NHL On Tap: Capitals, Hurricanes face off in Stadium Series preview

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 three games Monday.

2023 NHL Stadium Series preview

The Carolina Hurricanes (5-2-1) and Washington Capitals (5-4-0) play for the first time this season at PNC Arena (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, BSSO, NBCSWA, SN NOW). The next time the Metropolitan Division rivals face each other in Raleigh, North Carolina, will be across the parking lot at Carter-Finley Stadium on the campus of North Carolina State University in the
2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series
on Feb. 18. Carolina defenseman Brent Burns, acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on July 13, has scored a goal in each of his past two games, including the 16th overtime winner of his career (most in NHL history among defensemen) in a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Washington left wing Alex Ovechkin is two goals from Gordie Howe's NHL record for the most with one team (786). He's scored four in nine games this season. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Blues host Kings looking to end "unacceptable play"

Vladimir Tarasenko was direct and to the point after the St. Louis Blues' latest loss, 7-4 to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, their fourth in a row (0-4-0) after winning three straight to start the season. "It's unacceptable to play like this," Tarasenko said. Mistakes, giveaways, missed shots and too many goals against have haunted the Blues during the skid. They've been outscored 20-7 by the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators and Canadiens. But the Blues (3-4-0) can get back to .500 when they play the Los Angeles Kings at Enterprise Center (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Kings (5-5-0) have been better of late, winning three out of four and five of seven since losing their first two games. Gabriel Vilardi has goals in three straight games and the forward leads Los Angeles with seven goals and 11 points. The key for the Kings is to stay consistent, like coach Todd McLellan said after the game against the Maple Leafs. It'll be a test against the clearly frustrated Blues, who seven games into the season already have a look-in-the-mirror moment. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Red Wings, Sabres face off in battle of improved clubs

Two teams looking to reestablish some consistency and maintain pace with the perennial contenders of the Eastern Conference face off when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSDETX, ESPN+, SN NOW). Forward Tage Thompson scored twice when Buffalo (5-3-0) defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime Saturday. The Sabres, who trailed 3-1 after two periods, had a multigoal, third-period comeback win for the first time since Dec. 11, 2018 (4-3 in overtime against the Kings). Detroit (4-2-2) defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Saturday. Forward Lucas Raymond, who finished fourth in the voting for the Calder Trophy given to the NHL rookie of the year last season, scored his first two goals of the season. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Monday games

Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, BSSO, NBCSWA, SN NOW)
The Capitals are 2-1-0 on a stretch of four consecutive road games, but forward T.J. Oshie (lower body) is out indefinitely and defenseman John Carlson (lower body) is day to day and will not play. Hurricanes forward Martin Necas has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his first eight games. He has six points (three goals, three assists) in eight regular-season games against the Capitals.
Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSDETX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin leads the Sabres with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in eight games and goalie Craig Anderson is 3-0-0 with a 1.66 goals-against average and .946 save percentage in three starts. Forward Dominik Kubalik, who signed a two-year contract July 13 after he had 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 78 games for the Blackhawks last season, leads Detroit with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in eight games.
Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blues had a 3-1 lead midway through the second period against the Canadiens before allowing five straight goals in a span of 10:25. McLellan (99-95-24) is one win from becoming the eighth Kings coach to win 100 games. Adrian Kempe is four goals from 100 in the NHL. He became the 14th player from the 2014 NHL Draft class, and third born in Sweden to skate for the Kings, to reach 400 games Saturday.