NHL On Tap: Streaking Lightning, Oilers face off in Edmonton

Welcome to 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 13 games Thursday.

Oilers look to keep building

The Edmonton Oilers will try to win their fifth consecutive game when they play the Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Place (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SNW, SN NOW). Edmonton (25-18-3) has averaged 5.50 goals during its winning streak, but the offense hasn't just come from forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the top two scorers in the NHL. Klim Kostin has four goals, Ryan McLeod has two, and Dylan Holloway (one goal, three assists) and Mattias Janmark (one goal, three assists) each has four points. Goalie Jack Campbell has started all four games, allowing eight goals on 110 shots (.927 save percentage). "You need contributions up and down your lineup," McDavid said. "You win in this league because you have 20 guys on the ice pulling on the same rope and we've definitely had that the last couple games and it's been good to see." They'll get a big test from the Lightning (29-13-1), who have won five in a row, including 5-2 at the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, when Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos scored his 500th NHL goal. -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Miller's No. 30 to rise to rafters in Buffalo

Ryan Miller's No. 30 will be retired before the Buffalo Sabres play the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG-B, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW), joining Tim Horton's No. 2, Rick Martin's No. 7, Gilbert Perreault's No. 11, Rene Robert's No. 14, Pat LaFontaine's No. 16, Danny Gare's No. 18 and Dominik Hasek's No. 39. Miller played for the Sabres from 2002-14, winning a team-record 41 games and the 2010 Vezina Trophy voted as the best goalie in the NHL. After leaving Buffalo with a Sabres-record 284 wins, Miller played for the St. Louis Blues, Canucks and Anaheim Ducks before retiring in 2021 with 391 wins, most in NHL history among goalies born in the United States. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Devils in Seattle, rolling on the road

There's some irony and loads of intrigue between the New Jersey Devils and Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW). Here we have the Devils (29-12-3), winners of five in a row overall and seven straight away from home, an NHL-best 18-2-1 on the road this season. They're playing the Kraken, who know exactly how the Devils are feeling right now having wrapped up a perfect 7-0-0 road trip with an 8-5 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 14. But the Kraken (26-14-4) have to find footing in their own barn as they begin a five-game homestand that will take them into their bye week and 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend. They're 10-9-2 at Climate Pledge Arena, including 1-3-0 since Dec. 28. The Kraken's home record must improve if they're going to finish strong and reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in their second NHL season. The Devils and Kraken are on similar paths too, surprising success stories this late into the season, both having overcome lulls in December to start 2023 strong. The Devils were 4-7-2 in December and are so far 6-1-1 in January. The Kraken were 4-7-2 in December only to start 8-2-0 in January. Similar results. Similar teams. Expect a close one in Seattle. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Thursday games

Anaheim Ducks at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This could affect the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, 2023 NHL Draft and the new home of Connor Bedard, a forward projected as the No. 1 pick. The Ducks (12-28-5) are 30th in the NHL. The Blue Jackets (13-29-2) are tied with the Blackhawks (12-26-4) for last place but "win" the tiebreaker for 32nd because they have played more games.
Boston Bruins at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, MSG, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Bruins (35-5-4) have an .841 points percentage through 44 games, second in NHL history behind the 1929-30 Bruins (.875 points percentage with 38 wins, five losses and one tie in 44 games). At this pace, they will finish with 65 wins and 138 points. The NHL record for wins is 62, shared by the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings and the 2018-19 Lightning. The NHL record for points is 132, held by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. They defeated the Islanders 4-1 on Wednesday and are 7-1-0 since Jan. 1. The Rangers (25-13-7) have had two days of rest since a 3-1 win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. They are 6-1-1 since Jan. 1.
Chicago Blackhawks at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flyers (19-19-7) are 8-2-0 in their past 10 games, outscoring their opponents 37-26 and outshooting them 319-297 since Dec. 29. Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones has three points in back-to-back games, including an NHL career-high three assists in an 8-5 loss to the Kraken on Jan. 14, and nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past six.
Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the sixth time the Panthers (21-20-5) have played on the road in their past seven games. They're 4-2-1 on this stretch, traveling from Detroit to Colorado to Vegas to Florida to Buffalo to Toronto to Montreal. Aleksander Barkov has seven points (three goals, four assists) on a five-game point streak. The Canadiens (19-23-3) are 3-1-0 in their past four.
Minnesota Wild at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Wild (25-14-4) have won three in a row and are 6-1-2 in their past nine road games. The Hurricanes (27-9-8) are second in the NHL standings behind the Bruins but 2-3-2 in their past seven. Sebastian Aho has seven points (two goals, five assists) on a five-game point streak.
Winnipeg Jets at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Mitchell Marner will try to extend his home point streak to 20 games. The Toronto forward has 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) during his run, the longest in team history. The Maple Leafs (27-11-7) are fourth in the NHL standings. The Jets (29-15-1) are tied with the Lightning and Dallas Stars for fifth and with the Stars for first in the Western Conference.
New York Islanders at Buffalo Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG-B, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Each team is fading and badly needs a win in the playoff race. The Islanders (23-19-4) are 1-4-2 in their past seven games and one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres (21-19-3) are 1-4-1 in their past six and six points behind the Penguins.
Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
These teams are separated by one point and fighting for a playoff spot. The Predators (21-17-6) are 6-3-0 since Jan. 1 and three points behind the Calgary Flames for the second wild card in the Western Conference. The Blues (22-20-3) are 5-3-0 since Jan. 1 and four points behind the Flames.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SNW, SN NOW)
The Lightning's five-game winning streak matches their season high set Dec. 8-17. Brandon Hagel has been key during that run with seven points (two goals, five assists) during a five-game point streak. McDavid, who leads the NHL with 84 points (38 goals, 46 assists) in 46 games, is one point from reaching 85 in the fewest number of games since Mario Lemieux (42 games) and Jaromir Jagr (42) in 1995-96.
Washington Capitals at Arizona Coyotes (9 p.m. ET; BSAZX, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes (14-25-5) ended a nine-game losing streak with a 4-3 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings at Mullett Arena on Tuesday, rallying from two goals down in the third period. The Capitals (24-17-6) are 1-3-0 in their past four games.
Detroit Red Wings at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, ATTSN-RM, BSDET, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Golden Knights (28-15-2) are one point off the lead in the West but coming off a 4-0 loss to the Stars and 1-3-0 in their past four games. The Red Wings (18-17-8) have struggled to play complete games -- falling behind early, giving up leads late -- and are 2-5-1 in their past eight. Dylan Larkin has seven points (two goals, five assists) on a five-game point streak.
New Jersey Devils at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Devils forward Jack Hughes is one goal from his first 30-goal season in the NHL. Hughes has 14 points (nine goals, five assists) since Jan. 1, tied with Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (five goals, nine assists) for second behind Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon. Seattle leads the NHL with 16 points since Jan. 1.
Dallas Stars at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Stars (26-13-7) are playing their second game in two nights after giving up five straight goals in a 5-3 loss at the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. They are 1-2-1 in their past four games. Jason Robertson has reached 30 goals in 46 games, faster than anyone since the Stars moved from Minnesota to Dallas in 1993. The Kings (25-15-6) have had four days off since a 5-2 loss to the Devils on Saturday.