NHL On Tap: Bruins, Rangers face off in marquee matchup

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 13 games Thursday.

Rangers, Bruins in marquee matchup at MSG

It's the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, SN NOW). This is big. The Rangers (6-3-2) have won three in a row, including 1-0 in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, when they dominated every facet of the game except the scoreboard until forward Chris Kreider scored on a breakaway at 4:07. They're getting some traction now after an 0-2-2 stretch. The Bruins (9-1-0) have shocked me with how well they've played. They've won six straight games, most recently a 6-5 come-from-behind overtime victory at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. This is a big test for the Rangers, but also for the Bruins. It's two Original Six teams. It's Madison Square Garden. It's a national broadcast on ESPN+. And, just for good measure, the Bruins are No. 1 and the Rangers No. 5 in NHL.com's
Super 16 power rankings
this week. This is must-watch hockey. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Devils, Oilers seek to continue hot streaks

The New Jersey Devils will face a big test when they visit the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW) seeking their fifth straight win for the first time since Dec. 15-27, 2017, which also is the last season they made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Led by Jesper Bratt, who has tied the Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts record with a 10-game point streak to start the season (four goals, 12 assists), New Jersey is averaging 3.60 goals per game and has scored at least five goals in three of its past four. The Oilers (7-3-0) have won five straight while averaging 5.00 goals per game, and have the top two scorers in the NHL, Connor McDavid (22 points) and Leon Draisaitl (21). There's likely to be no shortage of offense in this one. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Panthers try to slow Sharks defenseman Karlsson

Few players have been hotter than San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. He's second in the NHL with nine goals and leads defensemen with 15 points heading into a date with the visiting Florida Panthers at SAP Center (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW). The 32-year-old scored his first NHL hat trick, including the tying goal with 2:12 left in the third period, and had an assist in a wild 6-5 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Karlsson has three consecutive multipoint games for the Sharks (3-8-1) and will look to match his NHL career-high of four in a row from Feb. 12-18, 2015 and Feb. 20-26, 2012 with the Ottawa Senators. The Panthers (5-4-1) have hit a rough patch with losses in three of their past four games after a 4-1-1 start, including a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday to begin a four-game road trip. Forward Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 13 points (five goals, eight assists), including at least one point in eight of 10 games. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Thursday games

Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman Victor Hedman (upper body) is doubtful for the Lightning (6-4-0), who have found their stride with wins in three straight and five of their past six following a 1-3-0 start. Nikita Kucherov has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) during an eight-game point streak. The Hurricanes (6-2-1) have come from behind to win their past two. Martin Necas has six points (two points, four assists) during a four-game point streak and leads Carolina with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in nine games.
Vegas Golden Knights at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Golden Knights (9-2-0) have won five in a row and have allowed an NHL-low 1.73 goals per game behind goalies Logan Thompson (5-2-0, 1.73 goals-against average, .938 save percentage, two shutouts) and Adin Hill (4-0-0, 1.72 GAA, .940 save percentage). The Senators (4-5-0) have lost three in a row after a four-game winning streak. Ottawa goalie Cam Talbot will back up Anton Forsberg. Talbot was expected to be out 5-7 weeks because of a broken rib sustained during training camp, an injury announced Oct. 3.
Washington Capitals at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
With 785 goals in 18 seasons, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin can tie Gordie Howe's NHL record for most with one team, 786 for the Detroit Red Wings, where Howe played 25 seasons (1946-1971). The Capitals (5-4-2) are banged up without defenseman John Carlson (lower body), and forwards T.J. Oshie (lower body), Nicklas Backstrom (hip surgery), Tom Wilson (torn ACL), Connor Brown (torn ACL), Carl Hagelin (hip surgery) and
Beck Malenstyn
(upper body). The Red Wings (4-3-2) have lost three in a row following a 3-0-2 start.
Boston Bruins at New York Rangers (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, SN NOW)
Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman is being evaluated in Boston and is week to week because of a lower-body injury sustained during the third period against the Penguins. Swayman was playing after replacing Linus Ullmark, who had been pulled after allowing five goals on 23 shots. Ullmark (7-0-0), who went back in for Swayman, likely will get a chance at redemption against the Rangers, who are expected to start Igor Shesterkin (6-0-2) in a potential showdown of two goalies without a regulation loss. Shesterkin is 3-0-1 with a 1.70 GAA and .940 save percentage in his past four games. Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort (upper body) also is week to week.
Montreal Canadiens at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Jets (5-3-1) are 3-0-1 in their past four games after a 2-3-0 start, but will be without Morgan Barron for 4-5 weeks; the forward will have wrist surgery Friday. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is 2-0-1 with a 1.96 GAA, .949 save percentage and one shutout during that stretch. Cole Caufield leads the Canadiens (5-5-0) with seven goals in 10 games after scoring 23 in 67 games last season. Montreal defenseman Joel Edmundson will return to the lineup. He missed the first 10 games of the season with a lower back injury.
New York Islanders at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is matchup up of two teams headed in opposite directions. The Islanders (6-4-0) have won four in a row, outscoring opponents 17-7, following a three-game losing streak. Brock Nelson has five points (four goals, one assist) during New York's winning streak. The Blues (3-5-0) have lost five in a row, being outscored 25-8, after winning their first three games.
Seattle Kraken at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWI, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Wild (5-4-1) have rebounded after losing their first three games to go 5-1-1 in their past seven. Marc-Andre Fleury is 5-0-1 with a 2.26 GAA and .925 save percentage during that stretch after allowing 11 goals on 49 shots (.776 save percentage) in his first two starts. Matty Beniers leads NHL rookies with nine points (five goals, four assists) in 11 games for the Kraken (5-4-2). Seattle has won two in a row, including a 5-4 victory at the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, for the first time this season.
Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Gabriel Vilardi is tied for third in the NHL with eight goals and Kevin Fiala has eight points (two goals, six assists) during a five-game point streak for the Kings. Los Angeles (6-6-0) has split the first two games of a three-game road trip. Chicago (4-4-2) is 0-2-2 in its past four games following a four-game winning streak. Jonathan Toews has six points (four goals, two assists) during a six-game point streak and Patrick Kane has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past six for the Blackhawks.
Nashville Predators at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SN1, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Predators (3-6-1) have one win in their past eight games (1-6-1). Nashville opened a five-game road trip with a 7-4 loss to Edmonton on Tuesday despite Filip Forsberg getting three points (one goal, two assists) for the second time in three games. The Flames (5-3-0) have lost two in a row. Calgary forward Nazem Kadri has at least one point in seven of eight games (five goals, five assists).
New Jersey Devils at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Devils have averaged 39.1 shots on goal per game, second-most in the NHL (Panthers, 39.5) while allowing an NHL-low 21.8. Forward Jack Hughes has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past four games. McDavid has at least three points in each of his past three games (six goals, five assists) and his 11 goals lead the NHL. He has 20 points (four goals, 16 assists) in 11 games against the Devils.
Anaheim Ducks at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Bo Horvat has scored four goals in his past two games for the Canucks (2-6-2) and is tied for third in the NHL with eight. The Ducks (3-6-1) have won consecutive games for the first time this season, including 6-5 in a shootout against the Sharks on Tuesday. Trevor Zegras has scored four goals in his past five games and leads Anaheim with six.
Dallas Stars at Arizona Coyotes (10 p.m. ET; BSAZ, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes (3-5-1) end a four-game homestand (1-1-1) after getting their first win at Mullett Arena with a 3-1 victory against the Panthers on Tuesday. Arizona has the third-ranked power play (32.4 percent), led by Nick Ritchie's four power-play goals. The Stars (6-3-1) are fifth on the penalty kill (84.4 percent). Dallas is second with 2.30 goals-against per game but must rely on former Coyotes goalie Scott Wedgewood (1-2-1, 3.65 GAA, .895 save percentage) while Jake Oettinger (5-1-0, 1.40 GAA, .952 save percentage, one shutout) is out with a lower-body injury.
Florida Panthers at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, SN NOW)
The Panthers are 3-0-1 at home and 2-4-0 on the road. The Sharks have yet to win consecutive games but are 3-3-1 since opening the season 0-5-0. Florida is 30th on the power play (9.1 percent) and 27th on the penalty kill (71.8 percent). San Jose is second on the kill (94.4 percent) and 25th with the man-advantage (16.7 percent).