NHL On Tap: Avalanche host Sabres trying for 10th straight win

Welcome to the 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 seven games Sunday.

Avalanche hope to continue winning ways

The Colorado Avalanche will look to extend their home winning streak to 18 games when they host the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena (8 p.m. ET; ALT2, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Avalanche (31-8-3) haven't lost at home since Nov. 3, 5-4 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Their 17 straight home wins is the fifth-longest in NHL history; the 2011-12 Detroit Red Wings own the NHL record of 23. They have won nine in a row overall and are 14-0-1 in their past 15 games, one from tying the longest point streak in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history (12-0 with three ties in 2000-01). Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar has scored 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in his past 12 games. Forward Tage Thompson has scored nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past eight games for the Sabres (14-22-7), who are 7-10-4 on the road this season. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Pastrnak attempts to extend point streak

Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak looks to extend his point streak to nine games when they visit the Dallas Stars (7 p.m. ET; SN1, BSSW+, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Pastrnak has scored 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in the past eight games and 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) in 41 games this season. His hot streak has helped jumpstart the Bruins (25-13-3), who are 11-3-1 since Jan. 1 and 1-0-1 entering the finale of their three-game road trip. The Stars (22-17-2) had their four-game winning streak end with a 5-0 loss to the visiting Washington Capitals on Friday. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Kings' successful road trip continues

The Los Angeles Kings will play the fifth of their six-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena (1 p.m. ET; SN1, ATTSN-PT, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Los Angeles (22-16-7) has earned at least one point in each of the first four games (2-0-2) and has scored at least three goals in three of them. Forward Viktor Arvidsson has scored three goals on the trip, including two in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Cal Petersen will likely be in goal for the Kings; he has allowed two goals or fewer in five of his past six starts. The Penguins (27-10-7) have lost their past two games (0-0-2) after a six-game winning streak. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Sunday schedule

Seattle Kraken at New York Rangers (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, MSG, ROOT-NW, NHL LIVE)
Forward Jared McCann has scored in consecutive games for the Kraken (14-25-4), who have won four of their past six. Forward Barclay Goodrow has a three-game goal streak for the Rangers (28-13-4), who have lost two straight in regulation for the second time this season.
Los Angeles Kings at Pittsburgh Penguins (1 p.m. ET; SN1, ATTSN-PT, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Kings will be without defensemen Mikey Anderson, who was placed on injured reserve after sustaining an upper-body injury Saturday, and Matt Roy, who was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Sunday. Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has scored 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 10 games since returning Jan. 11 from offseason knee surgery. He has a seven-game point streak.
San Jose Sharks at Carolina Hurricanes (5 p.m. ET; BSSO, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sharks (22-19-3) will play the third of a four-game road trip; they are 1-0-1 thus far after a 5-4 shootout loss at the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Forward Jonathan Dahlen scored twice and has three goals on the trip. The Hurricanes got their 30th win of the season Saturday (30-9-2), 2-1 against the New Jersey Devils. Forward Andrei Svechnikov has scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his past seven games.
Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars (7 p.m. ET; SN1, BSSW+, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
This is the second and final meeting between the teams this season. Boston won 3-1 at home Oct. 16, when forward Brad Marchand scored two goals. The Bruins will be without goalie Tuukka Rask, who is day to day with a lower-body injury; Linus Ullmark is expected to start against the Stars. Forward Joe Pavelski leads Dallas with 48 points (19 goals, 29 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Boone Jenner has scored 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his past nine games for the Blue Jackets (19-21-11), who will try for their second straight win after they ended a three-game skid with a 5-3 victory against the New York Rangers on Thursday. Forwards Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron are expected back from injury for the Canadiens (8-28-7), who have lost five in a row (0-3-2) and are 1-7-4 in their past 12 games.
Minnesota Wild at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSN+, BSWI+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forwards Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Fiala each enter with a 10-game point streak for the Wild (26-10-3), who are 7-0-1 in their past eight games. The Islanders (15-15-6) are 2-13-2 and have been outscored 58-27 against teams currently in position to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Buffalo Sabres at Colorado Avalanche (8 p.m. ET; ALT2, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Peyton Krebs has scored four points (three goals, one assists) in his past three games for the Sabres, who will play the third of a four-game road trip following a 3-1 win at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. The Avalanche will be without forward Nathan MacKinnon, who is out until after the NHL All-Star break because of a facial fracture and concussion.