NHL On Tap: Hurricanes, Capitals set for Stadium Series preview

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 nine games Tuesday.

Hurricanes, Capitals in Stadium Series preview

The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, NBCSWA, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW) four days before the Metropolitan Division rivals face off in the 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday. Captain Alex Ovechkin will be away from the Capitals (28-21-6) to attend to a family matter and the health of a loved one. Carolina will become the 28th NHL team to play outdoors, where Washington is 3-0-0 while outscoring opponents 11-5. The Hurricanes (34-10-8) defeated the Capitals 3-2 in a shootout Oct. 31 and won seven in a row before a 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday. Since 2018-19, Carolina has won 208 regular-season games, most in the division ahead of Washington (197). -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Depleted Avalanche seek payback against Lightning

If the Colorado Avalanche (28-19-4) want to avenge a 5-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Feb. 9, they'll have to do it with a depleted lineup. The teams played for the first time since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final and the Lightning dominated from start to finish. Now Tampa Bay visits Ball Arena in Denver (9 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, ALT, BSSUN, ESPN+, SN NOW) to face a Colorado team battling a rash of injuries. Goalie Pavel Francouz (lower body) and defenseman Erik Johnson (lower body) did not practice Monday and coach Jared Bednar said there is no timeline for their respective returns. Defenseman Cale Makar (upper body) skated in a non-contact jersey and won't play. Defenseman Josh Manson (lower body) took part in the full workout but is unlikely. Expect the Lightning (34-16-2) to employ their effective cycle game in hopes of grinding the Avalanche down again. Tampa Bay forward Corey Perry had a goal and three shots in the first game and was a constant pest in front of the net. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

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Bruins looking to reset, end power-play woes

Though the Boston Bruins (39-8-5) lead the NHL with 83 points and are on pace for 131, one behind the League record set by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens, they've hit a rough patch. They visit the Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. BSSW, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW) having lost four of their past five games, the latest 2-1 at home to the Capitals on Saturday, when Boston was 0-for-4 on the power play to extend its slide to 0-for-18 in the past six games. The Stars (30-14-10) lead the Central Division and had points in seven straight games (4-0-3) before losing 3-1 to the Lightning on Saturday. Dallas forward Roope Hintz has scored three goals in his past four games. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Tuesday games

Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, NBCSWA, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Hurricanes are 17-4-6 on the road. Forward Andrei Svechnikov has six assists in his past five games but hasn't scored in 16 straight. Carolina forward Sebastian Aho's six-game goal streak ended Saturday. Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has scored two goals in his past three games after going 14 in a row without one.
Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2 RDS, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones will play his 700th NHL game. Chicago (16-30-5) plays the second of a four-game road trip and are 6-14-2 away from United Center. The Canadiens (22-27-4) have won two straight following a four-game skid (0-3-1). Forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past five games.
New Jersey Devils at Columbus Blue Jackets (7:30 p.m. ET; BSOH, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) during a seven-game point streak for the Devils (34-13-5), who are 7-1-2 in their past 10 games and second in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind the Hurricanes. The Blue Jackets (16-33-4) will be without Vladislav Gavrikov, a defenseman being held out of the lineup for trade-related reasons.
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Ottawa (25-24-3) rallied late for a 4-3 overtime win against the Calgary Flames on Monday behind
Tim Stutzle
's four points (one goal, three assists), including the game-winner. Senators forward Claude Giroux had his five-game goal streak end. Islanders forward Brock Nelson has a 10-game point streak (six goals, six assists). New York (27-23-6) has lost two straight after winning its previous four.
Florida Panthers at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW)
The Blues (24-25-3) look to build off a 6-5 overtime win against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday that ended a five-game losing streak. The Panthers (27-23-6) come off a 2-1 shootout victory against the Minnesota Wild on Monday. Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in his past 10 games.
Seattle Kraken at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kraken (30-18-5) are 4-5-1 in their past 10 and ended a four-game road losing streak with a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Forward Blake Wheeler has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past four games for the Jets (33-19-1) and is three assists shy of 600 for his NHL career.
Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. BSSW, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Stars are 2-1-0 coming out of the NHL All-Star break after losing three straight in overtime, each by a score of 3-2, to the Devils, Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres. Bruins forward David Pastrnak is two assists shy of 300 in the NHL.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, ALT, BSSUN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Tampa Bay was sluggish coming out of the break with a 7-1 loss to the Panthers but has rebounded with five of a possible six points (2-0-1). Of note: the Lightning's two most recent victories were examples of coach Jon Cooper's emphasis on tighter defense; they've allowed one goal in the past 120 minutes. Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon has 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 16 games since Jan. 1.
Pittsburgh Penguins at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBSSCA, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sharks (17-26-11) return to SAP Center after eight straight road games (3-3-2). San Jose defenseman Erik Karlsson's 55 assists are tied for second in the NHL with Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. The Penguins (26-17-9) try to regroup following a 6-0 road loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, when forward Adrian Kempe scored four straight goals. Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in his past six games.