NHL On Tap: Devils face Hurricanes, eye 1st place tie in Metropolitan

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 eight games Sunday.

Devils want to keep pace with Hurricanes

The New Jersey Devils can pull into a first-place tie in the Metropolitan Division when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, MSGSN, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Devils (43-16-6) are two points behind the Hurricanes, who have a game in hand. Forward Dawson Mercer has 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in a 12-game point streak for New Jersey, who is 7-1-1 in its past nine games and 1-1-1 against Carolina this season. The Hurricanes (43-13-8) lost 4-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, their first loss in six games. Forward Jesse Puljujarvi, acquired by Carolina in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 28, had three shots on goal in 12:47 of ice time in his Hurricanes debut. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Point looks to stay hot for Lightning

Brayden Point will try to continue his goal-scoring surge for the Tampa Bay Lightning when they host the Winnipeg Jets at Amalie Arena (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, TSN3, ESPN+. SN NOW). Point scored twice in a 3-1 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, including the winning goal with 1:00 left, for his second consecutive two-goal game. The forward has 11 goals in his past 11 games to set an NHL career-high with 43 goals this season, surpassing his previous high of 41 in 2018-19. The Lightning (39-21-6) won for just the fourth time in 13 games (4-5-4) but strengthened their hold on third in the Atlantic Division, 11 points ahead of the fourth-place Florida Panthers and four behind the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs. Mark Scheifele scored two goals, including the winner with 29 seconds left in overtime, to give the Jets (37-26-3) a 5-4 victory against the Panthers on Saturday. Winnipeg won for the third time in 12 games (3-7-2) to increase its lead to six points ahead of the Calgary Flames for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Minnesota's Wild run continues

The Minnesota Wild (38-21-7) are 10-0-2 in their past 12 games after they defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Saturday. Their run has helped them remain second in the Central Division, two points behind the Dallas Stars. They'll look to extend their point streak to 13, which would tie for the most in their history (12-0-1 from Dec. 2-29, 2016), when they play the Arizona Coyotes (23-32-11) at Mullett Arena (9:30 p.m. ET; SN360, BSAZ, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Wild's biggest challenge right now is playing without leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov (74 points in 65 games), who's out 3-4 weeks with a lower-body injury sustained in a 4-2 win against the Jets on Wednesday. Can they find others to replace Kaprizov's firepower? If so, they'll continue to be a force in the Central. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Sunday games

Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings (1:30 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, SN360, NESN)
The Bruins (50-9-5) became the fastest team in NHL history to reach 50 wins in a season when they defeated the Red Wings 3-2 on Saturday. They also became the first team to clinch a playoff berth when the New York Islanders lost to the Washington Capitals 5-1 on Saturday. The Red Wings (29-27-9) have lost seven of eight (1-7-1). Forward David Perron has three points (one goal, two assists) in as many games.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins (4 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS)
The Rangers (37-19-9), who defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in overtime on Saturday, have won two in a row and are third in the Metropolitan, nine points behind the Devils. New York forward Patrick Kane has a goal in two straight games. The Penguins (33-22-10) are 6-1-1 in their past eight. They hold the first wild card in the East and are seven points behind the Rangers, who they play three times this week (Sunday, Thursday, Saturday). Pittsburgh forward Jason Zucker has scored eight goals in seven games.
Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSMW, ATTSN-RM, SN NOW)
The Golden Knights (40-20-6) have won two in a row and five of six. They defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-0 on Saturday to remain in first place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. Goalie Jonathan Quick is 3-0-0 since he was acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 2, one day after he was traded there from the Kings. The Blues (29-31-5) have won two in a row, including 5-2 against the Blue Jackets on Saturday. Forward Jordan Kyrou leads them with 61 points (29 goals, 32 assists) in 62 games. They are 14 points behind the Jets for the second wild card in the West.
Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, MSGSN, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Curtis Lazar, acquired by the Devils in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on March 3, could make his debut. New Jersey defenseman Dougie Hamilton has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his past eight games. Carolina forward Martin Necas has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past eight.
Winnipeg Jets at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov has five points (two goals, three assists) in four games since being acquired in a trade with the Sharks on March 3, including three points (two goals, one assist) against the Panthers on Saturday. Jets coach Rick Bowness said defenseman Josh Morrisey and forward Adam Lowry are very doubtful to play Sunday after leaving Saturday with unspecified injuries. Lightning coach Jon Cooper said forward Steven Stamkos was held out of the final two periods against the Blackhawks as a precaution and they're hopeful he will be OK.
Ottawa Senators at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Senators (33-28-4) have lost two of their past three and enter Sunday six points behind the Islanders and Penguins for the two wild cards in the East, with three games in hand on the Islanders. Ottawa defenseman Artem Zub's status for this game is yet to be determined. He took a puck to the face in the final minute of the first period and did not return to a 5-2 loss to Vancouver on Saturday. The Flames (29-24-13) have lost six of eight (2-4-2). Goalie Jacob Markstrom had a goalless streak of 98:35 before Anaheim Ducks forward Max Comtois' goal at 7:47 of the second period in Calgary's 3-1 loss Friday.
Minnesota Wild at Arizona Coyotes (9:30 p.m. ET; SN360, BSAZ, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes are 2-0-1 in their past three. Arizona forward Christian Fischer is day to day with a lower-body injury sustained in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. This is the third of a four-game road trip for the Wild, who are 17-11-4 away from Xcel Energy Center this season.
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks (9:30 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Predators (32-24-7) defeated the Kings 2-1 in a shootout Saturday. The status of Nashville defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who left with 24 seconds remaining in the third period after taking a puck to the face, is unknown. The Predators are six points behind the Jets for the second wild card in the West. The Ducks (22-35-9) are 8-0-1 when leading after the second period this season. Forward Trevor Zegras leads them with 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists) in 66 games.