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 six games Friday. Golden Knights look to extend perfect start against Bedard, BlackhawksThe Vegas Golden Knights 7 0 0 are the only undefeated team in the NHL after the Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins each lost Thursday, Colorado 4 0 at the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston 4 3 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks. The Golden Knights will attempt to build on that when they host center Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks 2 5 0 at T Mobile Arena 6 p. m. ET; SCRIPPS, NHLN, NBCSCH, TVAS2 and try to become the ninth team in NHL history with a season opening winning streak of at least eight games. The League record is 10, shared by the 1993 94 Toronto Maple Leafs and 2006 07 Buffalo Sabres; the last team to win at least eight straight to start a season was the 2021 22 Florida Panthers, who opened with eight victories. The early start is due to the celebration of Nevada Day, a holiday that commemorates Nevada's statehood in 1864. Vegas will commemorate the occasion by wearing their white jerseys, and fans have been encouraged to wear white to the game as well. Those in attendance will get the opportunity to see Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, who has two shots on goal in his past three games and one point a goal in his past four after he had three points one goal, two assists on 16 shots through his first three games in the League. Mike Zeisberger, staff writerOvechkin and Fleury meet againAlex Ovechkin and Marc Andre Fleury are expected to face each other for the 46th time in the regular season when Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals 2 3 1 host Fleury and the Minnesota Wild 3 3 1 at Capital One Arena 7 p. m. ET; MNMT, BSWI, BSN. Ovechkin has scored 27 goals against Fleury, which are his most against any goalie. The 38 year old has scored in each of the past two games and is second in NHL history with 824 goals in 19 NHL seasons, 70 behind Wayne Gretzky's League record of 894. Fleury has played more games against Ovechkin than any goalie and is 27 14 2 with a 2. 66 goals against average,. 911 save percentage and four shutouts in those 45 games 44 starts. The 38 year old is third in NHL history with 545 wins in 20 seasons, six behind Patrick Roy for second all time. Ovechkin has scored 19 goals in 21 games against the Wild for an average of 0. 90 goals per game, his highest against any team https://www.krakenproteamstore.com/will-borgen-jersey. He scored twice against Fleury and had an assist in their last meeting, March 19 of last season at Minnesota, but Fleury made 33 saves to help the Wild win 5 3. Who will come out on top this time? Tom Gulitti, staff writerJack Hughes seeks fourth straight multipoint gameJack Hughes looks to extend his season opening point streak to seven games when the New Jersey Devils 3 2 1 host the Buffalo Sabres 3 4 0 at Prudential Center 7 p. m. ET; MSGSN, MSG B, SN1. The 22 year old center can become the first player in Devils Colorado Rockies Kansas City Scouts history with at least three points in four straight games, passing Ilya Kovalchuk Feb. 2 5, 2012 , Stephane Richer Feb. 9 14, 1993 , Patrik Sundstrom Dec. 12 15, 1989 and Paul Gardner Oct. 28 Nov. 2, 1977. Hughes leads the NHL with 17 points four goals, 13 assists and has three straight multipoint games two goals, nine assists for New Jersey, seeking its third win in four games. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin looks to extend his point streak to seven games for the Sabres, who won 6 4 at the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. Dahlin had an assist in the victory and has seven assists during his six game streak, which matches the longest of his NHL career. There have been four point streaks of at least six games by Buffalo defensemen in the past 20 years and Dahlin has three https://www.krakenproteamstore.com/kailer-yamamoto-jersey. Additionally, center Dylan Cozens has two goals and four assists during a five game point streak. Mike G. Morreale, staff writerFriday gamesChicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights 6 p. m. ET; SCRIPPS, NHLN, NBCSCH, TVAS2 This will be the second game between these teams in a week after the Golden Knights spoiled the Blackhawks' home opener at United Center with a 5 3 victory Saturday. Bedard scored in that game but hasn't found the back of the net since. Chicago will try to end a three game losing streak in which it has been outscored 12 3. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who missed the past five games after taking a puck to the face against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 12, is expected to return to the Vegas lineup. Buffalo Sabres at New Jersey Devils 7 p. m. ET; MSGSN, MSG B, SN1 Forward Jeff Skinner has four goals and one assist during a three game point streak for the Sabres. The Devils lead the League with a 42. 