NHL On Tap: Wild try to end three-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 one game Monday.

Wild try to get back on track before Winter Classic

The Minnesota Wild are in a weird spot. They're 19-8-2 and first in the eight-team Central Division but have lost three in a row (0-2-1) for the first time since coach Dean Evason was hired Feb. 14, 2020. They have played only one game in the past seven days due to COVID-19 postponements and have only three scheduled before playing the St. Louis Blues in the 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Target Field in Minneapolis on New Year's Day. Their game Monday against the Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSSW, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) is a chance to start getting things back in order before they play on the big stage outdoors in front of their home fans. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Which Stars team will show up?

It's been a rollercoaster ride for the Stars recently. They won seven in a row from Nov. 20-Dec. 6, then lost five in a row starting Dec. 8 before ending that streak with a 4-3 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. The Stars (14-12-2) have been tested, be it with the losing streak, non-COVID related illnesses (defenseman Miro Heiskanen, forwards Roope Hintz and Alexander Radulov) and goalie Ben Bishop having to end his NHL career due to a recurring right knee injury. Dallas is sixth in the Central and trying to get back into the division race. A win Monday against the Wild, the top team in the division, would go a long way to putting them back on track. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

No sophomore slump for Robertson

Jason Robertson is following up his solid rookie season with impressive, consistent play this season. The forward is second on the Stars with 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 22 games and has not gone more than two consecutive games without scoring a point. He has a three-game point streak (two goals, one assist) heading into the game against the Wild, and six multiple-point games this season, including three points (two goals, one assist) in a 5-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 16. Robertson scored 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 51 games last season, first among NHL rookies in assists and second in goals and points behind Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov. It'll be fun to watch the two sophomores go head to head Monday in the only game on the NHL schedule. - Jim Cerny, senior editor

Monday schedule

Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSSW, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Wildwill be without their captain, defenseman Jared Spurgeon, after he re-aggravated a lower-body injury against the Sabres on Thursday and was placed on injured reserve Monday. The Stars have been much better at home (10-3-1) than on the road (4-9-1) this season. Joe Pavelski scored a season-high four points (two goals, two assists) for the Stars against the Blackhawks on Saturday and now leads them with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 28 games.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres, postponed
Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders, postponed
Colorado Avalanche at Detroit Red Wings, postponed
Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers, postponed