NHL On Tap: Keith returns to Chicago with Oilers to play Blackhawks

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 Thursday.

Keith returns to the Windy City

Duncan Keith makes his anticipated return to United Center against his former team when the Edmonton Oilers visit the Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The 38-year-old defenseman, acquired by Edmonton in a trade with Chicago on July 21, 2021, played 16 seasons with the Blackhawks and helped them to three Stanley Cup championships (2010, 2013, 2015). He won the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy voted as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL in 2010 and 2014. Center Connor McDavid has scored 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in his past 11 games for Edmonton, which takes a 7-3-0 run into Chicago. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Penguins, Lightning meet in Eastern Conference clash

It should be a playoff atmosphere when two of the best teams in the NHL face off at Amalie Arena. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won five straight and are rolling heading into their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSSUN, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Tampa Bay (35-11-6) is 8-1-1 in its past 10 games. Captain Steven Stamkos is on a five-game goal streak, two from the longest run of his NHL career (seven in 2009-10) and three behind the Lightning record of eight set by Brian Bradley in 1992-93, and center Brayden Point has scored 11 points (five goals, six assists) in a seven-game point streak. Pittsburgh (33-14-8) has won two straight one-goal games after being outscored 14-5 in three consecutive losses. Center Evgeni Malkin has scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in a six-game point streak. The Lightning are 18-4-4 at home and the Penguins are 18-6-3 on the road. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Wins proving elusive for Capitals at home

It has been more than 40 years since the Washington Capitals have lost seven consecutive games in regulation on home ice (Oct. 14-Nov. 11, 1981) -- and that was when they were playing in Landover, Maryland. The Carolina Hurricanes would love to see that slump equaled when the Metropolitan Division leaders visit Capital One Arena (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE). The Hurricanes (37-11-5) are 5-0-2 in their past seven games, paced by center Sebastian Aho's team-leading 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) and forward Teuvo Teravainen's nine-game point streak (12 points; four goals, eight assists). The Capitals (28-18-9) need to end their home-ice funk, not having won in Washington since Jan. 22; that 3-2 overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators was the last time forward Alex Ovechkin scored at home. Washington might get a boost should they see the return of forward Anthony Mantha, who had shoulder surgery in November and was cleared for contact Monday. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Tuesday games

Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSSUN, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins and Lightning have played twice this season, each winning on the road. Pittsburgh won 6-2 on Opening Night on Oct. 12 and Tampa Bay responded with a 5-1 victory Oct. 26. The Lightning have won eight of their past 10 games at home against the Penguins.
Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Senators (19-28-5) will try for their second victory at Florida, following an 8-2 win Dec. 14. Josh Norris will return to the lineup after the forward missed 15 games with a shoulder injury. The Panthers (35-13-5) have lost the first three games of a five-game homestand, outscored 16-10. Forward Jonathan Huberdeau can become the fourth different player in Florida history to score a point in 11 consecutive games, joining Mike Hoffman (17 in 2018-19), Pavel Bure (13 in 1999-2000 and 11 in 2000-01 and 1999-2000) and Evgenii Dadonov (12 in 2018-19).
Minnesota Wild at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Flyers (16-27-10) are 1-for-17 on the power play in their past six games (5.9 percent). Wild captain Jared Spurgeon will play his 744th NHL game to pass Nick Schultz for most in Minnesota history by a defenseman. The Wild (31-17-3) have lost four in a row, outscored 19-8.
Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen is 29-7-2 with a 2.03 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and three shutouts in 38 games (37 starts) this season. His work, that of backup Antti Raanta and an offense sixth in the NHL, averaging 3.47 goals per game, have combined to give Carolina the second-best goal differential in the NHL, their plus-59 trailing the plus-65 of the Colorado Avalanche.
Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Center J.T. Miller has scored 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) during a seven-game point streak for the Canucks (26-23-6). The Islanders (20-22-8) return home after going 2-2-1 on a five-game road trip.
Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Center Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers (30-21-3) is tied with Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews for the NHL lead with 37 goals this season. The Blackhawks (19-27-8) have lost eight of nine (1-7-1) at home and outscored 40-20. Forwards Jonathan Toews (concussion protocol), Tyler Johnson (neck surgery), and defensemen Riley Stillman (upper body) and Calvin de Haan (right groin) return to the lineup.
Boston Bruins at Vegas Golden Knights (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, NHL LIVE)
David Pastrnak has scored nine points (five goals, four assists) in a six-game point streak for the Bruins (32-18-4). The forward is one goal shy of his fifth 30-goal season in the NHL. Center Jonathan Marchessault has scored five points (one goal, four assists) in his past four games for the Golden Knights (30-20-4), who are 2-4-1 in their past seven.
Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Montreal (13-34-7) had a five-game winning streak end with an 8-4 loss at the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. A victory will give the Flames (32-14-6) a Calgary/Atlanta record 12 in a row at home, breaking the mark set from Nov. 5-Dec. 27, 2015). The Flames have outscored opponents 53-15 on home ice during the run, which started Jan. 18.
Colorado Avalanche at Arizona Coyotes (9 p.m. ET; BSAZ, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman Cale Makar has 14 assists in a nine-game point streak for the Avalanche (40-10-4), who have won four in a row and six of seven. Two defensemen in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history have had a longer run: Steve Duchesne (15 games) in 1992-93 and Tyson Barrie (11) in 2017-18. Forward Clayton Keller has scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past seven games for Arizona (14-35-4), which is 1-1-1 against Colorado this season.