NHL On Tap: Kaprizov looks for point in 13 straight for Wild

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 seven games Wednesday.

Kaprizov goes for Lucky 13

Kirill Kaprizov will attempt to stretch his point streak to 13 games when the Minnesota Wild (13-9-2) visit the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome (8 p.m. ET: BSN, BSWIX, SN, SN360. ESPN+, SN NOW). The 25-year-old forward has been one of the most dynamic performers in the NHL through the first quarter of the season. His impressive run has seen him put up 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 12 games while scoring at least one goal in six in a row. Stopping him will be an obvious priority for the Flames (12-10-3) in their attempt to extend their winning streak to three, and they've generally played well at home (9-5-1). After struggling out of the gate, forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who came to Calgary in an offseason trade with the Florida Panthers, is starting to get comfortable with six points (one goal, five assists) in his past five games. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Avalanche enduring treacherous title reign

That the Colorado Avalanche are 13-9-1 and remain in position to defend the Stanley Cup is a testament to their character as reigning champions. An upper-body injury to Nathan MacKinnon that will sideline the center for four weeks is the latest to hit a team that's used 22 different forwards because of injury. The Avalanche have a big test against the Boston Bruins in Denver (9 p.m. ET; ALT, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW) without MacKinnon (34 points; eight goals, 26 assists), Colorado's leading scorer, twice a runner-up for the Hart Trophy given to the NHL most valuable player and the 2014 Calder Trophy winner voted as NHL rookie of the year. The Bruins (20-3-1) own the highest points percentage (.854) in the NHL, are 10-1-1 since Nov. 7 and forward Brad Marchand has points in seven consecutive games (three goals, seven assists). "Guys are going to have to step up. It's going to be a challenge," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Golden Knights back home and feeling good

The Vegas Golden Knights went 3-1-0 on a four-game road trip through Columbus, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Boston that ended with a 4-3 shootout win against the Bruins at TD Garden on Monday without arguably their best forward in Jack Eichel and their best defenseman in Alex Pietrangelo. They became the first road team to win at TD Garden since April 14. Getting six out of eight points on the trip was big for the Golden Knights (19-7-1), who lost their last two home games before leaving town, but they also gave up two-goal leads in three of the four games, including 3-0 in Boston, so they have to clean that up starting against the New York Rangers at T-Mobile Arena (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, MSGSN, SN NOW). But they're feeling good. So are the Rangers (12-10-5) after coming back from down a goal in the third period to defeat the St. Louis Blues 6-4 on Monday to end a four-game home losing streak. The Rangers needed that win in a bad way. They were bleeding confidence after back-to-back losses to the Ottawa Senators (3-2 in overtime) and Chicago Blackhawks (5-2) on Friday and Saturday. They simplified their game in the third period against St. Louis, got shots through and traffic at the net, and it worked. It's a recipe they can and should bottle up to take on the road. If they can, a win in Vegas could be their most significant victory yet. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Wednesday games

Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Alex Ovechkin is seven goals from 800 in the NHL, all for the Capitals (11-12-4). He's scored 44 against the Flyers and his 20.8 shooting percentage against Carter Hart (five goals on 24 shots) is his second highest against any active goalie he's faced at least five times, behind 34.8 percent (eight goals on 23 shots) against Alexandar Georgiev of the Avalanche. James van Riemsdyk will play for the Flyers (9-12-5). The forward was sidelined since Oct. 23 with a broken finger, had surgery Oct. 28 and was expected to need six weeks to recover. Philadelphia is 30th on the power play (16.1 percent), face-off percentage (44.5 percent) and average goals per game (2.46).
Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets (7:30 p.m. ET: TNT, SN NOW)
The Sabres (11-13-1) are the only team with a forward and defenseman among the top 25 in NHL scoring. Tage Thompson (34 points; 16 goals, 18 assists) is on pace for 52 goals and 112 points; Pat LaFontaine (53-148) and Alexander Mogilny (76-127) in 1992-93 were the last to get at least 50 and 100 for Buffalo. Dahlin is on pace for 98 points, which would break Phil Housley's Sabres record (81) for most by a defenseman set in 1989-90. Johnny Gaudreau has points in five straight (nine points; two goals, seven assists) for the Blue Jackets (8-14-2).
Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames (8 p.m. ET: SN, SN360, BSN, BSWIX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flames have won three of their past four, outscoring the opposition 15-8. The Wild's power play (25.6 percent) has been trending upwards of late and is 10th in the NHL.
Boston Bruins at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Marchand had one goal and one assist Monday for his 208th multipoint game to pass Wayne Cashman (207 GP) for sole possession of seventh place in Bruins history. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar has 150 NHL assists. Of his 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) this season, 15 have come on the power play. Only Connor McDavid (23), Leon Draisaitl (19), Nikita Kucherov (19), Kaprizov (16) and David Pastrnak (16) have more.
Arizona Coyotes at Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, BSAZX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes (7-12-4) will end a run of 20 of their first 24 games on the road before playing eight of their next 10 on home ice. Connor McDavid is on a six-game point streak (13 points; six goals, seven assists) for the Oilers (14-12-0).
New York Rangers at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, MSGSN, SN NOW)
Eichel (day to day, lower body) will not play and the Golden Knights said Pietrangelo is away from the team and will remain so indefinitely due to an illness in the family. Rangers forward Filip Chytil will be in the lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury. Artemi Panarin's next point will be the 600th of his NHL career. Artemi Panarin's next point will be the 600th of his NHL career.
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Elias Pettersson is in a groove for the Canucks (11-12-3) with five points (one goal, four assists) in his past two games. Only the Coyotes have fewer home wins (one) than the two earned by the Sharks (8-16-4). Arizona has played four home games and San Jose 14.