NHL On Tap: Crosby goes for 500th goal with Penguins at Senators

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 seven games Thursday.

Crosby aims for 500th NHL career goal

Sidney Crosby looks to score his 500th NHL goal when the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Crosby would become the 46th NHL player to reach the milestone, joining a group that includes Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Alex Ovechkin, and former Penguins Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Mullen and Ron Francis. Crosby would also join Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals forward, as the only active members of the 500-goal club. He could do it against former teammate Matt Murray. The goalie who helped the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017 will face them for the first time since being traded to the Senators on Oct. 7, 2020. Pittsburgh (28-11-8) is 6-1-3 in its past 10 games following a 4-2 comeback win against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, when Crosby scored No. 499. The Penguins captain has scored 18 goals in 42 games against the Senators (16-22-4). -- William Douglas, staff writer

St. Louis ready for NHL coaching debut

Martin St. Louis will coach his first game in the NHL when the Montreal Canadiens play the Capitals at Bell Centre (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Canadiens (8-30-7) named St. Louis
their new coach Wednesday
hours after firing Dominique Ducharme. Montreal is bringing in someone from outside the organization who grew up in the market and became a Hockey Hall of Fame forward. St. Louis was born and raised in Laval, Quebec, across the Prairies River from Montreal. He played 16 NHL seasons and knows the game and what he's getting into. The Canadiens have lost seven in a row (0-5-2), the last five in regulation by a combined 33-12, and are 1-9-4 since Dec. 28. St. Louis has a big task ahead of him, but the Canadiens could get an immediate bump by the change. The Capitals (25-14-9) are 5-8-2 in their past 15 games. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Avalanche can extend point streak to 18

The Colorado Avalanche hope to pick up where they left off prior to the break for the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend when they play the Tampa Bay Lightning at Ball Arena (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Avalanche (32-8-4) are 15-0-2 in their past 17 games and had their 18-game home winning streak end with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 1. It won't be easy against the Lightning (30-10-6) in what could be a Stanley Cup Final preview. Colorado has scored 4.09 goals per game, tied with the Florida Panthers for first in the NHL, and Tampa Bay is seventh (3.37). The Avalanche are 20-2-2 on home ice for an .875 points percentage that is second behind the Panthers (.885). The Lightning are 14-6-2 on the road, tied with the Capitals for third in points percentage (.682). -- David Satriano, staff writer

Thursday schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Patrik Laine has scored two goals in three straight games for Columbus (21-22-1) and the forward has scored nine points (six goals, three assists) in his past four. He left practice early Wednesday because of an upper-body injury but could play after taking line rushes during the morning skate. Buffalo (14-24-7), which plays its first game since the All-Star break, has lost three of four, getting outscored 15-6.
Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NESN, BSSO, SN360, TVAS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins (26-15-3) will be without center Patrice Bergeron (upper body) and forward Brad Marchand, who will serve the first of a six-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for high-sticking and roughing Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry on Tuesday. The Hurricanes (31-10-3) hope to avoid their third straight loss (0-1-1). They have allowed the fewest goals per game this season (2.41).
Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins have won four of the past five games against the Senators, including 6-4 on Jan. 20. Ottawa seeks its third consecutive win after defeating Carolina 4-3 on Tuesday. Brady Tkachuk scored two goals for the Senators, ending a 15-game goal drought, and has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in his past four games.
Washington Capitals at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Capitals coach Peter Laviolette is two wins from becoming the 10th coach in NHL history to win 700 games. His 698 wins are third among active coaches behind Barry Trotz (893) and Lindy Ruff (771). Canadiens forward Tyler Toffoli has scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in eight games after missing 11 following hand surgery.
New Jersey Devils at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, MSG+2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Devils (16-26-5), who defeated the Canadiens 7-1 on Tuesday, seek consecutive wins for the first time since Dec. 31-Jan. 2. New Jersey is 6-15-2 on the road this season. St. Louis (26-13-5) forward Vladimir Tarasenko has a point in 11 of his past 12 games (seven goals, 10 assists). It's the Blues' first game since a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 29.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Auston Matthews will be a game-time decision for the Maple Leafs (30-10-3) after the center was injured during a 4-3 overtime win against the Hurricanes on Monday. Toronto owns the longest-active winning streak in the NHL (six games) and forward Mitchell Marner will try to become the eighth player since 1990-91 to score a goal in nine consecutive games. The Flames (24-13-6) have won four in a row and play the second of a back-to-back set after a 6-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Lightning are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games. Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen has scored 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in his past 11 and forward Nazem Kadri has scored nine points (four goals, five assists) during a five-game point streak.