NHL On Tap: Sabres try to end 14-game skid

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 five games Wednesday.

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Sabres look to end 14-game skid

The Buffalo Sabres visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TVAS) hoping for their first win in 15-games (0-12-2). The stretch has featured a coaching change and a goaltending picture that's fallen out of frame. In a 5-3 loss at the New York Rangers on Monday, goalie Carter Hutton was injured early in the first period and replaced by Dustin Tokarski, who was playing his first NHL game since Oct. 28, 2016. Tokarski, who has not played a full NHL game since Dec. 12, 2015, is expected to start and be backed up by Michael Houser. So it will be up to two goalies who have combined to play 35 regular-season NHL games, all by Tokarski, if the Sabres are to avoid the longest stretch without a win in the NHL since the shootout was introduced in 2005-06.-- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Flames need to be better in Ottawa

The Calgary Flames have fought their way back into the Stanley Cup Playoff race in the Scotia North Division but a 2-1 road loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday was a step back. Senators forward Chris Tierney scored the winning goal with 2:36 remaining in the third period and Filip Gustavsson made 35 saves for his first NHL win. The rematch is in Ottawa (5 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN5, SNW, NHL.TV) and the Flames must get two points to get back on track and keep pace. They won three of their first four games under coach Darryl Sutter, who took over for the fired Geoff Ward on March 4 and coached his first game after quarantining on March 11. They've since lost three of four including their past two, combining to score one goal in the two games. Sutter talked about the need for more scoring chances from Calgary's top-six forwards after the game Monday. He mentioned that they would have to check for their chances. The Flames haven't been able to do that consistently all season. They need to do it Wednesday. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Wild seek momentum entering crucial stretch

The Minnesota Wild will likely look at their home game against the Anaheim Ducks (5:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, FS-N+, FS-W+, NHL.TV) as one they must win, given they are third in the eight-team Honda West Division and the Ducks are last. The Ducks did not practice Tuesday after four players (defensemen Ben Hutton and Jacob Larsson, forward Danton Heinen and goalie Anthony Stolarz) were placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Minnesota has defeated Anaheim in four out of five games this season, including 2-1 on Monday, helping calm some anxiety after 5-1 and 6-0 road losses to the Colorado Avalanche. The second game of this set against the Ducks starts a back to back for the Wild, which will host the fourth-place St. Louis Blues, who are two points behind them, Thursday. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Wednesday schedule

Calgary Flames at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m. ET (TVAS, TSN5, SNW, NHL.TV)
Forward Austin Watson will be out 4-6 weeks with a hand injury for the Senators, who lead the season series 4-2-0.
Anaheim Ducks at Minnesota Wild, 5:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, FS-N+, FS-WI+, NHL.TV)
Ducks forward Troy Terry has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in a four-game point streak, including their only goal in a 2-1 loss to the Wild on Monday.
Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins, 8 p.m. ET (NBCSN, TVAS)
Tokarski will start his first NHL game since Dec. 21, 2015. The Penguins have averaged 1.75 goals per game in their past four without injured forwards Evgeni Malkin, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev.
Winnipeg Jets at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m. ET (SNP, TSN3, NHL.TV)
The Jets are 4-2-0 against the Canucks after a 4-0 win Monday. Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele has scored eight points (two goals, six assists) in the season series.
Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNW, NHL.TV)
The Sharks look to sweep this two-game set at home after a 2-1 win Monday. San Jose is 1-3-1 in its past five games after a three-game winning streak.
Edmonton Oilers at Montreal Canadiens, postponed