3 percent success rate on the power play 11 for 26 but are 27th on the penalty kill at 70. 8 percent 17 for 24. Minnesota Wild at Washington Capitals 7 p. m. ET; MNMT, BSWI, BSN The Wild, who have won their past four games against the Capitals, play the second of a three game road trip following a 6 2 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. Minnesota forward Mats Zuccarello had nine points two goals, seven assists during a six game season opening point streak that ended Thursday. Washington center Dylan Strome has four goals in his past three games, including two in a 6 4 win at New Jersey on Wednesday. The Capitals scored six goals in their previous five games Tye Kartye Jersey. San Jose Sharks at Carolina Hurricanes 7 p. m. ET; BSSO, NBCSCA Center Martin Necas scored the eighth overtime goal of his NHL career with 10 seconds remaining to cap a three point game two goals, one assist and the Hurricanes 4 4 0 ended a three game losing streak with a 3 2 victory against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. The Sharks 0 6 1 will try again for their first win of the season following a 6 0 loss at Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. San Jose is 0 3 0 during a five game road trip that concludes at Washington on Sunday. St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks 10 p. m. ET; SN1, BSMW Defenseman Quinn Hughes needs one point for the Canucks 4 2 0 to become the first defenseman in Vancouver history with at least seven points in six games to begin a season one goal, five assists since Paul Reinhart 14 points; five goals, nine assists in six games and Jyrki Lumme seven points; two goals, five assists in six games , each in 1989 90. The Blues 3 2 1 went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in a 3 0 win at the Calgary Flames on Thursday, their second win in three games. Los Angeles Kings at Arizona Coyotes 10 p. m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSW, TVAS2 The teams will play for the second time in four days after the Kings defeated the visiting Coyotes 6 3 on Tuesday. Forwards Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe and centers Anze Kopitar and Blake Lizotte each had a goal and assist in the victory. The Kings 3 2 1 have points in five consecutive games after losing their season opener 5 2 to the Avalanche on Oct. 11. Arizona 3 3 0 is led by forward Clayton Keller, who has scored in four of the past five games and will attempt to score a goal for the fourth straight game.

The Dallas Stars struggled badly out of the gate in 1995 96, 11 19 9 in their first 39 games under coach Bob Gainey. In Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ken Hitchcock was guiding the Stars' solid, sharply focused International Hockey League farm team. As Minnesota North Stars general manager, Gainey had hired Hitchcock in 1993. Now, in January 1996, as Stars GM and the team's only coach since its 1993 94 relocation to Dallas, Gainey summoned Hitchcock for the latter's first NHL head coaching job. The Stars finished sixth and last that season in the Western Conference Central Division, but under Hitchcock they rebounded dramatically to win the Central the following season. In 1998 99, Gainey in the GM's office and Hitchcock behind the bench, the Stars won the Stanley Cup https://www.flyersprostore.com/nolan-maier-jersey. On Oct. 23, 2023, Gainey introduced Hitchcock upon the latter's induction into the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame. Here, in a special testimonial for NHL. com, Gainey shares his thoughts on Hitchcock, who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday in the Builders category:Meeting Ken Hitchcock happened for me in three phases. First: in the late 1980s, I read a story about an oversized person coaching the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League. Two things got my attention: that he needed the trainer to tie his skates, which might or might not have been the case, and that he was accomplishing great results, which was absolutely true. Second: in 1993, Minnesota North Stars assistant general manager Les Jackson brought me the idea, the recommendation, that Ken Hitchcock was available and would be a good fit for our International Hockey League farm team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Third: an interview was arranged and Ken and I met in the Twin Cities. I liked his ideas, I liked his directness. I liked him. Later that day he became head coach of the Kalamazoo Wings and we began an eight year journey. Bob Gainey inducts Ken Hitchcock to Stars HOF The Kalamazoo team had been a disaster in the 1992 93 season, finishing last in the Central Division, out of the playoffs with a record of 29 42 1. With Ken's arrival, that changed. The Wings won the Atlantic Division the following season with a 48 26 7 record and became a functional, stable farm team