NHL On Tap: West division leaders Golden Knights, Jets clash in Winnipeg

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 12 games Tuesday.

#

Showdown of Western Conference leaders in Winnipeg

Western Conference division leaders will clash when the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET: ATTSN-RM, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW). Vegas is atop the Pacific Division with 41 points (20-9-1) but has cooled off after a hot start, going 5-5-0 in its past 10. However, the Golden Knights land in Winnipeg as the top road team in the NHL at 12-2-1. Both of these teams have been buoyed by stingy defense; the Jets have allowed the fourth-fewest goals per game at 2.56, and the Golden Knights have allowed the fifth fewest at 2.67. The Jets are tied with the Dallas Stars for first in the Central Division with 37 points (18-8-1), and have won four of their past five games, outscoring their opposition 20-12 in that time. Defenseman Josh Morrissey has been a big part of Winnipeg's success; his 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) in 27 games are tied with Adam Fox of the New York Rangers for third among NHL defensemen. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

#

Panthers under pressure

I'm starting to worry a little bit about the Florida Panthers. After winning the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the NHL standings last season, the Panthers are just over .500 at 13-12-4 and have lost two straight and three of their past four (1-3-0). Games like the one Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings (10-15-2) are looking like must-wins for the Panthers, even though the season hasn't yet hit the Christmas break. That's especially true given what lies ahead for Florida, with games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils (twice), Boston Bruins and New York Islanders before the Panthers hit the Christmas break. But first it's the Blue Jackets, at FLA Live Arena (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW). I'll be watching to see what the Panthers can do as their season gets tougher and the wins get harder to come by, and also to watch another game between former Calgary Flames linemates Johnny Gaudreau of the Blue Jackets and Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers.-- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

#

Ovechkin aiming for 800th goal, Mr. Hockey

Alex Ovechkin is three goals from becoming the third player in NHL history to reach 800 heading into the Washington Capitals' game against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN1, SN NOW). Ovechkin, who has scored 797 NHL goals in 1,304 regular-season games, has four goals in the past three games, all empty-netters, pushing him to the brink of joining Gordie Howe (801) and Wayne Gretzky (894) in the 800 club. With his 802nd, the Capitals forward will pass Howe for second on the all-time list. Washington (14-12-4) has won four in a row for the first time this season and will seek its first five-game winning streak since winning seven in a row from March 7-19, 2021. Chicago (7-15-4) has lost three straight and has one win in its past 12 games (1-10-1).-- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Tuesday games

