NHL On Tap: Giroux to play 1,000th game when Flyers host Predators

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 10 games Thursday.

Giroux set for 1,000th NHL game

Claude Giroux is scheduled to play his 1,000th NHL game when the Philadelphia Flyers host the Nashville Predators at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Giroux will join Bobby Clarke (1,144) as the second player to reach the milestone with the Flyers. The 34-year-old forward is second in team history in points (900) and assists (609), also behind Clarke (852 assists, 1,210 points). The question is if this will be Giroux's final game with Philadelphia (18-30-11) because he is a pending unrestricted free agent and one of the biggest names on the market before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Monday. Giroux has played his 15-season NHL career for the Flyers, the past 10 as captain. Defenseman Roman Josi has scored 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in a seven-game point streak and forward Matt Duchene 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in a seven-game run for Nashville (35-21-4), which is 5-1-0 in its past six games following a 4-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Allen likely to return for Canadiens against Stars

The Dallas Stars have lost three in a row are and outside of the Stanley Cup Playoff bubble in the Western Conference entering their game at the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, BSSW, NHL LIVE). Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said Wednesday he was "95 percent certain" that goalie Jake Allen would return after not playing since Jan. 12 because of a lower-body injury. That would be the biggest change in the Montreal's lineup for a game that sees neither team arrive on a high. The Stars (32-23-3) lost 4-0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday to open their four-game road trip and the Canadiens (16-36-8) fell 6-3 to the Arizona Coyotes. Dallas arrives to Montreal one game behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card into the playoffs from the West. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Crosby still on a roll

Sidney Crosby is at it again with the Pittsburgh Penguins forward on a 10-game point streak (six goals, seven assists) entering the game at the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, BSMW, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Crosby is the 14th NHL player and only active player to have at least 10 double-digit point streaks with one team. His 878 assists are also tied with retired Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom for 22nd in NHL history. The captain's production has been big for the Penguins (36-16-9), who are third in the Metropolitan Division and six points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes. Crosby has scored 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 19 games against the Blues (34-17-8), who are second in the Central Division, two points ahead of the Minnesota Wild. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Thursday schedule

New York Islanders at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Frank Vatrano could make his debut for the Rangers (38-17-5). The forward was acquired in a trade with the Florida Panthers on Wednesday for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The Islanders (24-24-9) are 4-1-1 in their past six games and captain Anders Lee is on a five-game point streak (eight goals, one assist).
Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNO, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Sebastian Aho has scored five points (three goals, two assists) in as many games for the Hurricanes (41-13-5). The Maple Leafs (38-17-5) will be without Auston Matthews, who's serving the second of a two-game suspension for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in a 5-2 loss at the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic on March 13.
Dallas Stars at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Stars visit the Canadiens for the first time since a 4-3 victory Feb. 15, 2020. Dallas forward Jason Robertson has scored 20 of his team-high 30 goals since Jan. 1, fourth behind David Pastrnak (25), Matthews (25) and Gabriel Landeskog (21).
Nashville Predators at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Josi, Nashville's captain, has scored NHL career-highs of 17 goals, 52 assists and 69 points in 58 games. The Flyers will play six games in the next nine days.
Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Alex Ovechkin scored his 767th goal to pass Jaromir Jagr for third in NHL history Tuesday for the Capitals (33-18-10), who have won two in a row. The Blue Jackets (31-27-3) have rallied to win three in a row and leads the NHL with 21 comeback victories, the most in team history.
Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, BSMW, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins are 19-7-4 on the road and 7-4-2 in their past 13 games, 6-3-1 in their past 10 at Enterprise Center, against the Blues. St. Louis is 20-7-3 on home ice, scoring at least four goals in seven of their past 10 games.
Buffalo Sabres at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
This is the fourth of a five-game homestand for Edmonton (33-23-4), winners of three straight games while outscoring opponents 15-9. The Sabres (20-32-8) are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games against the Oilers, 7-3-0 on the road.
Detroit Red Wings at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, BSDET, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
J.T. Miller will try to extend the longest active point streak in the NHL to 14 games for the Canucks (30-24-7). The forward has scored 27 points since beginning the run Feb. 12 and is tied with Stan Smyl, Pavel Bure and Ryan Kesler for the third-longest point streak in team history. The Red Wings (24-29-7) have lost two in a row and are 2-7-1 in their past 10 games.
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Sharks (26-25-8) play the first of a back-to-back set after agreeing to an eight-year contract with forward Tomas Hertl, whose 25 goals are tied with Timo Meier for the team lead. The Kings (33-21-8) have been shut out in two of their past three games, including 5-0 by the Sharks on March 12.
Florida Panthers at Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, ATTSN-RM, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers (41-13-6) are 6-0-1 in their first seven games this month. The Golden Knights (32-26-4) return home for two games after losing all five on their latest road trip.