NHL On Tap: Raymond, Seider lead Red Wings against Blue Jackets

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 two games Monday.

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Raymond, Seider exciting to watch for Red Wings

How about those Detroit Red Wings? Things are looking up after five straight seasons out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's early, but the Red Wings have won four of five (4-1-0) and are in the thick of the Atlantic Division race entering their game at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSDET+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). There have been plenty of good storylines, but none more exciting than forward Lucas Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider, two key parts of Detroit's present and future. Raymond, the No. 4 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, leads NHL rookies with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 16 games. Seider, the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, is second with 12 points (two goals, 10 assists). -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

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Bjorkstrand leads resurgence in Columbus

I love the resurgence of the Red Wings with their young stars and hope for the future. But I'm equally intrigued by the Blue Jackets, who are performing better than expected so far this season, even coming off two consecutive losses. They've been led by forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, who has scored 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 12 games, including six (two goals, four assists) in a five-game point streak. Add him to defenseman Zach Werenski, who is fourth in the NHL averaging 26:12 in ice time per game, and goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who is 5-2-0 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .929 save percentage, and there's something interesting building in Columbus. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Potential Vasilevskiy vs. Sorokin matchup

Two of the best Russia-born goalies in the NHL could face off for the first time in a regular-season game when Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Tampa Bay Lightning host Ilya Sorokin and the New York Islanders on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, BSSUN, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Vasilevskiy, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy voted as Stanley Cup Playoffs most valuable player last season and the Vezina Trophy voted as the top goalie in the NHL in 2019, has been solid with a 2.31 GAA and .921 save percentage this season. Sorokin ranks second in the NHL with three shutouts behind Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom (four) and his .933 save percentage is fourth among goalies who have played at least 10 games. They faced off twice during the playoffs last season, but Sorokin entered each in relief of Semyon Varlamov. This will be the first time the Lightning play the Islanders since a 1-0 win in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Semifinal last season, the second straight season Tampa Bay defeated New York in the semifinal en route to winning the Cup. -- Pete Jensen, senior fantasy editor

Monday schedule

New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, BSSUN, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Islanders defenseman Andy Greene is expected to play his 1,000th NHL game. New York has lost two straight for the second time this season and has scored four goals in its past three games. The Lightning are 5-0-2 in their past seven.
Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSDET+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The game at Columbus marks the start of a four-game road trip for the Red Wings, who lost center Mitchell Stephens to a lower-body injury Saturday in a 3-2 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens. Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek has scored seven points (one goal, six assists) in a five-game point streak.