NHL On Tap: Voracek returns with Blue Jackets to face Flyers
Oilers look to build positive momentum against Panthers; Predators try to avoid fifth straight loss
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NHL.com @NHLdotcom
Voracek back in Philadelphia with Blue Jackets
Jakub Voracek returns to Wells Fargo Center with the Columbus Blue Jackets to face the Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) for the first time since the forward was traded for forward Cam Atkinson on July 24. Voracek, who cleared COVID-19 protocol Thursday after missing two games, played 10 seasons with the Flyers and scored at least 20 goals six times. The trade brought Voracek to Columbus (17-18-1), where he played his first three NHL seasons, and he has scored 25 points (one goal, 24 assists) in 34 games for the Blue Jackets, who look to bounce back from a 9-2 loss at the Florida Panthers on Sunday. Atkinson played his first 10 seasons for Columbus and scored an NHL career-high 41 goals in 2018-19. He's scored 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 39 games for Philadelphia (13-18-8), which has lost nine in a row (0-6-3). -- Jon Lane, staff writer
Oilers search for momentum change
The Edmonton Oilers will look to reverse momentum when they host the Florida Panthers at Rogers Place (9 p.m. ET; SN, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Oilers (18-15-2) are 2-10-2 in their past 14 games and have allowed the first goal in 13 of those 14. They've scored the first goal of a game 10 times this season, the fewest in the NHL, and have played six games since Dec. 18 and one in the past 15 days, a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators in Edmonton on Saturday, when they allowed five goals in the third period. The Panthers (26-8-5) are 8-1-1 in their past 10 games, the lone regulation loss a 5-1 defeat at the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer
Predators aim to get back on track
The Nashville Predators will try to avoid a fifth straight loss when they host the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Perhaps it's simply the ebbs and flows of a season, but the Predators (24-14-3) are 0-3-1 in their past four games after going 12-1-1 in their previous 14. They'll need more from their top forwards, including center Matt Duchene, who has gone three straight games without a goal after scoring four in his previous four. The Jets (17-12-6) will play their third game in 14 days and will be without forward Nikolaj Ehlers (lower body) for the next three. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor
Thursday schedule
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman
John Carlson
and forward Conor Sheary remain in COVID-19 protocol and did not travel to Boston with the Capitals (22-9-9). Forward Nick Foligno (lower body) is expected to return after missing five games for the Bruins (22-12-2), who are expected to start goalie Linus Ullmark after Tuukka Rask gave up five first-period goals in a 7-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Dallas Stars at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Goalie Jake Oettinger has been pulled from two consecutive starts for the Stars (18-16-2), allowing nine goals on 36 shots. The Sabres (12-20-7) are 2-5-3 in their past 10 games. Alex Tuch has scored seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven games with Buffalo after the forward was acquired in the trade that sent center Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights and recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blue Jackets haven't won consecutive games since a three-game winning streak from Nov. 22-26. The Flyers play their second game since announcing center Kevin Hayes would be out 3-4 weeks after having surgery Tuesday to drain fluid from the adductor region of his hip.
Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Senators (11-19-2) are tied for 10th with the Penguins (23-10-5) on the power play (23.8 percent), sixth on the penalty kill (84.1 percent) and 11th in goals per game (3.31) since Dec. 1. Goalie Matt Murray could back up Anton Forsberg after missing one game for Ottawa with a non-COVID illness. Murray played his first five NHL seasons with Pittsburgh and won the Stanley Cup twice in 2016 and 2017.
Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Kyle Connor has had three multipoint games in his past five for the Jets, whose penalty kill is 24-for-28 (85.7 percent) during their past 10. It's the second of a three-game homestand for the Predators, who lost 3-1 to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm has missed three games in COVID-19 protocol.
Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SN, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau has scored 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) in 39 games and is tied with center Connor McDavid of the Oilers for third in the NHL. Huberdeau's eight-game point streak (20 points; five goals, 15 assists) ended Tuesday. McDavid (19 goals, 34 assists in 34 games) has no points in his past two games, the second time that has happened this season. He has not gone three games without a point this season.
Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, NHL LIVE)
The Avalanche (26-8-3) won 2-0 at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday but defenseman Cale Makar had his six-game point streak (nine points; two goals, seven assists) end. The defenseman has scored 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 33 games and is averaging 1.12 points per game this season, most among NHL defensemen who have played at least five games.
Quinton Byfield
is set to make his season debut for the Kings (20-15-5) after the 19-year-old center was recalled from Ontario of the American Hockey League.
Montreal Canadiens at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo's next point will be his 500th in the NHL (122 goals, 377 assists in 837 games). Vegas (23-15-2) completes an eight-game homestand, during which it is 2-3-2. The Canadiens (8-25-5) received two goals from forward Christian Dvorak, who had not scored since Dec. 4, in their 5-3 win at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday to end a six-game slide (0-4-2).
San Jose Sharks at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Timo Meier scored five goals for the Sharks (21-17-2) in a 6-2 win against the Kings on Monday and the forward has points in seven of his past eight games (14 points; seven goals, seven assists). Center Ryan Donato scored a goal in regulation, his first since Dec. 18, and in the shootout when the Kraken (11-23-4) ended a nine-game skid (0-8-1) with a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
