NHL On Tap: Golden Knights continue tough road trip at Panthers

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 10 games on Thursday.

Golden Knights continue tough road trip

The Vegas Golden Knights' road trip against some of the best teams in the NHL continues when they play at the Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Vegas (25-15-3) had its seven-game road winning streak end Tuesday in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Carolina Hurricanes, a day after their four-game trip began with a 1-0 win at the Washington Capitals. The trip concludes Saturday at the Tampa Bay Lightning. Florida (29-9-5) enters with the best home record in the NHL (21-3-0) and has outscored opponents 45-15 in its past seven games there, scoring at least four goals in each. The Panthers return home after going 3-2-0 on a five-game road trip. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Kings fun to watch, on course for postseason return

Prior to the start of this season, I thought the Los Angeles Kings could be a surprise team that will contend for a spot in Stanley Cup Playoffs. I liked their chances with Todd McLellan in his first 82-game season as coach and felt their young core would continue to evolve and complement veterans Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick. The Kings (21-16-6) are third in the Pacific Division, five points behind the first-place Golden Knights, and play the third of a six-game road trip at the New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE). They're fun to watch and I like what I've seen from forwards Arthur Kaliyev and Rasmus Kupari, and defensemen Mikey Anderson and Tobias Bjornfot, each of whom is 22 years old or younger.
Quinton Byfield
, a 19-year-old center, is getting another chance to stay in the NHL and 25-year-old forward Adrian Kempe has scored an NHL-career high 17 goals in 40 games while leading Los Angeles in game-winning goals (four) and shorthanded goals (two). The Islanders (15-14-6) have won four of their past five (4-1-0) and are 7-2-1 in their past 10. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Predators look to continue strong January

The Nashville Predators (27-14-3) have been a resilient group this season and are in second place in the Central Division while they complete a two-game road trip at the Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Nashville is 8-3-1 in January and has been getting stellar play from No. 1 goalie Juuse Saros (23-11-2, 2.37 goals-against average, .926 save percentage) and a resurgent season from forward Matt Duchene, who has scored four points (three goals, one assist) in his past two games and 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 40 games. Duchene scored 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 34 games last season. Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl leads the NHL with 59 points (29 goals, 30 assists) in 38 games, including seven points (four goals, three assists) in the past five games. Edmonton (20-16-2) has won its past two despite allowing the first goal in each of those games, and has allowed the first goal in 16 of its past 17 games. The Oilers have scored the first goal of a game an NHL-low 10 times in 38 games this season. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Thursday schedule

Anaheim Ducks at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the third of a five-game road trip for the Ducks (21-16-8), who will play the second of a back to back following a 4-3 shootout loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Forward Troy Terry has scored six game-winning goals this season, tied for second in the NHL behind Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (seven). The Canadiens (8-26-7) return home after playing 10 consecutive road games; they went 1-5-4 and scored more than two goals three times.
Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Hurricanes (28-9-2) are 9-2-1 in their past 12 games following their 4-3 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Carolina forward Andrei Svechnikov has a five-game multipoint streak (two goals, eight assists). The Senators (13-20-3) have won their past two games and have a three-game point streak (2-0-1), but will be without forward Drake Batherson, who sustained an ankle injury during a 5-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday that will prevent him from playing in the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Feb. 5.
New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Jesper Bratt has scored eight points (five goals, three assists) during a personal six-game point streak for the Devils (15-21-5), who will try to avoid a third straight loss in the opener of a three-game road trip. The Lightning (28-10-5) return home after scoring 14 goals during a three-game West Coast trip (2-1-0). They have won five of their past six games (5-1-0).
Vegas Golden Knights at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore has scored five points (one goal, four assists) in his past four games. Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe has scored seven goals in his past nine games.
Los Angeles Kings at New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is expected to play his 1,000th NHL regular-season game. The 32-year-old has scored 557 points (129 goals, 428 assists) in 999 games. The Islanders are 12-4-4 when scoring first, and have done so in three of their past five games.
Seattle Kraken at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Ryan Donato has scored nine goals in 37 games for the Kraken (13-25-4), putting him on pace to score 18 this season; his NHL best is 14 in 62 games with the Minnesota Wild in 2019-20. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is three goals from becoming the 46th player and second active (Alex Ovechkin) to score 500 in the NHL. Pittsburgh (27-10-5) has won eight in a row at home since losing 6-3 to the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 27, and is 13-4-4 against Western Conference teams.
New York Rangers at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman Adam Fox has a six-game point streak (two goals, eight assists) and forward Artemi Panarin has a five-game point streak (one goal, eight assists) for the Rangers (28-11-4), who are 8-3-0 in January. The Blue Jackets (18-21-1) have lost three straight and are 3-8-0 in January. Columbus finishes a back to back, having lost 6-0 at home to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; SN1, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Elias Lindholm's goal for the Flames (20-12-6) in their 6-0 win at the Blue Jackets on Wednesday was his 400th NHL point. Lindholm has 153 goals and 247 assists in 619 games. Blues (25-12-5) forward Tyler Bozak is expected to play his 800th NHL game. The 35-year-old has scored 458 points (170 goals, 288 assists) in 799 games.
Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canucks (18-19-5) have two wins in their past eight games (2-4-2) after starting 8-0-1 under coach Bruce Boudreau, who replaced Travis Green on Dec. 5. The Jets (17-15-7) have lost five in a row (0-3-2). Forward Adam Lowry is expected to play his 500th NHL game, all for Winnipeg. He has scored 155 points (70 goals, 85 assists) in 499 games.
Nashville Predators at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Predators' Roman Josi is fourth among NHL defensemen since Nov. 30 with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 21 games. Oilers forward Connor McDavid has scored four points (one goal, three assists) in the past two games after going three straight games without a point, his longest drought of the season.