead with nine points each.
Chicago Blackhawks at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blackhawks (4-3-0) have been one of the early-season surprises in the NHL, winning four in a row before a 6-5 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Patrick Kane has seven points (two goals, five assists) in the past three games for Chicago. Buffalo (4-3-0) was off to a 4-1-0 start before losing its past two games. Rasmus Dahlin, who leads the Sabres with nine points (five points, four assists), was held without a point for the first time this season in a 3-2 loss to the Canadiens on Thursday.
Minnesota Wild at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, BSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Wild (3-3-1) have evened their record after losing their first three games by going 3-0-1 in their past four. Minnesota defenseman Calen Addison is tied for the NHL lead among rookies with seven points (all assists). The Red Wings (3-2-2) have been outscored 11-3 in losing their past two games in regulation after not losing in regulation in their first five games (3-0-2).
Colorado Avalanche at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (4-3-0) play their final game before heading to Tampere, Finland for two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Global Series on Nov. 4 and 5. Colorado is coming off a 1-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Friday without forward Valeri Nichushkin, who sat out with a lower-body injury. The Islanders (4-4-0) have won two in a row with goalie Ilya Sorokin stopping 74 of 76 shots in victories against the New York Rangers (3-0) and the Hurricanes (6-2).
Washington Capitals at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Washington's Alex Ovechkin remains three goals behind Gordie Howe's NHL record for the most with one team of 786. The Capitals (4-4-0) are 1-3-0 on the road this season, including a 2-0 loss at the Dallas Stars on Thursday, after leading the NHL with a 25-10-6 road record last season. The Predators (3-4-1) ended a 0-4-1 slide with a 6-2 win against the Blues on Thursday. Tanner Jeanot has scored goals in three of the past four games for Nashville.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Matty Beniers has scored a goal in each of the past three games for the Kraken (3-4-2) and is tied for the NHL rookie lead with seven points (four goals, three assists). The Penguins (4-3-1) have lost three in a row, including 5-1 at the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, following a 4-0-1 start. Jake Guentzel (upper body) and Jason Zucker (undisclosed) are close to returning from their respective injuries for Pittsburgh.
Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN1, CITY, TVAS2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Oilers have won three straight. With 15 points each, Oilers forwards Connor McDavid (eight goals, seven assists) and Leon Draisaitl (four goals, 11 assists) trail Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (seven goals, 10 assists) by two for the NHL lead. In their first six games with the Flames, Nazem Kadri has nine points (four goals, five assists), and Jonathan Huberdeau has five points (one goal, four assists).