NHL On Tap: Bruins and Rangers face off in the marquee

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). That’s big. The Rangers (6-3-2) have won three times in a row, including 1-0 in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday as they dominated every facet of the game except the scoreboard to the front Chris Kreider scored a breakaway at 4:07. You’re getting some traction now after a 0-2-2 stretch. The Bruins (9-1-0) shocked me how well they played. They have won six straight games, most recently a 6-5 overtime win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. This is a big test for the Rangers, but also for the Bruins. There are two Original Six teams. It’s Madison Square Garden. It’s a national broadcast on ESPN+. And, just to be sure, the Bruins are #1 and the Rangers are #5 on NHL.com Super 16 power ranking in this week. This is hockey you have to see. — Dan Rosen, senior writer

Devils, Oilers try to continue hot streaks

The New Jersey Devils will face a big test when they visit the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place (9:00 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW) and theirs for the first time since December 15-27, 2017 aim for a fifth win in a row. This is also the last season in which they made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Led by Jesper Brat, who equaled the Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts record with a 10-game scoring streak early in the season (four goals, 12 assists), New Jersey is averaging 3.60 goals per game and has at least five goals in scored three of his last four. The Oilers (7-3-0) have won five straight games while averaging 5.00 goals per game and have the top two goalscorers in the NHL. Connor McDavid (22 points) and Leon Draisaitl (21). There will probably be no shortage of insults here. — David Satriano, staff writer

The Panthers try to slow down Sharks defender Karlsson

Few players were hotter than the San Jose Sharks defenseman Eric Karlson. He’s second in the NHL with nine goals and leads defensemen with 15 points heading for a date with the Florida Panthers at the SAP Center (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW). The 32-year-old scored his first NHL hat-trick, including equalizing at 2-12 in the third period, and had an assist in a wild 6-5 penalty shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Karlsson has three straight multipoint games for the Sharks (3-8-1) and will be looking to match his NHL career high of four straight games on February 12-18, 2015 and February 20-26, 2012 with the Ottawa to reach senators. The Panthers (5-4-1) have endured a rough patch after a 4-1-1 start in three of their last four games, including a 1-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday to go a four-game win begin excursion. Forward Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 13 points (five goals, eight assists), with at least one point in eight of ten games. — Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Games on Thursday

Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)

defender 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 last six from a 1-3-0 start. Nikita Kutscherow has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) during an eight-game scoring streak. The Hurricanes (6-2-1) came from behind to win their last two. Martin Neca has six points (two points, four assists) during a four-game scoring 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 straight games and allowed an NHL-low 1.73 goals per game behind goalies Logan Thompson (5-2-0, 1.73 goals against average, .938 save rate, two shutouts) and Adin Hill (4-0-0, 1.72 GAA, 0.940 savings percentage). The Senators (4-5-0) have lost three straight games after a four-game winning streak. Ottawa goalie Cam Talbot will save Anton Forsberg. Talbot was expected to be out for five to seven weeks with a broken rib he sustained during training camp, an injury announced on October 3.

Washington Capitals at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)

Captain of the Capitals with 785 goals in 18 seasons Alex Ovechkin may 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 beaten with no defenders John Carlson (lower body) and forward TJ Oshie (Lower body), Nicklas Backstrom (hip surgery), Tom Wilson (cruciate ligament tear), Connor Brown (cruciate ligament tear), Karl Hagelin (hip surgery) and Beck Malenstyn (Upper body). The Red Wings (4-3-2) have lost three straight games from a 3-0-2 start.

Boston Bruins at New York Rangers (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, SN NOW)

The Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman is being evaluated in Boston and is out week in and week out with a lower body injury sustained during the third period against the Penguins. Swayman played after the exchange Linus Ullmark, who was drawn after allowing five goals on 23 shots. Ullmark (7-0-0), who returned for Swayman, will likely get a chance at redemption against Rangers, who are expected to be in the starting XI Igor Shesterkin (6-0-2) in a possible showdown between two goalies without a rule loss. Shesterkin is 3-0-1 with a 1.70 GAA and .940 save percentage in his last four games. Defender of the Bruins Derek Forbort (upper body) is also week by 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 last four games after a 2-3-0 start but will be without Morgan Baron for 4-5 weeks; The striker will have wrist surgery on Friday. goalie Connor Hellebuyck is 2-0-1 with a 1.96 GAA, .949 save percentage and a shutout during that stretch. Cole Kaufield leads the Canadiens (5-5-0) with seven goals in 10 games after scoring 23 goals in 67 games last season. Montreal defender Joel Edmundson will return to the lineup. He missed the first 10 games of the season with a back injury.

New York Islanders at the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)

This is a matchup of two teams going in opposite directions. The Islanders (6-4-0) have won four straight games after a three-game losing streak, beating their opponents 17-7. Rock Nelson has five points (four goals, one assist) during New York’s winning streak. The Blues (3-5-0) have lost five straight games and have been surpassed 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 5-1-1 in the last 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 back-to-back games for the first time this season, including a 5-4 win at the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)

Gabriel Vilardi is tied for third place in the NHL with eight goals Kevin Fiala has eight points (two goals, six assists) during a five-game points streak for the Kings. Los Angeles (6-6-0) split the first two games of a three-game road trip. Chicago (4-4-2) is 0-2-2 in their last four games after a four-game winning streak. Jonathan Tows has six points (four goals, two assists) during a six-game points streak and Patrick Kane has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his last 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 last eight games (1-6-1). Nashville opened a five-game road trip on Tuesday despite a 7-4 loss to Edmonton Philip Forsberg three points (one goal, two assists) for the second time in three games. The Flames (5-3-0) have lost twice in a row. Calgary forward Nazem Kadri has at least one point (five goals, five assists) in seven of eight games.

New Jersey Devils at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW)

The Devils have averaged 39.1 shots per game, the second-highest in the NHL (Panthers, 39.5) while allowing an NHL low of 21.8. Forward Jack Hughes has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last four games. McDavid has at least three points (six goals, five assists) in each of his last three games and his 11 goals leads 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 last two games for the Canucks (2-6-2) and is third in the NHL with eight. The Ducks (3-6-1) have won straight 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 last 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 home streak (1-1-1) after earning their first win at Mullett Arena on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over the Panthers. Arizona has the third-place power play (32.4 percent), led by Nick Richie‘s four power play goals. The Stars (6-3-1) are fifth in penalties (84.4 percent). Dallas is second with 2.30 conceded goals per game but will have to rely on the former Coyotes goalie Scott Wedgewood (1-2-1, 3.65 GAA, 0.895 savings percentage) during 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 away. The Sharks are yet to win straight games but are 0-5-0, 3-3-1 since the start of the season. Florida is 30th on power play (9.1 percent) and 27th on penalties (71.8 percent). San Jose is second in kill (94.4 percent) and 25th with man advantage (16.7 percent).