NHL On Tap: Boudreau returns to Minnesota as Canucks coach

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.

Boudreau returns to Minnesota

Bruce Boudreau returns to Minnesota for the first time as coach of the Vancouver Canucks since he was fired by the Minnesota Wild and replaced by Dean Evason on Feb. 14, 2020 (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWIX, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Canucks (31-26-8) are 23-11-6 since hiring Boudreau on Dec. 6 and have climbed from last in the Pacific Division to three points behind the Dallas Stars for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. The 67-year-old was 158-110-35 in four seasons (2016-20) with the Wild and 2-8 in the playoffs. Minnesota (37-20-4) has won three in a row and is 3-1-0 in the first four games of a nine-game homestand. If Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday for a conditional first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, doesn't start against the Canucks, he'll likely debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Giroux's new chapter in South Florida

Claude Giroux is expected to debut for the Florida Panthers when they visit the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) after the forward played the first 1,000 games of his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers, for whom he was captain for 10 seasons. The forward, traded to the Panthers on March 20, was on the top line with left wing Carter Verhaeghe and center Aleksander Barkov during the morning skate. Giroux debuts with the Panthers (42-14-6) six points ahead of the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning for first the Atlantic Division and one week after playing No. 1,000. The Canadiens (17-36-10) will be eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention by Friday if they fail to get a point against the Panthers and the Washington Capitals earn at least one at the Buffalo Sabres. Montreal could also be eliminated if they get one point Thursday and the Capitals two in Buffalo on Friday. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Lindholm to debut for Bruins in big Atlantic matchup

Hampus Lindholm will debut for the Boston Bruins against the Lightning at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNE, SNO, NESN, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The defenseman was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on March 19 and signed an eight-year contract the next day. He is likely to start on the top defense pair with Charlie McAvoy in a game with playoff implications. The Lightning (39-17-6) are one point behind the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs (40-18-5) and one ahead of the fourth-place Bruins (39-19-5). Boston holds the first wild card into the playoffs from the East, three points ahead of the Capitals (35-20-10). -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Thursday schedule

Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. ET (TVAS, SNE, SNO, NESN, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Tampa Bay is 2-5-0 in their past seven games. Boston has won five of six and is 12-2-1 in its past 15. Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron will miss his fourth consecutive game with an arm injury.
Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers play their first game since March 18, a 3-0 win at the Anaheim Ducks, and defenseman Ben Chiarot is expected to play his first game for them after he was acquired from Montreal on March 16. Aaron Ekblad is out week to week with a lower-body injury sustained 1:05 into the game after the defenseman collided with Barkov in the corner of the Anaheim zone. Canadiens forward Cole Caufield has scored 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 10 games since Martin St. Louis replaced Dominique Ducharme on Feb. 9.
Dallas Stars at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, NHL LIVE)
Tyler Seguin has five assists in a four-game point streak for the Stars (35-24-3), who have won three of past four (3-1-0) and hold the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. The Hurricanes (42-15-6) are 1-3-1 in the past five, 5-4-2 in March and hold a two-point lead with two games in hand on the Pittsburgh Penguins for first in the Metropolitan Division.
Detroit Red Wings at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSDETX, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Red Wings (26-30-7) visit the Islanders after a one-game return to Detroit on Tuesday, when a 6-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers ended a 1-6-1 slide. The Islanders (27-25-9) are 6-1-1 in their past eight but without forward Cal Clutterbuck (shoulder) the rest of the season and defenseman Scott Mayfield for 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury.
Ottawa Senators at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, RDS2, TSN5, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Josh Norris has scored seven goals in his past eight games for the Senators (22-36-5), who finish a three-game road trip (0-2-0). Nikolaj Ehlers has goals in five straight games and Kyle Connor has scored 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in an eight-game point streak for the Jets (30-24-10), who have won six of eight (6-2-0) and are three points behind the Stars.
Philadelphia Flyers at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; HULU, NHL LIVE)
David Perron is on a seven-game goal-scoring streak for the Blues (35-18-9), who are 3-4-3 in March. St. Louis defenseman Torey Krug is out week to week with an upper-body injury. Kevin Hayes has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past five games for the Flyers (20-32-11).
Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWIX, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canucks play the second of a back to back after a 3-1 win at the Colorado Avalanche. Ryan Hartman has scored goals in three straight games and 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in his past 10 games for the Wild.
San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Connor McDavid has scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in a seven-game point streak for the Oilers (35-24-5). Goalie James Reimer is 4-2-1 with a 2.43 goals-against average, .928 save percentage in his past seven starts for the Sharks (28-27-8).
Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Roman Josi will try to extend his point streak to 12 games, which would tie his NHL career high set in 2019-20, for the Predators (37-23-4). Nashville's captain leads the NHL with 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 25 games this month and can be the fourth different defenseman in NHL history to score at least 26 points in a calendar month. Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer will work his 1,000th regular-season game and become the 30th NHL coach to reach the milestone. Vegas (34-28-4) is 2-7-0 in their past nine.
Chicago Blackhawks at Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET; HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Blackhawks and Kings play for the first time this season. Adrian Kempe has scored three goals in his past three games after a 10-game drought for the Kings (35-22-8). Patrick Kane scored two points (one goal, one assist) in a 4-2 win at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday and has scored 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in the past 13 games for the Blackhawks (23-32-9).