NHL On Tap: Ovechkin looks to stay hot for Capitals at Blue Jackets

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 Thursday.

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Ovechkin faces Blue Jackets on hot streak

Alex Ovechkin finds himself in one of the best goal-scoring grooves he has been in this season, which is saying a lot when you're the second-leading goal-scorer in NHL history. The Washington Capitals forward has eight goals in his past five games and will attempt to extend his goal streak to four games when the Capitals (21-13-6) visit the Columbus Blue Jackets (11-23-2) at Nationwide Arena (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN1, SNE, SNP, SN NOW). The run began with two goals against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 23, the second moving him past Hall of Famer Gordie Howe into second place on the NHL's all-time list with 802. The 37-year-old has continued to score since then and is up to 808 after his two-goal performance in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, leaving him 86 behind Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894. Ovechkin has 28 goals in 40 games this season and is on pace for 57, numbers the struggling Blue Jackets (11-23-2) surely will be aware of. Columbus is 1-8-0 in its past nine games and ranks 28th in the NHL in goals allowed (141), making the task of keeping Ovechkin off the scoreboard even more daunting. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

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Bruins head west to face Kings following Winter Classic

The Boston Bruins, 8-0-3 in their past 11 games, are coming off the emotional high of winning the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Monday, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in come-from-behind fashion. The Los Angeles Kings are 7-1-1 in their past nine games and coming off a 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The Kings (22-13-6) might have a chance to catch the Bruins (29-4-4) on the comedown at Crypto.com Arena (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW). Los Angeles should feel good about its chances against the No. 1 team in the NHL, given the Kings are one of three road teams to win a game at Boston (19-0-3 at home) this season; Los Angeles won 3-2 in a shootout on Dec. 15. The Kings are 5-1-0 in their past six home games; the Bruins are the best finishers in the League with a plus-31 goal differential in the third period (54-23), so Los Angeles needs to start quickly. In addition, Boston will be without forward Jake DeBrusk, who was placed on long term injured reserve Wednesday with hand and lower-body injuries he sustained in the Winter Classic. DeBrusk, of course, was the star Monday with two goals in the third period. That's a big blow for Boston.-- Dan Rosen, senior writer

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Kraken looking to come of age on long road trip

The Seattle Kraken are showing signs of escaping a 3-7-1 skid that followed a seven-game winning streak from Nov. 17-Dec. 1. They've won two straight by a combined 9-3 and play the second of a seven-game road trip at the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNO, ROOT-NW, ESPN+), where the Kraken (10-4-2 on the road) can even their road win total from last season. Ten different Seattle skaters had at least one point in a 5-2 win at the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, which helped the Kraken (20-12-4) move past the Oilers and Calgary Flames into third place in the Pacific Division. It will be another challenge in Toronto with the Maple Leafs (23-8-7) coming off a 6-5 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday and trying to stay within sight of the first-place Bruins in the Atlantic Division.-- Jon Lane, staff writer

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Thursday schedule

Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN1, SNE, SNP, SN NOW)
The Capitals, 11-1-2 in their past 14 games, are close to welcoming center Nicklas Backstrom (hip) and forward Tom Wilson (ACL) back into the lineup, though neither made the trip to Columbus. The Blue Jackets, 9-11-1 at home this season, have struggled on the power play (15.3 percent), tied for 30th in the NHL.
Seattle Kraken at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNO, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman Adam Larsson's seven-game point streak (seven points; one goal, six assists) is tied with forward Jordan Eberle for the longest by a Kraken player. Maple Leafs center Alex Kerfoot has four points (two goals, two assists) in a four-game point streak.
Arizona Coyotes at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Clayton Keller has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past five games for the Coyotes (13-18-5), who have lost two straight. The Flyers (14-17-7) return home looking to extend their winning streak to a season-long four games after a West Coast trip produced consecutive victories at the San Jose Sharks, Kings and Anaheim Ducks.
New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Rangers (21-12-6) ended the Carolina Hurricanes' 11-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory against their Metropolitan Division foes Tuesday and are 10-2-1 in their past 13, including two consecutive victories. As much as New York has been flying lately, that's how much the Canadiens (15-20-3) have sputtered, with a six-game losing streak (0-5-1) as part of an 1-8-1 slide in their past 10.
Nashville Predators at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Filip Forsberg has been on a roll for the Predators (16-14-6) with eight points (five goals, three assists) in his past four games. Carolina (25-7-6) is 15-1-1 in its past 17 and could see forward Max Pacioretty make his Hurricanes debut after undergoing Achilles surgery Aug. 10.
St. Louis Blues at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blues (18-17-3), coming off their shootout win at the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, are 6-2-2 in their past 10. The Devils (24-11-3) return home for the second half of back-to-back games after a 5-1 win at the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
New York Islanders at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Center Mathew Barzal has seven points (five goals, two assists) in a four-game point streak for the Islanders (22-15-2), who are 5-2-1 in their past eight. Center Connor McDavid has at least one point in 18 of his past 19 games (38 points; 17 goals, 21 assists) for the Oilers (20-17-2), who have lost two straight and are 9-11-1 at home this season.
Colorado Avalanche at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN1, SNP, TVAS, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (19-14-3) are 0-3-1 in their past four and will be looking to get back on the winning track with the help of forward Mikko Rantanen, who has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past six games. The Canucks (16-18-3) will attempt to end a three-game losing streak, outscored 13-6.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Penguins (19-12-6) look to rebound from their loss to the Bruins in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Monday, which stretched their losing streak to five games (0-3-2). The Golden Knights (26-12-2) have won two straight and are 4-1-1 in their past six. Center Jack Eichel is expected to return for Vegas after missing 13 games, including the past 11, with a lower-body injury.
Boston Bruins at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Bruins arrived in Los Angeles a day early to get accustomed to the three-hour time change and practiced Wednesday. Kings goalie Pheonix Copley is 9-1-0 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 10 starts since his season debut Dec. 6, including seven straight wins.