NHL On Tap: Crosby tries again to score 500th NHL goal for Penguins

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.

Crosby goes for 500th goal

Sidney Crosby will try again to score his 500th NHL goal when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, NBCSP+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The milestone is significant, but perhaps more significant for the Penguins (30-11-8) right now is that the 34-year-old center looks on top of his game after having surgery to fix a nagging problem with his left wrist Sept. 8 and missing the first seven games of the season. Crosby has scored 44 points (13 goals, 31 assists) in 37 games this season, including 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in his past 13 games. He's on a six-game point streak (two goals, eight assists). Crosby has scored 49 goals against the Flyers, second-most of any NHL player (Mario Lemieux; 51). Forward Scott Laughton has scored six points (three goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak for Philadelphia (15-24-8). -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Fox, Rangers return against Bruins

The New York Rangers play their first game in two weeks, when they host the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SN1, MSG, NESN; ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Adam Fox is expected to return after an upper-body injury sidelined the Rangers defenseman for three games. Fox, who also missed the NHL All-Star Game due to the injury, has been practicing in his usual place, to the right of Ryan Lindgren on the top pair. His 47 points (seven goals, 40 assists) in 44 games are tied with Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators for second among NHL defensemen, behind Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning (48). Center Filip Chytil also is expected to return for the Rangers (30-13-4) after missing five games with a lower-body injury. New York will be without forward Kaapo Kakko (upper body) for at least another month, creating an opportunity for
Alexis Lafreniere
to get extended minutes on the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. The Bruins (27-16-3) play the second of a four-game road trip and third without forward Brad Marchand, who is serving a six-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Flames add Toffoli, look to remain hot

The Calgary Flames will try to extend their winning streak to seven games when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Tyler Toffoli was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Monday for forward Tyler Pitlick, forward prospect
Emil Heineman
, a conditional first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and the forward will make his debut for the Flames (26-13-6), who have won six in a row on home ice. Toffoli will play on a line with Dillon Dube and Sean Monahan, his teammate in junior hockey. Forward Patrik Laine has scored 12 points (seven goals, five assists) during a six-game point streak for the Blue Jackets (23-22-1), who have won three straight one-goal games. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Tuesday games

St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Brayden Schenn has scored 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in his past eight games for the Blues (27-14-5), who begin a four-game road trip and will play eight of their next nine away from Enterprise Center. The Senators (17-24-4) are 2-for-33 on the power play in their past 13 games, including going 0-for-5 in a 4-1 win at the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, NBCSP+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Flyers (15-24-8) are 0-7-1 in their past eight games on the road, and are coming off being swept by the Detroit Red Wings in a home-and-home set. Forward Bryan Rust has scored in five straight games (seven goals) for the Penguins, who have won three in a row.
New York Islanders at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Islanders (17-19-6) have lost five of seven and goalie
Semyon Varlamov
remains in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Ilya Sorokin, who's won seven of his last 10 starts, is expected to start for New York, which recalled veteran goalie Cory Schneider on emergency loan from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Monday. The Sabres (15-24-8) lost three in a row before a 5-3 win at the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, sparked by Jeff Skinner's first five-point game in the NHL (four goals, one assist).
Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Lightning (31-11-6) visit the Devils (17-27-5) with forward Corey Perry one goal from 400 in the NHL. Tampa Bay defenseman Erik Cernak is expected to return after missing nine games with a lower-body injury. New Jersey captain Nico Hischier was named the NHL "Third Star" for the week ending Feb. 13 after scoring six points (five goals, one assist), including his sixth three-point game in the NHL during a 7-4 win against the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 10.
Boston Bruins at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; SN1, MSG, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Two Bruins will reach NHL milestones: Forward Erik Haula will play his 500th game and defenseman Mike Reilly will play his 300th. The Rangers entered the NHL All-Star break with 30 wins, their most at the break since 2016-17, and the eighth time in team history they've done it (excluding Olympic and shortened seasons). New York has won four of six and seven of 10.
Washington Capitals at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Capitals (26-15-9) begin a four-game road trip; they are 17-5-3 on the road and have won three straight. Forward Alex Ovechkin has not scored a goal in his past six games and remains one short of reaching 30 for the 16th NHL season. Capitals coach Peter Laviolette returns to Nashville for the first time since being fired by the Predators on Jan. 6, 2020 and is one win from becoming the 10th coach in NHL history with 700. Forward Filip Forsberg has scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his past six games for the Predators (28-16-4).
Columbus Blue Jackets at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Columbus has won five of six since winning three of its previous 11 games (3-8-0). Forward Elias Lindholm has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) during a six-game point streak for the Flames, who won 6-0 at the Blue Jackets on Jan. 26.
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSSW+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Stars and Avalanche conclude a home-and-home set after Colorado extended its point streak to 19 games with a 4-0 win at Dallas on Sunday. The Avalanche (34-8-4) haven't lost in regulation since they were defeated 5-2 by the Predators on Dec. 16. The Stars (25-19-2) begin a three-game road trip after they were 3-3-0 during a six-game homestand.
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW [JIP], BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Oilers (25-18-3) have won two straight under new coach Jay Woodcroft after a 3-0 win against the San Jose Sharks on Monday. The Kings (24-16-7) return home for one game following a 4-0-2 trip and then play their next four games on the road.