for the relocated Dallas Stars. In Ken's three seasons with the Wings, the team was successful on the ice and young players were improving, developing. It was a dramatic and much needed turnaround for the success of the NHL franchise. Fast forward to January 1996. The Dallas Stars are stumbling, a coaching change is needed. Ken Hitchcock is called Travis Sanheim Jersey. He is ready, he takes control. The moment he takes charge, things begin to change, for the better. In Hitchcock's world there are no delays, no hesitating in getting to work. There are no warmups, no TV time outs, no intermissions. It's pedal to the metal, 24 7 coaching. © Dallas StarsBob Gainey helps Ken Hitchcock into a jacket during Hitchcock's induction into the Dallas Stars' Hall of Fame. On the day he arrived with the Dallas Stars, the work began that would bring the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1997, the Presidents' Trophy in 1998 and 1999, two appearances in the Cup Final and a Stanley Cup championship in 1999. The success of those years secured a place for the relocated Stars in Dallas Fort Worth. There were many people who participated, who played important roles in making this happening: ownership, administration, staff, players like Mike Modano, Brett Hull, Sergei Zubov, Ed Belfour, Derian Hatcher, Jere Lehtinen, Guy Carbonneau, Joe Nieuwendyk too many to name, all extremely important, but in my view none more important than Ken Hitchcock. Ken will be tied to the results, the statistics, to games coached, division titles, playoff appearances, the Stanley Cup. This is not what Coach Hitchcock does. These achievements are the result of what he does. © Dallas StarsBob Gainey during his time as coach of the Dallas Stars. He makes each player better, he convinces them to sacrifice, to give up some of their individuality to make the unit, to make the team stronger. With some it's easy, some more difficult, with others it's hand to hand combat. The energy and the will of Coach Hitchcock does not rest. Day in and day out he will make the player better, the team stronger whether they like it or not. This is a saying about coaching sports teams that I have heard and remember:'Coaching is getting the players to do what they don't want to do so they can accomplish what they want to accomplish. 'Even though they don't always agree and push back, the players also know that Ken genuinely cares about them as people. This is the essence of Coach Ken Hitchcock. This is who he is, this is what he does. This is why he is here, meriting this recognition, being honored with his induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Top photo: Ken Hitchcock waves to fans for the ceremonial puck drop before the game between the Dallas Stars and the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct https://www.flyersprostore.com. 21, 2023 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Matthew Pearce Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Related Content Hitchcock's work ethic as coach at every level paved way to Hall of FameNov 08, 2023Hitchcock glad to share wisdom with young coaches on way to Hockey Hall of FameNov 08, 2023Stars honor legends Belfour, Hitchcock, who drop puck before gameOct 22, 2023

CRANBERRY, Pa. Kris Letang wanted to have children early in his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.Alex, a son, was born to the defenseman and Catherine Laflamme in Nov. 2012. Six years later, their daughter, Victoria, was born in July 2018.The time since has only validated the decision for Letang, now one point from 700 in the NHL.'It's actually something I discuss with my wife, ' Letang said. 'I say, The reason why I wanted my kids younger, it's because I wanted them to be able to see me play.' I know it's not going to be forever.'To see their dad, what he does every single day, I thought it was something important. Obviously, Victoria at five now, she can realize what I'm doing. She kind of gets it. She likes to play a little bit of hockey when we're all at home.'Letang could become the 29th NHL defenseman to reach 700 points and the third active, joining Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns 844 points; 248 goals, 596 assists and fellow Pittsburgh defenseman Erik Karlsson 776 points; 183 goals, 593 assists.The 36 year old has the most points 699 , goals 157 , assists 542 and games played 1, 019 by a defenseman in Penguins history. He has eight points one goal, seven assists in 14 games this season entering a matchup against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday 7 p.m. ET; SN PIT https://www.hurricanesprostore.com/hurricanes-hoodies, MSG, SNO, SNE.This season, Letang's 18th in the NHL, has been slightly different, though.Karlsson was acquired by Pittsburgh from San Jose in a three team trade involving the Montreal Canadiens on Aug. 6. Karlsson won the Norris Trophy as the League's best defenseman last season