NHL On Tap: Fox, Stutzle chase milestones when Rangers visit Senators
Maple Leafs attempt to slow McDavid; Bruins eye point in eighth straight game
By NHL.com
There are 12 games on the NHL schedule for Saturday, including two nationally televised in the United States and three in Canada. Here are five things to watch today, along with the complete game schedule.
Multiple milestones in Ottawa
Adam Fox and Tim Stutzle are each chasing milestones when the New York Rangers visit the Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNE, MSG, NHLN). Fox needs another multipoint outing to record six points over consecutive games for the fourth time in his NHL career. Only Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch (eight times) has more as a Rangers defenseman. Fox had four assists and was plus-4 in a 5-4 loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Stutzle, the Senators’ top center, needs one power-play goal to pass Jochen Hecht (38) for sole possession of the third most by a German player. Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl leads with 168; former Boston Bruins forward/now coach Marco Sturm scored 66.
McDavid headlines battle of first-rounders
Can anyone stop Connor McDavid? So far this season, no one really has. The Toronto Maple Leafs are next to try when they visit the Edmonton Oilers (8-1-1) at Rogers Place (7 p.m. ET; SNO, SNW, SNP). McDavid became the fourth player in NHL history to reach 30 points in 10 games or fewer on Thursday with two goals and three assists in a 6-5 shootout win against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers captain has 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists), with a 10-game season-opening assist streak, something only three players in NHL history have done -- Sebastian Aho (12 games in 2018-19), Ken Linseman (12 in 1985-86) and Wayne Gretzky (12 in 1982-83). The Maple Leafs (6-4-2) bring their own No. 1 picks to the table to counter the No. 1 pick in 2015 (McDavid) and the No. 1 pick in 2011 (center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) with center Auston Matthews (2016) and forward Gavin McKenna (2026); center John Tavares, the 2009 No. 1 pick, is week to week with an upper-body injury.
Bruins on a heater
Off to a torrid start, the Boston Bruins are hoping to push their point streak to eight games when they host the San Jose Sharks at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NESN). The Bruins (8-2-1) are coming off a 6-0 win against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, when captain David Pastrnak and defenseman Charlie McAvoy each had four points. Pastrnak has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 11 games, two points more than Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, who has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in nine games. The Bruins are tied with the Oilers for second in the NHL with 17 points, behind only the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes, who have 18. San Jose (6-4-1) seeks its third straight win after going 1-3-1 in its previous five games.
Tuch set for reunion
The Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch will be on the ice together again, when the Sabres (4-4-2) head to Capital One Arena (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, MSG-B) -- they just won’t be on the same side. The last time Tuch was on the same ice as the Sabres was on May 18, when Buffalo lost to the Montreal Canadiens in overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round. The forward was traded to the Capitals on June 26 in a sign-and-trade that netted him an eight-year, $84 million contract. He has seven points (five goals, two assists) in nine games for Washington (5-4-0) after playing the past five seasons for his hometown franchise.
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Listen on SpotifySet to roll at Rock
Though Connor Hellebuyck won’t be on the ice for the New Jersey Devils when they host the Los Angeles Kings at Prudential Center (3:30 p.m. ET; ABTV, MSGSN, SN), it could be a motivated home team. The Devils (6-4-0) have made the biggest move of the young season, acquiring the 33-year-old three-time Vezina Trophy winning goalie who is in the third year of a seven-year contract. Hellebuyck hasn’t played yet this season after asking for a trade from the Winnipeg over the summer. New Jersey, 4-1-0 in its past five games, has been playing in front of the goalie tandem of Jake Allen and Nico Daws, the latter part of the package heading to Winnipeg in the deal. The Kings (2-4-2) seek their third straight win following an 0-4-2 start.
The schedule
Anaheim Ducks at Philadelphia Flyers, 1 p.m. ET; FOXLA+, Prime Video, NHLN, NBCSP, SN
Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils, 3:30 p.m. ET; ABTV, MSGSN, SN
San Jose Sharks at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NESN
New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNE, MSG, NHLN
Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, SCRIPPS
Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET; MNMT, MSG-B
Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. ET; CBJHN, CBJNHL, SCRIPPS
Carolina Hurricanes at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m. ET; HHN, BN+, STLNHL, CARNHL
Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers, 7 p.m. ET; SNO, SNW, SNP
Tampa Bay Lightning at Utah Mammoth, 9 p.m. ET; Mammoth+, The Spot, Utah16
Detroit Red Wings at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, DSN
Minnesota Wild at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m. ET; Wild+, Prime Video, MINNHL, KONG