Anaheim Ducks at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Mitchell Marner has a 22-game point streak (11 goals, 19 assists), the longest in Toronto history, and teammate Auston Matthews has a seven-game point streak (six goals, seven assists). The Maple Leafs (18-5-6) have won three straight games and have a 14-game point streak (11-0-3). Anaheim (7-19-3) lost 3-0 at the Ottawa Senators on Monday to start a five-game road trip and has one win in its past nine games (1-6-2).
Columbus Blue Jackets at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW)
Columbus forward Jack Roslovic is coming off a four-point game in a 6-5 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, including three points (two goals, one assist) in the second period, as he ended a 17-game goal drought. The Blue Jackets have won two straight after losing their three prior games. Panthers forward Eric Staal scored a goal in Florida's 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. It was the 442nd of his career, and first in the NHL since April 19, 2021.
Dallas Stars at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Dallas (16-8-5) forward Jason Robertson was held without a shot on goal in a 2-1 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, the second time in 29 games this season that's happened (Oct. 25 against the Bruins). Robertson has one assist in four games after he had 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists) during an 18-game point streak. New Jersey (21-5-2) had its 11-game road winning streak ended in a 4-3 overtime loss at the New York Rangers on Monday. The Devils have lost two in a row for the first time since the first two games of the season. New Jersey forward Jack Hughes has an eight-game point streak (eight goals, five assists).
Los Angeles Kings at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Los Angeles has scored at least five goals 10 times this season, behind only the Bruins (11) and Stars (11). The Kings (15-11-5) are 2-1-1 so far on a six-game road trip, including an overtime loss to the Blue Jackets on Sunday that saw defenseman Drew Doughty miss the game because of a lower-body injury; he is day to day. Buffalo (12-14-2) will be without forward Jeff Skinner, who is serving the second game of a three-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety. The Sabres lost both games of a back-to-back set against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday and Saturday.
New York Islanders at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, NESN, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
New York could have forwards Kyle Palmieri and Anthony Beauvillier back for this one after each practiced Monday. Palmieri has been out since Nov. 21 because of an upper-body injury, and Beauvillier missed a 3-0 loss to the Carlina Hurricanes on Saturday because of an upper-body injury. The Islanders (17-12-0) are 2-4-0 in their past six games. Boston (22-4-1) returns home after going 2-1-0 on a three-game road trip. Bruins forward David Pastrnak is one goal from scoring 20 for the seventh consecutive season.
Seattle Kraken at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Seattle ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 win against the Panthers on Sunday. The Kraken (16-8-3) are 9-2-1 on the road as they play the third of a four-game trip. Matty Beniers leads NHL rookies in goals (11) and points (23). Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos, who is four goals from 500 for his NHL career, has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) during a 13-game point streak. The Lightning (17-9-1) have won four of their past five games (4-1-0).
Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Carolina (15-6-6) has points in seven straight games (5-0-2), despite missing forwards Sebastian Aho (lower body) and Jesper Fast (undisclosed). The Hurricanes are 5-0-4 in their past nine road games. Detroit (13-8-6) is home after going 2-1-1 on a four-game road trip. Red Wings forward David Perron will play his 1,001st game after becoming the fourth member of the 2007 NHL Draft class to hit 1,000 in a 3-2 overtime loss at the Stars on Saturday, along with Patrick Kane (1,133), Jakub Voracek (1,058) and Wayne Simmonds (1,026).
Edmonton Oilers at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Edmonton (16-13-0) center Connor McDavid had his seven-game goal streak ended in a 2-1 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Monday, but he has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) during a nine-game point streak. Teammate Zach Hyman scored his 10th goal Monday, giving Edmonton four 10-goal scorers; only the Sabres (five) have more. Nashville (12-11-3) is coming off a 1-0 overtime loss at the St. Louis Blues on Monday and has lost three in a row (0-2-1).
Vegas Golden Knights at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET: TSN3, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Golden Knights have enjoyed success against the Jets this season, winning 5-2 on Oct. 20 and 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 30. But both those games were in Las Vegas. Jets forward Kyle Connor has been on fire recently, with points in nine of his past 10 games (six goals, eight assists).
Philadelphia Flyers at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, ALT, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Mikko Rantanen is coming off a hat trick in Colorado's 3-2 overtime win at the Blues on Sunday, including a goal with nine seconds remaining in the third period and another in overtime. The win for the Avalanche (14-10-2) came after four straight losses (0-3-1). Philadelphia (9-13-7) has lost three straight games and 15 of its past 17 (2-10-5).
Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN1, SN NOW)
With goalie Darcy Kuemper out because of an upper-body injury, Charlie Lindgren has started the past four games for Washington and has allowed six goals on 117 shots (.949 save percentage). Patrick Kane has 632 points (223 goals, 409 assists) in 568 regular-season home games for the Blackhawks, three away from tying Bobby Hull (635 points in 520 games) for second in Chicago history; Stan Mikita is first with 823.
Arizona Coyotes at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, BSAZX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes (9-13-4) have won two straight after losing six consecutive games (0-4-2). Clayton Keller is coming off his first NHL hat trick, which he completed with 23 seconds left in overtime to give Arizona a 5-4 win against Philadelphia on Sunday. San Jose (9-16-5) had lost four straight (0-3-1) before a 6-1 win against the Ducks on Friday. Goalie James Reimer, out since Nov. 25 because of a lower-body injury, is expected to play.