NHL On Tap: Canucks go for sixth win in row under Boudreau

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 10 games Thursday.

Canucks trying for sixth straight win under Boudreau

The Vancouver Canucks (13-15-2) will try to improve to 6-0-0 under coach Bruce Boudreau when they visit the San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Boudreau replaced Travis Green on Dec. 5, and the Canucks will attempt to keep their momentum going on the road after completing a six-game homestand. They are coming off a 4-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday when they rallied to win after trailing by three for the first time since Oct. 16, 2016, a 4-3 overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Sharks (15-13-1) are 4-5-1 in their past 10 home games and lost 3-1 to the visiting Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Avalanche, Predators each aim to make it six in a row too

The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators each will be looking for their sixth consecutive victory when they face each other in Nashville (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Colorado (17-7-2) scored seven goals in each of its first three games to start the streak, then won lower-scoring games at home against the Florida Panthers (3-2) and New York Rangers (4-2). It's hardly a surprise but Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen has played a big role during the streak, scoring nine points (three goals, six assists). The Predators (17-10-1) completed the sweep of a four-game road trip with a 1-0 win at the Rangers on Sunday; they allowed seven goals over the four games. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Lightning look to cool off Senators

The Ottawa Senators are entering the home of the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions but should be feeling good going into Amalie Arena to play the Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Senators defeated the Lightning 4-0 at home Saturday, then won 8-2 at the Panthers on Tuesday. Ottawa is 5-1-0 in its past six games, including wins against the Hurricanes and Avalanche. But this won't be the same type of game the Senators (9-16-1) played Saturday, when the Lightning (18-6-4) were concluding a five-game road trip. Tampa Bay won the first four games on the trip but seemed to run out of gas against Ottawa. The Lightning got back on track with a 3-2 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday and are 9-2-1 since center Brayden Point sustained an upper-body injury Nov. 20. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Thursday schedule

Philadelphia Flyers at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, NBCSP+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Flyers (11-12-4) will try to win their fourth straight game after losing 10 in a row (0-8-2); they have scored 15 goals over the past three. The Canadiens (6-21-3) have lost seven straight and have not scored more than twice in a game since a 4-3 overtime loss at the Nashville Predators on Dec. 4, five games ago.
Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Anton Forsberg won his fifth straight game for the Senators (9-16-1) when he made 33 saves in an 8-2 win at the Florida Panthers on Tuesday; he has allowed more than two goals once during that stretch, in a 6-5 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 4. Defenseman Victor Hedman has scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his past 10 games for the Lightning (18-6-4).
Los Angeles Kings at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the second of a four-game road trip for the Kings (12-10-5), who have a three-game point streak (2-0-1) but lost 3-2 in overtime to the Lightning on Tuesday. Forward Jonathan Huberdeau has scored 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his past seven games for the Panthers (18-6-4).
Vegas Golden Knights at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Max Pacioretty has scored 10 goals during a seven-game goal streak for the Golden Knights (17-11-0), including two in a 4-1 win at the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. The Devils (10-12-5) have lost three straight, all in regulation.
Detroit Red Wings at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSDET, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic will face the Hurricanes for the first time since they traded him to Detroit (14-12-3) on July 22 and said he immediately circled this game on the schedule after the deal was made. Carolina (19-7-1) has forwards Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, Steven Lorentz, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, and defenseman Ian Cole in NHL COVID-19 protocol and will be playing for the first time since a 2-1 loss at the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday; its game against the Minnesota Wild scheduled for Tuesday was postponed.
Boston Bruins at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNP, MSG+ 2, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins (14-9-2), who are 2-1-2 in their past five games, will be without forwards Patrice Bergeron, Craig Smith and Brad Marchand, who are in NHL COVID-19 protocol. The Islanders (7-12-5) will try to win their second straight at UBS Arena after starting the season 0-5-2 at their new home.
Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Predators (17-10-1) are expected to be without forwards Mikael Granlund, Ryan Johansen, Matt Luff, Michael McCarron, Philip Tomasino, defenseman Ben Harpur, coach John Hynes and three assistants, who are all in NHL COVID-19 protocol. The Avalanche (17-7-2) have outscored opponents 28-15 during a five-game winning streak.
Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWI, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Wild (19-8-1) have the most points (39) and the best points percentage (.696) in the Western Conference but have lost their past two games in regulation. The Sabres (9-15-4) are coming off a 4-2 win at the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday; they were 0-5-2 in their previous seven.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SN1, SNO, SNW, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
One of these slumping teams could use this game as a springboard. The Blue Jackets (14-12-1) are 2-6-1 in their past nine games; the Oilers (16-11-0) have lost six straight, all in regulation.
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Quinn Hughes had three assists for the Canucks (13-5-2) to help them rally for a 4-3 win against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. It was his 10th three-point game in the NHL; since Hughes entered the League in 2018-19, only John Carlson of the Washington Capitals has more among defensemen (13). The Sharks (15-13-1) are 2-2-0 four games into a seven-game homestand.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames, postponed