with 101 points 25 goals, 76 assists in 82 games.He has taken some of Letang's ice time. After trailing Karlsson in average ice time for the first month of the season, Letang is playing 24:32 per game and Karlsson is playing 24:18. Last season Letang averaged 24:51 and the season before he averaged 25:46.More importantly, Karlsson https://www.hurricanesprostore.com/dylan-coghlan-jersey, who has 15 points five goals, 10 assists in 14 games, has replaced Letang at the point on the top power play unit. After beginning the season on the left flank there, Letang has been moved back to the point but on the second unit.Letang is being used more on the penalty kill, averaging 2:46 when short handed. Last season, he averaged 56 seconds.'The game has to come a little slower, but I feel pretty good out there conditioning wise, ' Letang said. 'A little bit of a different role, more on the PK this year. I feel pretty good about that.'Not much else has changed for Letang, who led Penguins defensemen with 41 points 12 goals, 29 assists in 64 games last season.Letang starts practice by stepping through the bench door and sprinting to the opposite end. He is one of the last to leave.Ryan Graves, primarily on a defense pair with Letang this season, said the energy Letang brings is only comparable to that of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.'You see a lot of guys that, when they get older in their career, they're not on the ice as long, ' Graves said. 'They kind of lose their youthfulness. I've known Sid for a while. I know he's like that and he loves the game. Tanger' is kind of the same way, where they don't look or act their age.'You see a guy that's been in the League for 18 years, they maybe don't have the same excitement for it that some of the young guys do. It's nice to see older guys that still enjoy that stuff.'Crosby said Letang has had that impact on young defensemen throughout his NHL career.'Just because you've made it to the NHL doesn't mean you stop learning or that you've made it and you can rest on everything else Andrei Svechnikov Jersey, ' Crosby said. 'I think you have to learn and get better. He's a great example of that every day.'Letang, a three time Stanley Cup champion 2009, 2016, 2017 , has maintained that level through adversity, including two strokes while in the NHL, one at some point late in January 2014 and another on Nov. 28, 2022.Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said Letang's dedication is nearly unrivaled.'I think it's very unique, ' Sullivan said. 'When you look at our star players, Kris being one of them, I think I've had the privilege to watch them on a daily basis for close to a decade. I have so much admiration for the work they've put in. I think Tanger' is a guy, he has an incredible work ethic, both with how he trains but also on the ice and working on his game.'Letang said his drive isn't complicated. It really boils down to one thing.'Obviously, winning. I want to win, ' Letang said. 'At the end of the day, this is my passion. This is what I do. This is what I love to do. I come to the rink and I try to do my best.'

Thursday's nine game slate gets going earlier than usual when the Red Wings and Senators open the 2023 NHL Global SeriesSweden presented by Fastenal at 2 p. m. ET. The schedule also features five Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Nights, marking the highest single day total this season. Wednesday night for the Canucks included moving into first place in the Western Conference and finished with three players atop the NHL in points and one tied for first in goals. Evander Kane tallied a tying goal in the final minute of regulation and completed the natural hat trick in overtime. With every hat trick this season, AstraZeneca will donate $5,000 to the Hockey Fights Cancer Fund of the V Foundation up to $500,000. Click here for more information. Cale Makar and new teammate Joel Kiviranta combined for 1 5 6 as Colorado corralled eight goals in a high scoring win against Anaheim Beau Akey Jersey. Kiviranta recorded the second three point game of his NHL career and first since scoring a hat trick against Makar in the neutral site bubble at Rogers Place during the 2020 postseason. Wednesday also featured Flyers forward Travis Konecny tying Rick Tocchet on an all time franchise list and Konecny's second cousin Bo Horvat taking on Tocchet and the Canucks in his return to Rogers Arena. Click here to read yesterday's edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates. CANUCKS SOAR ATOP LEADERBOARDS AFTER MULTI GOAL COMEBACK WINAfter Bo Horvat scored in an emotional return to Vancouver, the Canucks completed a multi goal comeback thanks to three point performances from Quinn Hughes 1 2 3 who scored the overtime winnerand J. T. Miller 1 2 3 as Vancouver 12 3 1, 25 points moved into top spot in the Western Conference. The contest saw Filip Hronek record his first goal in