NHL On Tap: Maurice returns to Winnipeg to coach Panthers against Jets

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 nine games on Tuesday.

Maurice returns to Winnipeg

Paul Maurice coached the Winnipeg Jets for nine seasons before resigning Dec. 17, 2021. He returns to Canada Life Centre for the first time since becoming coach of the Florida Panthers (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW). Winnipeg was 315-223-62 in 600 regular-season games under Maurice and 13-10-5 last season before he stepped down, saying the Jets needed a new voice. His teams qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times, including a trip to the 2018 Western Conference Final. Since Maurice replaced Andrew Brunette, the Panthers (12-9-4) have yet to find consistency but have won two in a row heading into the finale of a five-game road trip. Although the Jets (15-7-1) have won four of their past five, coach Rick Bowness has been unhappy with their recent starts, including falling behind 2-0 in a 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Streaking stars

The two hottest players in the NHL, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars and Mitchell Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, face off in Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SNO, SN NOW). It will be the first game in NHL history to feature two players with an active point streak of at least 18 consecutive games. Marner has a point in 19 straight (26 points; nine goals, 17 assists) for the Maple Leafs (15-5-6), breaking the team record of 18 previously held by Darryl Sittler (1977-78) and Eddie Olczyk (1989-90). Robertson has a personal-best 18-game point streak (34 points; 21 goals, 13 assists) and 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists) in 25 games for the Stars (14-6-5). Only Dino Ciccarelli (22 games in 1986-87) and Bobby Smith (23 in 1981-82) reached 40 points in fewer games in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history. -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Kochetkov leading surging Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are on a four-game winning streak after losing five in a row (0-1-4), and a big reason why is Pyotr Kochetkov. Dating back to last season, the 23-year-old goalie has eight wins through his first 10 starts (8-1-3), the most in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history. Only six goalies in NHL history have won more games through 10 starts: Igor Shesterkin, Viktor Fasth, Martin Prusek, Bob Froese, Wayne Thomas and Frank Brimsek (nine each). Kochetkov (5-1-3, 2.27 goals-against average, .919 save percentage, one shutout) is projected to start for the Hurricanes (14-6-5) against the Anaheim Ducks (6-17-3) at Honda Center (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW). He's been a boon for them with No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen sidelined with a lower-body injury since Nov. 6. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Tuesday schedule
Chicago Blackhawks at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jack Hughes has eight points (six goals, two assists) in a five-game point streak for the Devils (20-4-1), who are 10-0-0 when he scores. This is the third game in four days for the Blackhawks (7-13-4). They have lost nine of their past 10 (1-8-1) and were shut out for the fourth time this season, 3-0 by the New York Islanders on Sunday. Chicago captain Jonathan Toews did not participate in the morning skate because of an illness and will be a game-time decision.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blue Jackets (8-13-2) are 1-3-1 in their past five games. Johnny Gaudreau is on a four-game point streak (one goal, seven assists). Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who each missed practice Monday with an illness, could be game-time decisions for the Penguins (13-8-4). Kasperi Kapanen had his second NHL hat trick when Pittsburgh defeated the St. Louis Blues 6-2 on Saturday.
Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNW, SNP, BSSUNX, BSDET, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Dylan Larkin leads the Red Wings (12-7-5) with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists). Dominik Kubalik leads them on the power play in points (12) and goals (five). The Lightning (15-8-1) are 8-2-0 in their past 10. Steven Stamkos has six goals and 10 assists on a 10-game point streak.
Los Angeles Kings at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN5, BSW, ESPN+ SN NOW)
The Kings (13-10-4) activated Alex Iafallo from injured reserve after the forward missed 23 games with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Alexander Edler is expected to return after he missed a 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday with an illness. The Senators (10-13-1) are without defenseman Artem Zub for at least three weeks with a fractured jaw he sustained in 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers on Friday.
St. Louis Blues at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSMW, ESPN+ SN NOW)
This is the second half of a back to back for the Blues (11-14-0) after a 6-4 loss to the Rangers. They've lost four in a row and six of their past seven. The Islanders (16-10-0) are 9-4-0 at UBS Arena. Goalie Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves Sunday for his first shutout of the season and 37th of his NHL career.
Florida Panthers at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Jets are 9-3-0 at home and their comeback against the Ducks on Sunday was their third after trailing by two goals. Forward Cole Perfetti is third among rookies with 16 points (four goals, 12 assists). Spencer Knight stopped 67 of 69 shots (1.00 GAA, .971 save percentage) in winning the past two games for the Panthers.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SNO, SN NOW)
The Stars lead the NHL with 98 goals and have earned a point in 10 of 11 games (6-1-4). Led by Robertson, four players are averaging better than a point per game. Roope Hintz has 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 24 games, Joe Pavelski has 28 (10 goals, 18 assists) and Jamie Benn has 26 (10 goals, 16 assists), each in 25. The Maple Leafs are 7-0-3 in their past 10 and have at least one point in 10 of 13 on the road. Auston Matthews, who scored 60 goals last season, has 12 this season but has scored in three of his past four games.
Carolina Hurricanes at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen, who missed 10 games with an upper-body injury, returned to play 15:47 in a 4-2 win against the Kings on Saturday. The Ducks have lost six in a row (0-4-2) and begin a two-game homestand.
Montreal Canadiens at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, RDS, TSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the finale of a four-game road trip and the second of a back to back for the Canadiens (12-11-2), who lost 7-6 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday. Sean Monahan left at 8:53 of the second period and did not return; the Canadiens did not have an update on the forward's status. The Kraken (15-6-3), whose seven-game winning streak ended with a 5-1 loss to the Panthers on Saturday, are 7-2-1 in their past 10. Seattle recalled center Shane Wright, the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, from Coachella of the American Hockey League on Monday. He will play against Montreal forward Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 pick, for the first time in the NHL.