NHL On Tap: McDavid, Oilers, face off against Matthews, Maple Leafs

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 12 games Tuesday.

McDavid, Matthews go head to head

Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews go head to head for the first time this season when the Edmonton Oilers host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). It's the 14th time McDavid, selected No. 1 by the Oilers in the 2015 NHL Draft, and Matthews, chosen No. 1 by the Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Draft, will play against each other in the regular season. McDavid is one assist from becoming the third Oilers player (Jari Kurri, Wayne Gretzky) to start his NHL career with at least 30 assists in each of his first seven seasons. Matthews, who has scored 18 goals and is on a nine-game point streak (11 goals, five assists), is two goals from becoming the second Maple Leafs player (Dave Keon) to begin his NHL career with at least 20 goals in each of his first six seasons. The Oilers (16-10-0) are looking to end a five-game losing streak and will need to score more if they are to avoid their longest skid since Jan. 19-Feb. 5, 2019 (0-4-2). Edmonton has been held to two goals or less in four of its five losses, while opponents have scored at least four goals in three of the five games. The Maple Leafs (19-8-2) are 2-2-1 in their past five games and have allowed 22 goals during that span. -- William Douglas, staff writer

#

Rangers face tough test against Avalanche

There's no taking away what the New York Rangers have accomplished through 27 games this season. The Rangers are 18-6-3 with points in 15 of their past 19 games (13-4-2) and tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for second in the eight-team Metropolitan Division. They need to prove they can defeat the top teams in the League, though, and will get that opportunity when they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE). During New York's 14-2-0 run from Nov. 8 to Dec. 10, 11 victories came against teams that weren't among the top three in their respective divisions, and the Rangers are 1-4-1 against the Calgary Flames, Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals, teams either in or near first place. They'll have a stiff test against the Avalanche (16-7-2), winners of seven straight at home, the best team in the NHL since Nov. 11 (12-2-1) with an NHL-high 79 goals in 15 games and who defeated the Rangers 7-3 on Dec. 8 to end New York's seven-game winning streak. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Penguins go for fifth straight win

The Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-5) are starting to claw their way back into the Metropolitan Division race. They host the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) winners of four in a row and fourth in the eight-team division, seven points behind the first-place Washington Capitals. Defense and goaltending have been strong for the Penguins. They've allowed four goals in their past four wins, and two came against the Capitals in a 4-2 victory Friday. Goalie Casey DeSmith, who got his first shutout of the season in a 1-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, has allowed one goal in his past two starts, each a victory. The Canadiens (6-20-3) have lost six in a row (0-5-1) and are 1-7-1 in their past nine games. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Tuesday schedule

Vegas Golden Knights at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SNP, NESN, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Chandler Stephenson had an NHL career-high four assists to add to his team-leading 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) for the Golden Knights (16-11-0) in a 6-4 win against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. Forward Brad Marchand leads the Bruins (14-8-2) with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 21 games.
Los Angeles Kings at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Kings (12-10-4) have won two in a row, including 2-1 against the Wild to end the latter's eight-game winning streak. The Lightning (17-6-4) return home after a five-game road trip (4-1-0) that ended with a 4-0 loss at the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Tampa Bay forward Anthony Cirelli could return after missing the past two games with an unspecified injury.
Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers are 6-3-1 in their past 10 games and 14-1-0 this season at home, where they play their next two games, starting against the Senators (8-16-1). Ottawa is 4-1-0 in its past five games and 3-7-1 on the road this season.
New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Devils (10-11-5) have lost two in a row and are 1-3-1 in their past five games. The Flyers (10-12-4) have won two straight games for the first time since Oct. 27-28.
Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canadiens are 2-10-2 on the road this season as they wrap up a two-game road trip. The Penguins have the best penalty kill in the NHL (61-for-66, 92.4 percent).
New York Islanders at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; BSDET, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Detroit (13-12-3) seeks to end a three-game losing streak. The Islanders (7-11-5) hope to build momentum on the road after winning their first game at UBS Arena on Saturday, defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2.
Buffalo Sabres at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Buffalo (8-15-4) will try to end an 0-5-2 skid. Winnipeg (13-9-5) will play its first game without forward Blake Wheeler. The Jets captain sustained a lower-body injury in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Canucks on Friday.
St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blues (15-8-5) and Stars (13-10-2) begin a home-and-home series with the rematch Friday at Enterprise Center, where St. Louis has points in eight straight games (7-0-1). The Stars were 0-3-0 on a road trip that followed a seven-game winning streak. They've won eight in a row on home ice, tied for the second longest in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history (2005-06, 1989-90) and three behind the longest set by the North Stars in 1972-73.
New York Rangers at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
Adam Fox leads NHL defensemen with 24 assists and 29 points for the Rangers, who've lost two of three and play two straight on the road after a 1-0 loss at home to the Nashville Predators on Sunday. Forward Mikko Rantanen has scored eight points (two goals, six assists) in a four-game point streak for the Avalanche, who look for their fifth straight win.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Oilers are No. 1 in the NHL on the power play (31.7 percent) and the Maple Leafs are second (30.5 percent). Toronto was 2-for-3 on the power play in a 5-4 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blue Jackets (14-11-1) play the second of a five-game road trip after ending a five-game losing streak away from home with a 5-4 overtime win against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. Brock Boeser has scored four points (three goals, one assist) in four games for the Canucks (12-15-2) since Bruce Boudreau (4-0-0) replaced Travis Green as coach Dec. 5. He had scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his first 22 and four assists in Green's final 13 games.
Seattle Kraken at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Kraken (9-15-3) have lost three in a row (0-2-1) and are last in the eight-team Pacific Division. The Sharks (15-12-1) lost three of four before defeating the Stars 2-1 on Saturday. San Jose defenseman Erik Karlsson has scored 29 game-winning goals since his NHL debut in 2009-10, trailing Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Canucks (31) and teammate Brent Burns (30) for most among defensemen in that span.
Calgary Flames at Nashville Predators (postponed)
Carolina Hurricanes at Minnesota Wild (postponed)