a Canucks uniform and tie a franchise record for longest point streak by a defenseman as well as Vancouver extend its season opening home point streak to seven contests, tied for the second longest in Canucks history. Hughes 6 20 26 became the first player this season to record five three point outings and established a new franchise record for fewest games to 20 assists, reaching the mark in his 16th contest. The previous mark was 17, something Hughes achieved last season and Henrik Sedin established in 2010 11. Miller and Hughes joined Elias Pettersson atop the NHL leaderboard for points, while Brock Boeser scored to move into a tie with Toronto's Auston Matthews and Winnipeg's Kyle Connor for goals all w 13. The trio of Miller, Hughes and Petterson are now on pace for 133 points, which would by far be a franchise record for most points in a campaign and would allow the Canucks captain to become the third different defenseman in NHL history to record as many in a season. KANE COMPLETES NATURAL HAT TRICK IN OVERTIME, OILERS SECURE COMEBACKEvander Kane 3 0 3 completed a natural hat trick after tying the game with 0:46 remaining in regulation and scoring in overtime to help the Oilers secure their first multi goal, third period comeback win of the season and their third straight victory. Kane, who nearly doubled his goal total Wednesday after entering the contest with 4 8 12, scored his second game tying tally in the final minute of regulation with the Oilers also March 2, 2022 at CHI. Only two players in franchise history have more: Ryan Smyth 4x and Doug Weight 3x. Kane became the third player in Oilers history to complete a hat trick in overtime, joining Kelly Buchberger Jan. 31, 1993 and Esa Tikkanen, who did so in the playoffs Game 7 of 1991 DSF https://www.edmontonoilersstoreonline.com/boyd-gordon-jersey. AVALANCHE ROLL PAST DUCKS WITH EIGHT GOAL EFFORTJoel Kiviranta 1 2 3 and Cale Makar 0 3 3 had three points apiece as Colorado scored a season high eight goals to defeat Anaheim. Makar recorded his 23rd career three point game, including 13 where he tallied at least three assists Kiviranta, who was signed by the Avalanche on Sunday, recorded the second three point game of his career and first since scoring a historic hat trick against Colorado in Game 7 of the 2020 Second Round w DAL. RED WINGS, SENATORS SET TO OPEN 2023 NHL GLOBAL SERIESSWEDENDetroit and Ottawa will contest the first of four 2023 NHL Global SeriesSweden presented by Fastenal games when they square off at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden on Thursday. The contest will be followed by the Maple Leafs Red Wings on Friday, Wild Senators on Saturday and Maple Leafs Wild on Sunday. Click here to read the NHLStats Pack: 2023 NHL Global SeriesSweden presented by Fastenal document, which features notes on several of the Swedish players set to dress including Detroit forward Lucas Raymond. All stats are through games played Sunday, Nov. 12 Mattias Ekholm Jersey. MORE 2023 NHL GLOBAL SERIESSWEDEN PRESENTED BY FASTENAL COVERAGE Wild aim to end skid, 'turn the page' at Global Series in Sweden Max Domi reconnects with Maple Leafs legend Mats Sundin at Global Series Sweden Moritz Seider, Tim Sttzle could steal show at Global Series SwedenQUICK CLICKS Eddie Olczyk reflects on beating cancer with NHL on TNT host Liam McHugh Jonas Brothers attend Oilers game after concert in Edmonton Kris Letang accepts role change, one shy of 700th NHL point with Penguins Formula 1 racers visit Golden Knights before Las Vegas Grand Prix Digital collectibles platform NHL Breakaway launchesFIVE TEAMS HOST HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER AWARENESS NIGHTS THURSDAYThe Blue Jackets, Penguins, Kraken, Kings and Sharks will host their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Nights during Thursday's nine game schedule, which is also set to feature Chicago forward Connor Bedard and Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby putting their noteworthy streaks on the line. Bedard 4 2 6 in 2 GP has scored multiple goals in each of his last two games, while fellow No. 1 pick Crosby 7 7 14 in 9 GP can record the 11th double digit point streak of his career. Bedard 18 years, 122 days would be the youngest player in League history with three straight multi goal contests, while Crosby can become the 15th player with 11 or more 10 game point streaks. SCHWARTZ HONORS HIS SISTER ON AND OFF THE ICEJaden Schwartz honors his late sister, Mandi, every time he steps on the ice through his jersey number and keeps her legacy alive off the ice through his work with the Mandi Schwartz Foundation, which helps with bone marrow matching for cancer treatment. Schwartz, who joined Scott Oake and Eddie Olczyk on Sportsnet's After Hours on Saturday to speak about his late sister Mandi, is expected to skate in the Kraken's Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night on Thursday.