Welcome to NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com editors will share each day what they look forward to most from the schedule. Today their picks from six games on Friday.
Canucks go for two in a row
The Vancouver Canucks (1-5-2) will look to build on their first win of the season when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rogers Arena on Friday (10 p.m. ET: SN360, SN1, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW ) . The Canucks have lost their first seven games (0-5-2), including a two-goal lead in each of their first four games. But the slippage finally came to an end in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday. It was coach Bruce Boudreau’s 600th win; he is the second fastest coach in NHL history to reach the mark (1,049 games), behind Scotty Bowman (1,002). The Penguins (4-2-1) are coming off back-to-back losses in Alberta, in which they were outscored 10-4 by the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. Forward Sidney Crosby had one point, one goal, in those two games, after starting the season with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in five games. — Mike Zeisberger, Editor
The coyotes debut in a new home
The Arizona Coyotes will show off their new finds to a national audience when they host the Winnipeg Jets (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, TSN3). The Coyotes (2-4-0) make their home debut at Mullett Arena, a new 5,000-seat facility on the campus of Arizona State University. It’s the first of a four-game home series for the Coyotes, who have played their first six games on the road, part of a season opener in which Arizona will play 20 of his first 24 on the road. Coyotes ahead Clayton Keller looking to extend his five-game streak with at least one point (two goals, five assists). He had three assists in a 6-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Winnipeg defenseman (4-3-0) Neal Pionk has five points (three goals, two assists) in its last five games. The Jets are entering a two-game winning streak and are 2-2-0 on the road so far. — William Douglas, writer
Islanders get tested
The New York Islanders (3-4-0) passed a test this week when they shut out the New York Rangers 3-0 on Wednesday, backed by 41 goalie saves Ilya Sorokin. They will have another Friday when they travel to PNC Arena to face the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW), who are 4-1-1 to start the season. . The Hurricanes managed on 22.7% of their power-play chances, but that will be contested against the Islanders, who started the season without allowing a power-play goal in any of their seven games to start the season. It’s tied for the longest streak since a team started a season since 1977-78, when special teams stats first started being tracked, tying the Minnesota Wild in 2008-09 and the Red Wings. of Detroit in 2014-15. Islanders will also see forward Josh Bailey playing his 1,000th career game. He played his entire 15-season NHL career with the Islanders after being drafted by them with the No. 9 pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. — Amalie Benjamin, editor
Friday Games
Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights (6 p.m. ET: ATTSN-RN, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Ducks (1-5-1) are winless on the road (0-4-1) this season and have scored 16 goals in their first seven games; only the St. Louis Blues (14 in six games) have scored less. The Golden Knights (6-2-0), who have won two in a row, are 3-1 at home.
Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET: NHLN, BSOH, NESN, SN NOW)
Bruins (7-1-0) forward Brad Merchant will not participate in this one after registering two goals and an assist in his season debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. Management will be cautious with Marchand, who underwent surgery on both hips on May 27. The Blue Jackets (3-5-0) are yet to score a power-play goal in eight games this season.
Colorado Avalanche vs. New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET: MSGSN, ALT2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (4-2-1) will be without a forward Valery Nichushkin, who is day to day due to a lower body injury. Nichushkin had started the season on a seven-game point streak (seven goals, five assists) and scored a goal in all but one of Colorado’s seven games. The Devils (4-3-0) were led by forward Jesper Brett who had 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in seven games.
New York Islanders vs. Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
With a power play goal against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, the Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov tied Geoff Sanderson (1993-94) for most goals in the first six games of a season for the Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers, with seven. Svechnikov is tied for second in the NHL in goals after scoring an NHL career-best 30 goals in 78 games last season. The Islanders are winless (0-2-0) on the road this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET: SN360, SN1, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Penguins are 3-0-0 at home but 1-2-1 on the road after back-to-back losses to the Oilers and Flames on Monday and Tuesday. Canucks forward JT Miller (left ankle) is questionable after blocking a late shot against the Kraken on Thursday. He needed to be helped off the ice by two teammates.
Winnipeg Jets at Arizona Coyotes (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, TSN3)
The Jets are playing their second straight road game following their 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Coyotes Shayne Gostisbehere is third among NHL defensemen with eight points (four goals, four assists) in six games, including two goals and an assist in Arizona’s 6-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
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