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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 seven games Tuesday.

Predators look to extend winning streak

The Nashville Predators try for their sixth straight win when they host the Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET; FS-TN, FS-SW, NHL.TV). Nashville has climbed into the Stanley Cup Playoff picture in the Discover Central Division, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for fourth place after back-to-back wins at the Blackhawks on Saturday and Sunday. The top four teams will make the postseason. The Predators are 7-1-0 in their past eight games, powered by balanced scoring led by forwards Eeli Tolvanen, Mikael Granlund and Rocco Grimaldi, who have combined for 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in the past five games. Dallas is 3-4-4 in its past 11 and is seventh in the division. Stars forward Jason Robertson is playing his way into the Calder Trophy conversation as the top rookie in the NHL this season with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 16 games in March. He is second among rookies with 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 27 games. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Canadiens have tough test in return

The Montreal Canadiens will have to shake off the rust in a hurry when they host the Edmonton Oilers (7 p.m. ET; TSN-2, SNW, RDS, NHL.TV). The Canadiens will play their first game in 10 days after having four games postponed because two players entered COVID-19 protocol. They'll return against an Oilers team that features forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the two leading scorers in the NHL; and McDavid has an 11-game point streak (seven goals, 16 assists). The Canadiens are 2-2-0 in their past four games and won their most recent one, a 5-4 shootout victory against the Vancouver Canucks in Montreal on March 20. The Oilers will be playing the second half of back-to-back games after they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime Monday, and their third game in four nights. So it will be interesting to see how much they have left in the tank. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Blue Jackets, Lightning renew rivalry

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be desperate for a victory when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; SUN, FS-O, NHL.TV) for the opener of a two-game series that concludes Thursday. The Blue Jackets are 0-3-1 in their past four games and have dropped three points behind the Predators and Blackhawks, who are tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central. Maybe facing the division-leading Lightning will bring out the best in the Blue Jackets. This will be the first game between the rivals since the Blue Jackets' 5-2 win in Columbus on Jan. 23. Any game between the Blue Jackets and the Lightning evokes memories of their series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past two seasons. The Blue Jackets upset the Lightning in five games in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round in 2019 and the Lightning rebounded to defeat the Blue Jackets in five games in the first round last season on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. -- Tom Gulitti, Staff Writer

Tuesday schedule

Edmonton Oilers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET (TSN2, RDS, SNW, NHL.TV)
Jesperi Kotkaniemi should be in the lineup when Montreal plays for the first time in 10 days, after the forward was removed from COVID-19 protocol. However, forward Joel Armia remains in protocol and will be out for the Canadiens.
New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. ET (SN, NESN, MSG+2, NHL.TV)
The Devils will try to sweep this two-game set on the road after a 1-0 win Sunday, when goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made 40 saves for his first shutout this season. New Jersey is 4-0-1 with two shutouts against Boston in 2020-21.
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET (MSG, NBCSWA, NHL.TV)
Center Ryan Strome has scored 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in a nine-game point streak for the Rangers, who try to even this two-game set after a 5-4 loss to the Capitals on Sunday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET (SUN, FS-O, NHL.TV)
The Lightning have lost consecutive games in regulation for the second time this season after 4-3 losses to the Stars on Thursday and Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. They are 1-1-0 against the Blue Jackets this season.
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. ET (FS-F, FS-D, NHL.TV)
Florida and Detroit each is trying to extend its winning streak to three games.
Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, NBCSCH, NHL.TV)
Hurricanes forward Vincent Trocheck is expected to return after missing the past eight games with an upper-body injury. Teammate Dougie Hamilton will try to extend his point streak to 15 games; he has scored 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) during the 14-game point streak.
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m. ET (FS-TN, FS-SW, NHL.TV)
Predators forward Eeli Tolvanen has scored seven points (two goals, five assists) in a five-game point streak and has scored a Nashville-best five points (two goals, three assists) in two games against Dallas.

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