NHL On Tap: Panthers, Rangers meet in rematch of 2024 Eastern Conference Final

Welcome to NHL On Tap, a daily look at the games on the NHL schedule. There are nine games on the schedule Thursday, which also marks the third week of "NHL Coast to Coast," a weekly whiparound studio show on Prime Video in Canada.

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Games of the day

Florida Panthers at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSG)

In this rematch of the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, the Rangers (5-0-1) look to keep their high-powered offense going while extending their franchise-best season-opening point streak to seven games when they host the Panthers (4-3-1) at Madison Square Garden. New York leads the League in goals per game (5.17) and is the second team in the past 30 years to score at least four goals in each of its first six games of a season (2021-22, Panthers, seven games). Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky needs one win to become the 14th goalie in NHL history to 400 victories. Bobrovsky (706 games played) would become the fastest goalie in NHL history to reach the milestone, a distinction currently held by former Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (727 games on Feb. 11, 2017).

Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; Victory+, NESN, SNP, SNO, SNE, TVAS)

Pavel Zacha needs three points to reach 300 in his NHL career when the Bruins (3-3-1) play the Stars (5-2-0) at TD Garden. Zacha, who had an NHL career-high 59 points in 2023-24, has gotten off to a slow start this season with two points (one goal, one assist) in seven games for Boston, which is 1-2-1 in its past four games. Dallas coach Pete DeBoer (617 career wins) needs one win to move into sole possession of 21st place on the NHL all-time coaching list. He's currently tied with Bruce Boudreau and Jacques Lemaire. DeBoer is three wins from tying Bryan Murray for 20th place with 620. Dallas is 21-for-22 on the penalty kill this season, ranking first in the League with a 95.5 percent efficiency.

Winnipeg Jets at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; KHN, KING 5, KONG, TSN3)

The Jets (6-0-0) look to remain the only undefeated team in the NHL when they visit the Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Winnipeg's season-opening winning streak marks the eighth instance in NHL history when a Canada-based team has posted a run of at least six games. Jets forward Kyle Connor has a four-game goal streak and season-opening six-game point streak (five goals, one assist). Seattle forward Jared McCann will look to extend his point streak to five games (three goals, four assists). The Kraken (4-3-0) are playing the fourth of a five-game homestand (currently 2-1-0).

Other Thursday games

St. Louis Blues at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, BSMW)

Goalie Jordan Binnington (146 career wins) of St. Louis (4-3-0) is two wins shy of tying Jake Allen (148 wins) for second place on the Blues all-time list; Mike Liut is first (151 wins). Forward Mitch Marner (195 goals, 451 assists) is five goals from 200 in his NHL career for the Maple Leafs (4-3-0).

New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSDET)

Timo Meier hopes to build upon a three-game point streak (two goals, four assists) for the Devils (5-3-1), who look to rebound after losing two straight (0-1-1) for the first time this season. Forward Dylan Larkin is five assists from 300 in his NHL career for the Red Wings (3-3-0).

Minnesota Wild at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSWI, BSN, BSSUN)

Minnesota (4-0-2) is the second team in NHL history to not trail at any point in regulation through its first six games of a season (1969-70, Bruins, seven games). Nikita Kucherov looks to extend his season-opening point streak to seven games (seven goals, five assists) for Tampa Bay (4-2-0), which is tied for the League lead with three come-from-behind wins this season.

Carolina Hurricanes at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSSO)

Shayne Gostisbehere has scored a goal in four straight games for the Hurricanes (3-2-0), who are 2-1-0 halfway through a season-long six-game road trip. MacKenzie Weegar of Calgary (5-0-1) has 23 goals since the start of the 2023-24 season, which is tied with Roman Josi and Cale Makar for the most by an NHL defenseman in that span.

Colorado Avalanche at Utah Hockey Club (9 p.m. ET; Utah16, ALT)

Colorado (3-4-0) has won three straight games after starting the season with four consecutive losses, and defenseman Cale Makar leads the NHL with 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) through seven games. Utah, which concludes a three-game homestand, is 4-2-1 and has been shut out twice in its past four games after scoring 16 goals in its first three.

San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, NBCSCA, SNP, SNO, SNE)

Los Angeles (3-2-2) concluded a season-opening seven-game road trip with a 6-1 loss at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Forward Tyler Toffoli has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past five games for the Sharks (0-5-2).