NHL On Tap: Devils, Mercer look to continue rolls against Coyotes

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 five games on Sunday.

Dawson's streak can equal Gretzky's mark

Dawson Mercer will try to make some additional history when the New Jersey Devils (40-15-6) visit the Arizona Coyotes (7 p.m. ET; BSAZ, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Devils forward has scored a goal in eight straight games and will pass Paul Gardner for the longest goal streak in Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history if he scores again Sunday (Gardner did it during the 1977-78 season with the Rockies). The 21-year-old would also tie Wayne Gretzky for the longest goal streak by a player 21 or younger. Gretzky had a nine-game goal streak for the Edmonton Oilers in 1981-82. Mike Bossy (1978-79), Mike Gartner (1979-80), Gardner, Ron Flockhart (1981-82) and Stan Mikita (1960-61) are the other 21-and-under players to score in eight straight games. Mercer has 15 points (10 goals, five assists) during his streak. The Coyotes (21-32-9) have lost two straight and four of five after a 6-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Friday. -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Kraken on a roll again

The Seattle Kraken didn't have the greatest February, when they were 3-1-6. But they finished the month with a win and have two more to start March. The Kraken (35-21-6) will go for their fourth win in a row when they visit the Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; SN, ALT, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW). Leading the way for Seattle has been forward Jared McCann, who reached 30 goals for the first time in the NHL when the Kraken defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 on Friday. McCann (four goals, four assists) and defenseman Vince Dunn (two goals, five assists) each have five-game point streaks. The steadier play has helped the Kraken remain third in the Pacific Division, four points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights. After a rough inaugural season, the Kraken look poised to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in their second. The Avalanche (34-21-5) are battling for a playoff spot one season after winning the Stanley Cup. Colorado leads the Nashville Predators by five points for the second wild card from the Western Conference. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

East rivals heading in opposite directions

The Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning are heading in opposite directions going into PNC Arena on Sunday (3 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS). Carolina (40-12-8) is first in the Metropolitan Division, 13-3-0 in its past 16 games and has looked every bit like a Stanley Cup contender. Tampa Bay (37-20-5) is comfortably in third in the Atlantic Division but has lost a season-high four in a row (0-3-1) following a 5-3 loss at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, when coach Jon Cooper
benched the top line
of Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov for the entire third period. They are the Lightning's top three scorers. Tampa Bay is not used to losing and has had a knack for coming up big when needed during the past three seasons, which has resulted in three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final. This is a big game for them to prove the Lightning are still a top contender in the Eastern Conference. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Sunday games

Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes (3 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS)
Point has a seven-game goal streak for the Lightning, and 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in that span. Tampa Bay has lost four of its past five road games. Hurricanes forward Martin Necas has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past six games. Carolina has won four of the past five regular-season games against Tampa Bay, including 4-3 in a shootout Nov. 3.
Montreal Canadiens at Vegas Golden Knights (6 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Goalie Jonathan Quick, who was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, a day after he was traded to Columbus by the Los Angeles Kings, will make his Golden Knights debut. Vegas (37-19-6) is 8-1-2 in its past 11 games. This is the end of a four-game road trip for the Canadiens (26-32-4), who have lost three of four. Forward Jonathan Drouin's goal in a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday was his first since Jan. 1, 2022.
Detroit Red Wings at Philadelphia Flyers (6 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, NBCSP, BSDET, SN NOW)
The Red Wings (28-25-9) have lost five straight games (0-4-1), getting outscored 24-8 in that stretch, after a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday. The Flyers (23-28-11) have lost four in a row (0-3-1) and eight of their past nine (1-6-2). Forward Brendan Lemieux is expected to make his Flyers debut after being acquired in a trade with the Kings on Friday.
New Jersey Devils at Arizona Coyotes (7 p.m. ET; BSAZ, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Timo Meier, who was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks and has been out with an upper-body injury, will make his Devils debut. Forward Barrett Hayton has scored the game-winning goal in each of the past two wins by the Coyotes. Eddie Olczyk (four in 1991-92), Lucien DeBlois (three in 1982-83), Nick Schmaltz (three in 2021-22), Radim Vrbata (three in 2011-12), Ladislav Nagy (three in 2002-03), Keith Tkachuk (three in 1995-96) and Pat Elynuik (three in 1988-89) are the players in franchise history to do it in three or more games.
Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; SN, ALT, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche have lost two in a row after a six-game winning streak. Forward Mikko Rantanen's streak of six straight games with at least one goal ended in Colorado's 7-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen has 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 41 games, passing the NHL career-high 23 points he had in 75 games last season with the Nashville Predators.