by Western Showdown
The Calgary Flames (27-22-13) know now is the time to make a run if they want to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and they need to beat the Minnesota Wild (35-21-6) at the Scotiabank Saddledome (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, BSWI, BSNX, ESPN+, SN NOW). After making cosmetic changes ahead of the 2023 NHL trade deadline, the Flames know no reinforcements are on the way and it’s time to find some consistency. The Flames are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games, which isn’t ideal given that they are five points clear of the Winnipeg Jets, who hold the second Western Conference wild card. The Wild meanwhile have lost once in the last 10 (7-1-2) in regulation. — Shawn P. Roarke, Executive Editor
Maple Leafs looking to stay hot against Canucks
If a team makes multiple additions before a trade deadline, it can take time for players to get used to a new system and for everyone to get used to each other. Unlike the Toronto Maple Leafs, who acquired strikers, among other things Ryan O’Reilly And Noël Acciari from the St. Louis Blues, fullback Jake McCabe by the Chicago Blackhawks and defensemen Luke Nice by the Vancouver Canucks. The Maple Leafs (38-16-8) haven’t missed a beat, winning four of their last five games before taking on the Vancouver Canucks (24-32-5) on Saturday (7:00 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN). Toronto is second in the Atlantic Division, five points ahead of third-place Tampa Bay Lightning. The Maple Leafs are playing hockey consistently with their newest signings, a good thing going into the last month plus of the season. — Tracey Myers, staff writer
Penguins, panthers compete for wild cards
If we’re being honest, the two wild cards are probably the only two playoff spots left 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 four straight wins and hold the first wild card, eight points behind the New York Rangers for third place in the Metropolitan Division and one point ahead of the New York Islanders . But there are five other teams lurking within five points behind the Islanders, including the Florida Panthers (30-27-6), who are four points behind them. The penguins who collected some pieces Michael Granlund And Nick Bonino, have won four games in a row and seem to be on the mend. The Panthers, who made no moves at the 2023 NHL trade deadline, are in a win-one-loss-one pattern going back the past 10 games (5-5-0). The teams will compete Saturday at the FLA Live Arena (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW). With the final quarter of the season remaining, it’s time for the Penguins and Panthers if they want to play until mid-April. — Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
games on Saturday
Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabers (12:30 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSSUNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Lightning (37-19-5) are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games and 1-2-2 in their last five. Forward Tanner Jeannot, who was acquired by the Nashville Predators on Sunday, grabbed his first point, an assist, with Tampa Bay in a 5-4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday. The Sabers (31-25-4) have lost twice in a row. Forward Days ThompsonHis career record seven-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 last four games. goalie Ville Huso is 23-15-6 with a 2.95 clean sheet 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 last five games. Forward Josh BaileyNew York’s goal in Thursday’s 2-1 penalty shootout loss at Minnesota was his first since December 27.
New York Rangers at Boston Bruins (1 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN)
Patrick Kane, who was acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, played 19:36 and had four shots on goal (35-18-9) on his debut for the Rangers, a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. New York is 2-4-1 in the last seven games. Forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who was acquired by the Red Wings on Thursday, will make his Bruins debut. Boston (48-8-5) has won nine straight seasons and was the fastest to 100 points (101) in a season with a 7-1 win over Buffalo on Thursday. The Bruins have done it in 61 games; The previous record was 62 by the Montreal Canadiens in 1976-77.
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars (3:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, TVAS, SN, SN1)
Forward Mikko Rantanen has a six-game scoring streak for the Avalanche (34-20-5). The Stars (33-16-13), who have won twice in a row, won up front Max Domi by the Chicago Blackhawks after beating them 5-2 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 last 10 games (3-7-0). Forward Tom Wilson has scored seven goals in 14 games since his season debut on January 8. He had recovered from knee surgery last May. The Sharks (18-32-12) have lost four straight games (0-3-1) and traded forward Nick Bonino to the Penguins on Friday.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Florida Panthers (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jason Sugar has scored in three straight games, including the last two in overtime. If he scores the game winner again against the Panthers, Zucker would equal the Penguin record for longest such distance and tie a group that contains Sydney Crosby, Jaromir Jagr and Doug Shedden. Florida hasn’t won a straight game for three games from Jan. 28 to Feb. 9. It is the second of seven home games 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 last nine games for the Maple Leafs, who have won seven of ten (7-3-0). The Canucks have lost six of their last nine games. Forward Vitaly Kravtsovacquired by 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 ended on Friday in a 6-3 win over Winnipeg for Edmonton (34-21-8) with a five-game multiple-goal streak; He was the fifth player in NHL history to have a multiple-goal 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). defender Josh Morrissey had the first four-point game of his NHL career when he scored twice and assisted twice in Winnipeg’s 6-5 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 times in a row. defender Jacob Chychrun, who was acquired by the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, played 19-16 in his Senators debut, a 5-3 win over the Rangers on Thursday. It’s the second straight 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 last five games. defender Roman Josi has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in his last seven games. The Blackhawks (21-35-5) have lost three straight games. defender Nikita Zaitsevacquired by the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 22, arrived in Chicago Thursday and is expected to make his Blackhawks debut.
Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames (10pm ET; CBC, SN, CITY, BSWI, BSNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Minnesota forward Kirill Kapritsov is on a heater with six goals in his last five games and 39 for the season. He opened the scoring against Vancouver on Wednesday, the eighth game in which he scored the first goal. He finished with two goals, his second multigoal game in the last three. He has 18 multigoal games in his three NHL seasons, ranking third in Wild history Eric Staal. Calgary rookie forward Jacob Pelletier has five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five games. He had two points (one goal, one assist) in his first 11.
St. Louis Blues at the Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Joonas Korpisalotaken over by the Columbus Blue Jackets for the goalie on Wednesday Jonathan Schnell (later traded to the Vegas Golden Knights) made his first scoring start for the Kings (35-20-8). Los Angeles has won back-to-back The Blues (27-29-5) ended a six-game slip (0-4-2) with a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
