NHL On Tap: Hurricanes host Kings seeking 6th straight win

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 three games Tuesday.

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Hurricanes seek sixth straight win

How's the Storm Surge building for the Carolina Hurricanes? They've won five straight, including a 4-1 victory against the Boston Bruins on Sunday that was Boston's first loss to a Metropolitan Division opponent this season (14-1-0). Carolina also has an eight-game point streak (7-0-1) heading into its home game against the Los Angeles Kings (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSSO, BSW, SN, SN NOW). The Hurricanes (32-9-8) have outscored opponents 22-11 the past five games, and forward Sebastian Aho has seven goals during a four-game goal streak. Los Angeles (28-18-6) had won three straight before a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Lightning on Saturday. Kings forward Anze Kopitar has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past five games. -- William Douglas, staff writer

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Giroux attempts to extend hot streak

Claude Giroux will try to extend his point streak to five games when the Ottawa Senators (23-23-3) visit the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, TSN5, ESPN+, SN NOW). The 35-year-old forward was named NHL First Star of the Week on Monday after having seven points (four goals, three assists) in three games, each one a multipoint outing. He had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory against the New York Islanders on Jan. 25, did the same in a 6-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 27 and then had three points (two goals, one assist) in a 5-0 win against the Canadiens on Jan. 28, his 65th three-point game in the NHL. Giroux is averaging almost a point per game in his first season with the Senators; he has 47 (19 goals, 28 assists) in 49 games and is the catalyst on a newly-constructed line with Alex DeBrincat (one goal) and rookie
Ridly Greig
(one assist) that combined for five points against Montreal on Saturday. This will be the final game for the Canadiens (20-26-4) until Feb. 11, and they're hoping the time off will be beneficial for injured forwards Sean Monahan (foot), Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Joel Armia (upper body), who are all close to returning. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

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Ovechkin and Gaudreau face off before teaming up

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will visit Johnny Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW) before Ovechkin and Gaudreau head to Sunrise, Florida, to play together for the Metropolitan Division in the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday. Ovechkin will play in the All-Star Game for the eighth time, most among players participating in the game this season. Gaudreau will make his seventh All-Star Game appearance and first with the Blue Jackets, who signed him to a seven-year, $68.25 million contract July 13, 2022, following nine seasons with the Calgary Flames. Ovechkin leads Washington with 32 goals and 54 points in 51 games; Gaudreau leads Columbus with 35 assists and 48 points in 50 games. The Capitals (26-20-6) have lost their past three road games. The Blue Jackets (15-32-3) return home after they went 1-2-1 on a four-game road trip. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Tuesday games

Los Angeles Kings at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, BSSO, BSW, SN NOW)
This is the second and final game of the season series; the Hurricanes won 4-2 on the road Dec. 3. The Kings play the last of a six-game road trip (3-2-0). Kings defenseman Drew Doughty had an assist against the Lightning on Saturday and is two points shy of 600 in the NHL. Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen is 5-0-0 in six starts since he missed 29 games with a lower body injury.
Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, TSN5, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Senators have won three consecutive games, outscoring the opposition 13-3 in that span. Ottawa won its previous games against Montreal: 3-2 on Dec. 14 and 5-0 on Saturday. Each was played at Canadian Tire Centre. The Canadiens are 1-3-1 in their past five. Montreal's 130 goals scored are second-fewest in the Eastern Conference; only the Blue Jackets (128) have fewer.
Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Capitals won their first two games against the Blue Jackets this season, 6-2 on Jan. 5 in Columbus and 1-0 on Jan. 8 in Washington. Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper has saved 63 of 65 shots in two games against the Blue Jackets this season. Forward Marcus Johansson has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past five games and is second on the Capitals with 13 goals in 52 games. Forward Kent Johnson has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past five games for Columbus and is tied for fourth in the NHL among rookies with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 47 games this season.