NHL On Tap: Blackhawks look for New York sweep against Islanders

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 five games Sunday.

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Blackhawks seek to sweep weekend in New York

The Chicago Blackhawks play the New York Islanders at UBS Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSGSN, NBCSCH+, ESPN+, SN NOW) looking to build on their 5-2 victory at the New York Rangers on Saturday. Forward Patrick Kane had three points (one goal, two assists) Saturday to reach 1,200 (434 goals, 766 assists) for his career with Chicago (7-12-4), which snapped an eight-game losing streak (0-7-1). Forward Max Domi has five points (four goals, one assist) in his past two games and 19 (nine goals, 10 assists) in 23 games for the season to trail Kane (four goals, 16 assists) for the Blackhawks lead. The Islanders (15-10-0) will look to rebound after losing their past two games following a four-game winning streak. New York goalie Ilya Sorokin (10-7-0) is third in the NHL with 2.17 goals-against average and .932 save percentage (among goalies to play at least seven game) Mathew Barzal is fifth in the NHL with 24 assists and leads the Islanders with 27 points.-- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

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Point streak earns Robertson elite status

Jason Robertson will look to extend his NHL-career high 17-game point streak when the Dallas Stars host the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center (3 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, BSSW, BSN, BSWI). A 41-goal season in 2021-22 propelled Robertson into stardom. What he's doing this season should have him in the Hart Trophy conversation as the NHL MVP. His NHL-leading 22 goals in 24 games made him the first 20-goal scorer this season. He was named the NHL First Star of the Month for November with 15 goals and 26 points in 14 games and is three games from the Stars/Minnesota North Stars point streak record held by Brian Bellows (1985-86). All this after Robertson didn't attend training camp and signed a four-year, $31 million contract Oct. 5. He's a big reason the Stars (14-6-4) enter Sunday on a two-game win streak and in first place in the Central Division. He has seven points (five goals, two assists) in four career games against the Wild (12-9-2), who have won three in a row for the first time this season. Not slowing down is Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov, who has an NHL career-best 11-game point streak (seven goals, 11 assists). He can tie the Mikael Granlund and Kevin Fiala for the longest streak in Wild history with a point today. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

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How Swede it is

The two highest-scoring defensemen in the NHL will be on display when Erik Karlsson and the San Jose Sharks (8-15-4) visit Rasmus Dahlin and the Buffalo Sabres (10-13-1) at Key Bank Center (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-B, NBCSCA. NHL LIVE, SN NOW). Karlsson leads all defenseman with 11 goals and 33 points, which is eighth among all skaters in the League. He has a point in 17 of the Sharks' 27 games. Dahlin is second among defensemen with 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 23 games. You will likely see a lot of each Swedish defenseman. Dahlin averages 26:12 per game, the third-highest total in the League. Karlsson is sixth at 25:11.-- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

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Sunday games

Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets (3 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Pierre-Luc Dubois has points in four straight games (three goals, two assists) for the Jets (14-7-1). The Ducks (6-16-3) have lost five in a row (0-3-2) and are 0-1-2 through the first three of a four-game road trip. Forward Troy Terry (26 points; 11 goals, 15 assists) is on pace for 85 points (36 goals, 49 assists), ahead of his NHL career high of 67 (37 goals, 30 assists) set last season and what would be the highest single season total by a Ducks skater since Ryan Getzlaf had 87 (31 goals, 56 assists) in 2013-14.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars (3 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, BSSW, BSN, BSWI, SN NOW)
Kaprizov trails Mikael Granlund (12 games in 2016-17) and Kevin Fiala (12 in 2021-22) for the longest point streak in Wild history. The Stars are 3-0-2 in their past five at home. Jake Oettinger reached 50 wins in 93 NHL games (50-25-11), third fewest in team history from the start of his tenure behind Ed Belfour (82 games) and Kari Lehtonen (92 games).
Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets (6 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSDETX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Patrik Laine has been limited to nine games for the Blue Jackets (8-12-2) this season because of injuries but scored two goals in his return from an ankle injury in a 4-1 win against the Jets on Friday. Johnny Gaudreau has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his past three games for Columbus, including three assists Friday. The Red Wings (11-7-5) are 0-2-1 in their past three, including a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Moritz Seider has 61 points (nine goals, 52 assists) in 105 NHL games. He's one from passing Reed Larson for the second most by a Detroit defenseman before age 22, Steve Chiasson (63) is first.
San Jose Sharks at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-B, NBCSCA. ESPN+, SN NOW
Tage Thompson leads the Sabres (10-13-1) with 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 24 games and has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past three. He is on a pace for 109 points (51 goals, 58 assists) that would break his NHL career-best 68 (38 goals, 30 assists) set last season. The Sharks (8-15-4) are 1-4-1 in their past six. Logan Couture leads them with 13 goals. He's scored in nine of his past 12 games with five multipoint games and 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in that span.
Chicago Blackhawks at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSGSN, NBCSCH+, SN NOW)
Kane joined Sidney Crosby (1,442) and Alex Ovechkin (1,435) as active players with 1,200 points in the NHL, and the fourth United States-born player to reach the milestone (Mike Modano, Phil Housley and Jeremy Roenick). He and Jonathan Toews are expected to play their 995th regular-season game as teammates and are five games from becoming the 12th pair in NHL history to play 1,000 games together and the second with Chicago (Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith: 1,069). The Islanders (15-10-0) have scored at least one power-play goal in eight of their past nine games. Forward Brock Nelson's four game-winning goals are tied with Robertson, Taylor Hall of the Boston Bruins and Alex Tuch of the Sabres for second in the NHL behind Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers (six).