NHL On Tap: Hurricanes visit Blackhawks seeking ninth 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 the four games Wednesday.

Hurricanes shoot for ninth straight win

The Carolina Hurricanes look to extend their season-opening win streak to nine games when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH+, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Frederik Andersen, 7-0-0 in his first seven games since signing a two-year contract with Carolina on July 28, will try to become the 13th NHL goalie to win his first eight games in a season. Chicago won for the first time this season, 5-1 against the Ottawa Senators on Monday, after setting its record for most consecutive games without a win to begin a season (0-7-2). -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Oilers power play will challenge Predators

With power-play goals in each of their first eight games and an NHL-best power play clicking at 46.1 percent, the Edmonton Oilers (7-1-0) present the Nashville Predators (5-4-0) with a considerable problem when the teams play at Rogers Place on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET; SN1, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Edmonton has scored 12 power-play goals in 26 opportunities. Forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are tied for the NHL scoring lead with 17 points each, have been driving Edmonton's power-play success. McDavid has scored nine power-play points (four goals, five assists); Draisaitl has scored six (three goals, three assists). Nashville is 20th in the League on the penalty kill (78.8 percent) and has allowed three power-play goals in its past two games. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Blues begin road trip without their captain

The Blues will be without captain Ryan O'Reilly, who's in NHL COVID-19 protocol, for the third straight game when they visit the Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS2, NHL LIVE) to start a four-game road trip. St. Louis (6-1-0) is coming off a 1-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday and leads the NHL averaging 4.14 goals per game. The Kings continue a five-game homestand and look for their third straight win. Los Angeles (3-5-1) defeated the Montreal Canadiens (5-2) and Buffalo Sabres (3-2) on back-to-back days this weekend and is led by center Anze Kopitar, who is tied for fifth in the NHL with 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in nine games. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Wednesday schedule

Nashville Predators at Edmonton Oilers (8:30 p.m. ET; SN1, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Predators look for their fifth straight win after starting the season 1-4-0. Roman Josi leads Nashville and is tied for third among NHL defensemen with nine points (three goals, six assists) in nine games. Oilers defenseman Tyson Barrie is one point shy of 400 in the NHL.
Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH+, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It is the second and final meeting between these teams this season. Carolina defeated Chicago 6-3 at home Oct. 29. The Hurricanes are 8-0-0 for the first time in franchise history and their plus-21 goal differential leads the League. Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane is three points from 1,100 in the NHL.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT2, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will not play against the Blue Jackets. He is listed as day to day with an upper-body injury. Colorado will also be without forward Mikko Rantanen, who has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury. Columbus closes a three-game road trip, after a 4-3 shootout win against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday and a 4-0 loss at the New York Rangers on Friday.
St. Louis Blues at Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS2, NHL LIVE)
Since being held without a point in the season opener Oct. 16, Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko has scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in a six-game point streak and shares the team scoring lead with forwards David Perron (six goals, three assists) and Jordan Kyrou (two goals, seven assists). The teams play their third and final game of the season against each other on Wednesday. St. Louis won the first two, 7-3 on Oct. 23 and 3-0 on Oct. 25, each at home.