Welcome to 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 15 games Friday.McDavid, Oilers try to salvage road tripThe Edmonton Oilers 5 12 1 will try to end a three game losing streak when they face the Washington Capitals 10 4 2 at the Capital One Arena on Friday 3 p.m. ET; MNMT, SNW. Edmonton won its first two games under coach Kris Knoblauch, but it has allowed 17 goals in the first three games of this four game road trip. Likewise, Oilers captain Connor McDavid has struggled to score consistently this season. He is tied for 59th in the NHL with 16 points six goals https://www.flamesprostore.com/kris-versteeg-jersey, 10 assists in 16 games, but after scoring two goals in a 5 3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday, he had one assist and was minus 3 in a 6 3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Washington, meanwhile, has found its game after a slow start. The Capitals are entering Friday on a five game winning streak and are 9 1 1 in their past 11 games. Alex Ovechkin leads the Capitals in points, though he only has 12 five goals, seven assists in 16 games. Derek Van Diest, staff writerBedard, Matthews face off in ChicagoDuring his junior days with Regina of the Western Hockey League, Connor Bedard would spend hours bunkered in the video room studying the shooting technique of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, who won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal scorer in 2021 and 2022. On Friday 2 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, TSN4 , fans at United Center will get to watch them both when Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks 5 12 0 host Matthews and the Maple Leafs 10 5 2. Bedard, who scored his 10th goal of the season in a 7 3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, has nine points five goals, four assists in his past six games. However, Chicago has lost five straight games and will be going up against a well rested Maple Leafs team that has not played since a 4 3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild in Stockholm on Sunday as part of the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden. Toronto has also won four in a row overall and has a point in seven straight on the road 5 0 2. As for Matthews, he is tied for the NHL lead in goals 14 with Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor. Mike Zeisberger, staff writerWild getting their groove back?The Minnesota Wild 5 8 4 are entering their game against the Colorado Avalanche 12 6 0 at Xcel Energy Center on Friday 8:30 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, TVAS on a five game losing streak 0 3 2 , but they are starting to feel better about their game. The Wild may have lost 2 1 in a shootout to the Ottawa Senators and 4 3 in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden last weekend, but it's the way those games went that have led to better vibes, including rallying from two goals down in the third period to salvage a point against Toronto on Sunday. Coach Dean Evason said he's seen much needed defensive improvement, which he believes is going to lead to more scoring for the Wild, who are currently 18th in the NHL in goals per game 3.12. They'll get a chance to show their growth against the Avalanche, who have won four of their past five games 4 1 0 and have scored 27 goals in that span. Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editorFriday's gamesDetroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins 1 p.m. ET; BSDET, NESN, SNP, SNO, SNE, SN1 The Bruins 14 1 3 will look to extend their point streak to eight games 5 0 2 when they host the Red Wings 9 6 3 , who are coming off a 4 0 win against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Bruins forward David Pastrnak has 15 points four goals, 11 assists in his past eight games. Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond has scored in four straight games.New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers 1 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSP, MSG Alexis Lafrenière has eight points four goals, four assists in his past seven games and scored the lone goal for the Rangers 13 3 1 in a 1 0 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. The Flyers 10 8 1 had their five game winning streak end with a 3 2 loss at the New York Islanders on Wednesday. Flyers forward Owen Tippett has eight points five goals, three assists in his past six games.Toronto Maple Leafs at Chicago Blackhawks 2 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, TSN4 William Nylander will attempt to extend his season opening point streak to 18 games 27 points; 12 goals, 15 assists for the Maple Leafs 10 5 2 , who have won four in a row. The Blackhawks 5 12 0 have lost five in a row and announced on Thursday that forward Taylor Hall will have ACL surgery on his right knee and be out the rest of the season.Columbus Blue Jackets at New Jersey Devils 3 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSOH The Blue Jackets 5 11 4 ended a nine game losing streak 0 7 2 with a 7 3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. Zach Werenski had four assists in the win, the most by a defenseman in Columbus history, and was also plus 5 in 20:10 of ice time. The Devils 8 8 1 have lost five of their past six 1 5 0 , including 4 0 to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, the first time they had been shut out since April 24, 2022.Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues 3 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSMW The Predators 8 10 0 will look to extend their winning streak to four games. Nashville defenseman Ryan McDonagh had two assists in a 4 2 win against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, his first after missing seven games with a lower body injury. The Blues 10 7 1 have won five of their past seven games 5 2 0 , including rallying for a 6 5 win at the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday.Edmonton Oilers at Washington Capitals 3 p.m. ET; MNMT, SNW The Capitals 10 4 2 have won five in a row and are 9 1 1 in their past 11 games. Dylan Strome scored his team leading eighth goal of the season with eight seconds remaining in overtime to give the Capitals a 4 3 come from behind victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. The Oilers 5 12 1 , meanwhile, have lost the first three games of a four game road trip, allowing 17 goals in the process.Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks 3:30 p.m. ET; BSSD, BSW, SNP, SNO Colton Poolman Jersey, SNE, SN1 The Kings 11 3 3 have won three in a row and have earned at least one point in 11 of their past 12 games 9 1 2. Anaheim 9 10 0 started the season hot but has lost four straight games outscored 17 7 and six of its past eight.Montreal Canadiens at San Jose Sharks 3:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, TSN2, RDS The Canadiens 8 9 2 ended a four game losing streak with a 4 3 win at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. Forward Alex Newhook scored two goals in the win and has five points three goals, two assists in his past three games. San Jose 3 15 1 has lost five of its past six games 1 5 0.Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres 6 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, SNP Yegor Sharangovich Jersey, SNO, SNE, TVAS Buffalo 8 9 2 has lost four of its past five games 1 3 1 , including blowing a late lead in a 4 3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Pittsburgh 9 9 0 lost 1 0 to the New York Rangers at home on Wednesday. That came after the Penguins shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 3 0 at home on Sunday.New York Islanders at Ottawa Senators 7:30 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN5, MSGSN Brock Nelson has six points four goals, two assists during a four game point streak for the Islanders 7 6 5 , who have won two in a row after losing their previous seven 0 4 3. The Senators 8 7 0 are playing their first game since returning from Stockholm, where they defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5 4 in overtime on Nov. 16 and Minnesota Wild 2 1 in a shootout on Nov. 18 in the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden.Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes 8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSUN Carolina 11 7 0 has scored 10 goals in its past two games, including a 6 3 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho has at least one point in seven of his past eight games four goals, six assists. Tampa Bay 9 6 5 will try to extend its point streak to five games 3 0 1 , though it is coming off a 3 2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.Winnipeg Jets at Florida Panthers 8 p.m. ET; BSFL, TSN3 The Jets 11 5 2 have won four in a row and seven of their past eight games 7 1 0. Jets forward Kyle Connor is tied with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the most goals in the NHL this season 14. Florida 12 6 1 is coming off a 3 1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday and is 2 2 0 in its past four games.Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars 8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, SNW, SNO, SNE Roope Hintz has four points two goals, two assists in his past two games for the Stars 12 4 2 , who have lost two of three but are 5 1 1 in their past seven. The Flames 7 9 3 , who are 1 1 1 in their past three games, are playing the first of a back to back.Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild 8:30 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, TVAS Cale Makar has 18 points two goals, 16 assists during an eight game point streak for the Avalanche 12 6 0 , who have won four of five and are playing the first game of a back to back. The Wild 5 8 4 are playing their first game since returning from Stockholm, where they lost to the Ottawa Senators 2 1 in a shootout on Nov. 18 and Toronto Maple Leafs 4 3 in overtime on Nov. 19 in the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden.Vancouver Canucks at Seattle Kraken 10 p.m. ET; ROOT NW, SNP The Canucks 13 6 1 have the top two scorers in the NHL in defenseman Quinn Hughes 31 points; eight goals, 23 assists and forward J.T. Miller 30 points; 13 goals, 17 assists. Forward Brock Boeser is also tied for third in the NHL with 13 goals this season. The Kraken 8 8 5 are 3 0 2 in their past five games, including a 7 1 win against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.

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