NHL On Tap: Penguins look for sixth straight win

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 six games Monday.

Penguins hope to continue winning ways

The Pittsburgh Penguins look to extend their winning streak to six games when they host the Dallas Stars at PPG Paints Arena (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, BSSWX, ESPN+, SN NOW). Defenseman Kris Letang led the Penguins (16-8-4) with 22:14 of ice time in a 3-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, when he returned 12 days after having a stroke. "It was great," Letang said. "I was getting anxious to get back out there. With the schedule, we don't have the chance to practice that much. Tried to prepare the best I could." Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby had two goals and an assist against the Sabres for his 165th NHL game with at least three points, passing Jari Kurri for ninth in history. Dallas (16-7-5) begins a five-game road swing after ending a five-game homestand (3-1-1) with a 3-2 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.-- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Devils have rematch at Rangers, chance at history

For the New Jersey Devils to win their 12th consecutive road game and tie the 2014-15 Minnesota Wild and 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings for the longest in NHL history, they will have to get past the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSG, MSGSN, SN NOW). The Rangers (14-10-5) are playing with a lot more swagger than when the Devils rallied from down 2-0 in the first period for a 5-3 victory in New York on Nov. 28. They were in the middle of a 1-4-1 rut, but are 3-0-0 since a 5-2 home loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 3, outscoring opponents 10-2 starting with a four-goal third period against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 5, when
Alexis Lafreniere
and Kaapo Kakko were promoted to the first line with center Mika Zibanejad. Jack Hughes is on an NHL career-high seven-game point streak (seven goals, five assists) for the Devils (21-5-1), who are 18-2-1 since Oct. 25 and have not lost on the road since their season opener at the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 13. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

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Central point

Two teams desperately looking to gain ground in the rugged Central Division clash when the St. Louis Blues host the Nashville Predators at Enterprise Center on Monday (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Blues (12-15-1) are coming off a tough overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche in which they surrendered the tying goal with nine seconds remaining in the third period. They have won two of their past 10 games (2-7-1). The Predators (12-11-2) have lost two in a row but have points in seven of their past 10 (6-3-1). Goals could be at a premium; each team is in the bottom-third of goals for the season. Nashville is averaging 2.60 goals per game, which is 29th in the NHL, and St. Louis (2.96) ranks 23rd. The Blues are allowing 3.86 goals per game, fourth-most in the League. The Predators won the first game between the teams this season, 6-2 on Oct. 27.-- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Monday games

Calgary Flames at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; SN, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flames (13-11-4) are 0-1-1 on a three-game road trip that began with a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday. Goalie Dan Vladar has started four of the past five games with Jacob Markstrom 0-3-0 with a 2.41 goals-against average and .900 save percentage since Nov. 23. Cole Caufield has scored 11 goals in 13 home games for the Canadiens (13-12-2).
Dallas Stars at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, BSSWX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Goalie Casey DeSmith made 37 saves in the win against Buffalo, his first start since Nov. 26. Pittsburgh is 10-1-1 in its past 12 games and defenseman Jeff Petry likely will play after leaving with 1:51 remaining in the third period Saturday following a hit into the boards by Sabres forward Alex Tuch. Jason Robertson has 15 points (11 goals, four assists) in his past 10 games for the Stars.
New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSG, MSGSN, SN NOW)
The Devils are 18-1-1 when Hughes scores a goal and 10-1-1 when Nico Hischier gets at least one point. Hughes' 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 27 games to start a season are tied with Zach Parise (2008-09) and John MacLean (1990-91) for third most over that span in New Jersey/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history. Rangers forward Artemi Panarin has nine assists in a five-game point streak and 28 this season, one behind Connor McDavid for the NHL lead. New York defenseman Braden Schneider has scored four goals in 10 games, most in the NHL at the position since Nov. 22.
Anaheim Ducks at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDSI, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Ducks (7-18-3) start a five-game road trip. Defenseman Cam Fowler is three assists from 300 in 13 NHL seasons, all with Anaheim. The Senators (11-14-2) are 3-1-1 in their past five games. Alex DeBrincat has five points (one goal, four assists) during a five-game point streak and Drake Batherson has six points (two goals, four assists) during a four-game run.
Edmonton Oilers at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; SN1, BSWI, BSNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Oilers (16-12-0) continue to be paced by Connor McDavid, who is on a career-high, seven-game goal streak. The captain leads the NHL with 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) I 28 games. Behind him is teammate Leon Draisaitl (46 points; 19 goals, 27 assists). Monday is a reset for Kirill Kaprizov after his Wild record 14-game point streak ended Saturday. Mats Zuccarello has eight points (two goals, six assists) in a six-game point streak for Minnesota (14-11-2).
Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Matt Duchene has six points (one goal, five assists) in his past five games but has been held without one in the past two. He is second on the Predators with 21 points (six goals, 15 assists), tied with Roman Josi, and two behind Filip Forsberg. Craig Berube coached his 300th NHL game Sunday, becoming the fourth in Blues history to do so, joining Joel Quenneville (593), Ken Hitchcock (363) and Brian Sutter (320).