NHL On Tap: Oilers look to keep rolling against Golden Knights

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.

Revival in Edmonton

The Edmonton Oilers (23-16-3) have their mojo back two weeks after their season appeared to be on the brink. They are 5-0-1 after a 2-11-2 record from Dec. 3-Jan. 20 and are fifth in the Pacific Division, eight points back with four games in hand on the first-place Vegas Golden Knights (27-16-3), whom they host on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Oilers have a prime opportunity to make up ground with three home games in four days and eight games in the Feb. 7-22 window once reserved for the Olympic break. Goalie Mike Smith will start after missing eight games with a thumb injury for the Oilers, who are 10-2-0 against the Pacific and 17-6-0 against the Western Conference. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Fiala could set Wild point streak record

Kevin Fiala will look to extend his point streak to 13 games and set a Minnesota Wild record when they visit the Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Fiala has scored 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) during the streak, which ties Mikael Granlund (12 games from Jan. 12-Feb. 4, 2017; 17 points) for the longest in Wild history. Minnesota (28-10-3) has won each of its two games against Winnipeg this season and forward Kirill Kaprizov leads all skaters with seven points (one goal, six assists) in the series. The Jets (18-17-7) could be without forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and defenseman Neal Pionk, who entered NHL COVID-19 protocol Monday. Winnipeg is 1-5-2 in its past eight games. --Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

How do the Penguins respond without Malkin?

Evgeni Malkin likely will not play for the Pittsburgh Penguins (27-11-8) when they visit the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, NESN, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) after entering NHL COVID-19 protocol Monday. It's no doubt a blow to Pittsburgh; the forward is on a nine-game point streak (three goals, seven assists) and had scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 12 games after missing the first 34 games of the season recovering from knee surgery. But the Penguins often find ways to win with lesser-known players stepping up in the absence of headliners. Forward Valterri Puustinen, who leads Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League with 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 40 games, has been recalled and could make his NHL debut. What can he do against the Bruins (26-14-3), who will start goalie Jeremy Swayman on Tuesday? -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Tuesday games

Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Hurricanes (31-9-3) and Senators (15-22-4) each play the second of back-to-back games. Carolina, which lost 4-3 in overtime at the Toronto Maple Leafs to end a four-game winning streak, is 7-1-1 in its past nine games. Led by Connor Brown, who had a goal and an assist after missing 10 games with a broken jaw, Ottawa defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-1 in the first of 11 games in 20 days.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, NESN, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Sidney Crosby is two goals from 500 in the NHL for the Penguins, who have lost four in a row (0-1-3) since a six-game winning streak. David Pastrnak has scored 14 goals in his past 15 games after eight in his first 28 for the Bruins, who are 2-2-1 in their past five.
New Jersey Devils at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Devils (15-26-5) have lost seven straight and been outscored 30-12. The Canadiens (8-29-7) are 0-4-2 in their past six, 1-8-4 in their past 13 and have pulled their starting goalie in four consecutive games.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Patrik Laine has scored twice in each of his past two games after scoring six goals in his first 22 for the Blues Jackets (20-22-1), who have two wins in the past six games. Alex Ovechkin has been removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol and is expected to play for the Capitals (25-13-9), who are 2-3-0 in their past five games.
Minnesota Wild at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Wild are on a six-game winning streak and 9-0-1 since Jan. 6. Kyle Connor has scored 25 goals in 42 games for the Jets. Ilya Kovalchuk is the only other player in Winnipeg/Atlanta Thrashers history to score 25 goals in fewer games (32 games, 2007-08; 35, 2009-10; 37, 2005-06).
Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SNW, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the third of four meetings this season between the teams; the Oilers won the first two on the road, 5-3 on Oct. 22 and 3-2 on Nov. 27. Edmonton forward Zach Hyman has scored three goals in the season series. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is one point shy of 500 in the NHL for Vegas, which is 7-1-1 in its past nine road games.
Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, BSAZ+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Arizona (11-30-4) has lost six of seven, but forward Clayton Keller has scored eight points (three goals, five assists) during a six-game point streak. The Canucks (20-20-6) will be without defenseman Quinn Hughes, who was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Monday.