NHL On Tap: Jack Johnson to play 1,000th NHL game

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 nine games Tuesday.

Jack Johnson to play 1,000th NHL game

Jack Johnson will play his 1,000th NHL game when the Colorado Avalanche (39-10-4) host the New York Islanders (20-21-8) on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Johnson, the No. 3 pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, has scored 311 points (72 goals, 239 assists) in 16 NHL seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Avalanche and will become the 11th active defenseman in the NHL to reach the milestone. The 35-year-old has scored eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 49 games this season. He also has a plus-7 even-strength goal differential, his best number since he was plus-18 for Blue Jackets in 2016-17. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Lightning go for fifth straight win

The Tampa Bay Lightning return to playing indoor hockey when they start a three-game homestand against the Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Tampa Bay (34-11-6), which defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Saturday, would match its season best (Dec. 2-9) with a fifth straight victory. The Lightning's best players have been leading them, including forward Steven Stamkos, who had a goal and two assists Saturday and has scored eight points (five goals, three assists) in his past six games. The Senators (19-27-5) have one win in their past four (1-2-1). -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Streaking Canadiens head west

For the first 48 games this season, the Montreal Canadiens (13-33-7) failed to win consecutive games. Now, having won five in a row, they play the first of a four-game road trip when they visit the Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The winning streak has helped to brighten the mood in Montreal, clearing some of the dark clouds that have gathered with the plummet this season after the Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Final last season. The Jets (23-21-9) ended a four-game skid (0-3-1) with a 5-3 victory at the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Tuesday games

Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Senators begin a five-game road trip; they are 9-11-3 on the road this season. Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has three straight multipoint games (three goals, three assists), and forward Brayden Point has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) during a six-game point streak.
Edmonton Oilers at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, NBCSP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Oilers (29-21-3) play the fourth of a five-game road trip, after losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes and a win against the Florida Panthers. Edmonton center Connor McDavid has scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in his past five games against Philadelphia, including two points (one goal, one assist) Oct. 27. The Flyers (16-26-10), who defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Saturday, will try to win consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 29 and Feb. 1.
New Jersey Devils at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Devils (19-29-5) are coming off a 7-2 win at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday. New Jersey averaged 4.33 goals scored in nine games during February after averaging 2.82 goals in their first 44 games of the season. Forward Patrik Laine of the Blue Jackets (27-25-1) scored nine goals in 10 February games, tied with Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames for the NHL lead during the month.
Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; BSDET, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Frederik Andersen is 4-0-0 with a 1.72 goals-against average, .942 save percentage and one shutout in his past four games for the Hurricanes (37-11-4) and leads the NHL with 29 wins. Carolina has won five straight. Forward Lucas Raymond of the Red Wings (23-24-6) leads NHL rookies with 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 53 games, the most points for a Detroit rookie since Dylan Larkin scored 45 points (23 goals, 22 assists) in 80 games in 2015-16.
Calgary Flames at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSWI, BSNX, SNW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the second of a home and home between these teams after the Flames (31-14-6) won 7-3 in Calgary on Saturday. Flames forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Tyler Toffoli each had two goals and an assist in that game. Goalie Cam Talbot, who has allowed at least four goals in each of his past three games, is expected to start for Minnesota (31-16-3), which has lost three straight and five of six.
Montreal Canadiens at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Joel Edmundson traveled with the Canadiens, but the defenseman's status for Tuesday is unknown. He has not played this season because of a back injury. Jets forward Blake Wheeler has scored 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 11 games since the All-Star break.
New York Islanders at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Islanders hope to have forward Mathew Barzal back for the final game of a five-game road trip. The forward missed a 4-0 win at the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday because of a lower-body injury. Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews will play against the Islanders for the first time since New York traded him to Colorado on Oct. 12, 2020.
San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sharks (24-23-6) have won two of their past three games after losing seven in a row (0-3-4). The Golden Knights (29-20-4) are 1-4-1 in their past six; their only win was 4-1 at the Sharks on Feb. 20. A Vegas victory will give Peter DeBoer his 500th as an NHL coach.
Boston Bruins at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, BSW, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins (32-17-4) are coming off a 7-0 win at the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. Boston forward Jake DeBrusk had a hat trick and has scored nine points (seven goals, two assists) during a five-game point streak. Forward Trevor Zegras has scored seven points (one goal, six assists) in his past seven games for the Ducks (25-21-9), who've lost two in a row.