NHL On Tap: Devils seek franchise-record 14th straight win

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 15 games Wednesday.

Devils shoot for franchise record for consecutive wins

The New Jersey Devils look to establish a franchise record with their 14th straight victory when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, MSG, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Devils (16-3-0) matched the longest winning streak in their history (13 from Feb. 26-March 23, 2001) after a 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. "It's something I don't even want to talk about because I don't want to jinx it," coach Lindy Ruff said. "But I know we're finding a lot of different ways to win, a lot of different personnel, but I think the important part is it really has been about the team." Only six times in NHL history has a club had a winning streak longer than 13 games; the Pittsburgh Penguins hold the NHL record for the longest win streak (17, March 9-April 10, 1993). Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner had an assist in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Monday to extend his point streak to 13 games (three goals, 15 assists) to match his NHL career high. Forward William Nylander has eight points (five goals, three assists) in a six-game point streak for Toronto (10-5-5). -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Bruins look for 18th win in 20 games

The Boston Bruins have gotten off to one of the hottest starts in recent memory, winning 17 of their first 19 games (17-2-0), including seven straight. They'll look to keep rolling when they visit the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW). Boston has scored the most goals per game (4.16) and allowed the fewest (2.11), ranks third on the power play (30.0 percent) and second on the penalty kill (88.6 percent). David Pastrnak is an early candidate for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP with 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 19 games, seven players have at least six goals and nine have at least 11 points. Meanwhile, the Panthers have lost three straight (0-2-1) and are 9-8-2. Matthew Tkachuk has done it all for them, leading in points (25), penalty minutes (37) and shots on goal (77) and looks to help the Panthers avoid losing four straight, something they only did once last season when they won the Presidents' Trophy for having the best record in the NHL. -- David Satriano, staff writer

St. Louis no longer singing the Blues

Remember when the Blues lost eight in a row from Oct. 24-Nov. 8? Yep, it was ugly and surprising (at least to me) given their roster of proven players. But what a difference a few weeks make. The Blues (10-8-0) have won seven in a row entering their game against the Buffalo Sabres (8-11-0) at KeyBank Center (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW). Forward Jordan Kyrou is clicking, with eight points (two goals, six assists) in a five-game point streak. Forward Pavel Buchnevich is also coming out of a slow start, with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in his past seven games. The Blues are getting the production to go with the goaltending; Jordan Binnington has won his past six starts, allowing two or fewer goals in five of those games. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Wednesday games

Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild (7 p.m. ET; SNW, BSN, BSWIX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is 8-4-1 with a 2.07 goals-against average, .935 save percentage and two shutouts for the Jets (11-5-1), who are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games. This is the third of a seven-game homestand for the Wild (8-8-2), who are 3-5-1 at Xcel Energy Center this season.
Arizona Coyotes at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes (6-9-2) are looking for their first win since Nov. 10, when they defeated the Islanders 2-0. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who had offseason wrist surgery, played 23:04 and had two shots and four hits in his season debut in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday. The Hurricanes (10-5-4), who have gone to overtime in three straight games (0-0-3), are led by forward Martin Necas with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists).
Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Pastrnak seeks to extend his point streak to eight games for the Bruins (17-2-0); he has four goals and six assists during the streak and Boston has outscored opponents 29-10. Forward Sam Reinhart has three goals in his past four games and five in his past seven for the Panthers (9-8-2), who are 5-2-2 at home this season after losing seven total games at home all last season (34-7-0).
Calgary Flames at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flames (9-7-2) have won two in a row. Forward Blake Coleman had his first three-point game of the season (one goal, two assists) in his 400th NHL game when the Flames defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 on Monday. The Penguins (9-7-3) have won three in a row. Forward Sidney Crosby was NHL first star for the week of Nov. 14 with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in four games.
Montreal Canadiens at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the second half of back-to-back games for the Canadiens (9-9-1), who lost to the Sabres 7-2 on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets (7-10-1) are 4-1-1 in their past six games and forward Johnny Gaudreau has six points (one goal, five assists) in a four-game point streak.
St. Louis Blues at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blues have set a record for consecutive wins after losing eight or more games in a row; the Philadelphia Flyers (Nov. 11-Dec. 2, 2017) and San Jose Sharks (Nov. 5-30, 2005) each lost 10 in a row before winning six straight. This is the second of back-to-back games for the Sabres, who ended an eight-game losing streak Tuesday.
Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, MSG, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman Morgan Rielly was placed on long-term injured reserve because of a knee injury on Tuesday and will be out a minimum of 24 days and 11 games for Toronto, which has a five-game point streak (3-0-2). The Devils are 9-0-0 against Canadian teams this season and 14-0-0 when captain Nico Hischier has at least one point.
Nashville Predators at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Predators (9-8-2) are 4-0-1 in their past five games after defeating the Coyotes 4-3 in a seven-round shootout Monday. Goalie Juuse Saros is 7-6-2 with a 3.06 goals-against average and .905 save percentage for Nashville. The Red Wings (9-5-4) have scored 13 goals in their past two games, both wins. Forward Dylan Larkin leads them with 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists).
Edmonton Oilers at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; SN360, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Consistency has been an issue lately for the Oilers (10-9-0), who have not had a win streak since a five-game one from Oct. 24-Nov. 1. Goalie Jack Campbell is available to play despite sustaining a broken nose when he was hit in the face by a puck against the Devils on Monday. The Islanders (12-8-0), back home after a four-game road trip on which they went 2-2-0, are led by forward Mathew Barzal with 22 points (two goals, 20 assists).
Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
The Flyers (7-8-4) are 0-5-2 in their past seven games. Forward Travis Konecny will miss 10-14 days with an upper-body injury sustained in a 4-1 loss to the Bruins on Thursday. The Capitals (7-10-3) are 0-3-1 in their past four games and were shut out for the second time this season in a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSWX, NBCSCH+, ESPN+ SN NOW)
Defenseman Seth Jones could return for the Blackhawks (6-9-3). If so, it's his first game since sustaining a right thumb injury against the Sabres on Oct. 29. Forward Jason Robertson leads the Stars (11-5-3) in points (29) and goals (14) and is tied for the lead in assists (15) with forward Roope Hintz.
New York Rangers at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, MSG, MSG 2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
It's the second half of a back to back and end of a four-game road trip for the Rangers (10-6-4), who are 6-3-1 away from Madison Square Garden this season. The Ducks (5-13-1) have lost three in a row. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who missed four games with a groin injury, played 18:14 in a 3-1 loss to the Blues on Monday.
Ottawa Senators at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, TSN5, SN NOW)
The Senators (6-11-1) have lost three of their past four games, scoring two or fewer goals in those losses. The Golden Knights (15-4-1) are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games. Forward Jack Eichel leads them with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists).
San Jose Sharks at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Erik Karlsson has 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) to lead NHL defensemen and the Sharks (7-11-3). Forward Logan Couture has 10 goals, second on the Sharks to Karlsson. This is the final game of a six-game homestand for the Kraken (10-5-3), who are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games.
Vancouver Canucks at Colorado Avalanche (10 p.m. ET; SN, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
It's the first of a three-game road trip for Vancouver (6-10-3), which is led by forward Elias Pettersson with 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists). Colorado's Cale Makar became the fastest defenseman in NHL history to with 200 points (53 goals, 147 assists) when he reached that number (in 195 games) against the Stars on Monday. The Avalanche (11-5-1) have lost only one game this month, 3-2 to the Blues on Nov. 14.