NHL On Tap: Flames look to extend road point streak to nine games

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 Sunday.

Flames try to extend road point streak

The Calgary Flames (15-4-5) will look to extend their road point streak to nine games (6-0-2) when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Calgary is two games shy of the team record set in 2009-10 (8-0-2) and it has had higher runs three other times (2011-12, 5-0-4; 1990-91, 6-0-3; 1987-88, 6-0-3). Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his past nine games. Center Chandler Stephenson has scored five points (four goals, one assist) in his past five games for the Golden Knights (13-10-0) -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Wheeler to reach milestone with Jets

Blake Wheeler will play his 1,000th NHL game when the Winnipeg Jets (11-8-4) host the Toronto Maple Leafs (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Jets captain has scored 817 points (279 goals, 538 assists) in 999 NHL games and has played the past 12 seasons with the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers after three seasons with the Boston Bruins. He has 10 assists in 18 games this season. The Maple Leafs (17-6-2) saw their five-game winning streak end Saturday but have points in six straight after a 4-3 shootout loss at the Minnesota Wild. Toronto forward Auston Matthews has scored a goal in each of his past five games. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Kings brace for unforgiving stretch

I projected the Los Angeles Kings to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017-18, considering they play in the Pacific Division with the expansion Seattle Kraken and four teams like themselves (Flames, Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks) that did not qualify last season. They recovered from a 1-5-1 start with a seven-game winning streak but are 9-9-4 and visit the 16-6-0 Edmonton Oilers (8 p.m. ET; SNW, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Los Angeles is 24th in scoring (2.64 goals per game) and doesn't have a player who's scored at least 10 goals. After the Kings play the Canucks on Monday, their next eight games are an unforgiving portion of their schedule. They host the Dallas Stars, winners of six straight, and play the Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and Oilers, teams who are combined 95-31-15. The stretch may threaten to extend that playoff drought to four seasons and six of eight since winning the Stanley Cup in 2013-14. --Jon Lane, staff writer

Sunday schedule

Tampa Bay Lightning at Philadelphia Flyers (6 p.m. ET; SN360, SNP, TVAS, NBCSP, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Steven Stamkos has scored eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past six games for the Lightning (14-5-4), who have won eight of 11. The Flyers (8-9-4) are 0-5-2 in their past seven, including three straight regulation losses by a combined score of 15-6.
San Jose Sharks at Columbus Blue Jackets (6 p.m. ET; BSOH, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sharks (13-10-1) end a five-game road trip; they are 3-1-0 and have allowed four goals. The Blue Jackets (12-10-0) play the second of a back to back following their fourth straight loss, 3-1 at the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
Chicago Blackhawks at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start for the Blackhawks (8-13-2) after Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves in a 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday. Fleury is two wins from becoming the third goalie with 500 in the NHL (Martin Brodeur, 691; Patrick Roy, 511) and will move within one game of becoming the eighth to play at least 900. The Islanders (5-10-4) have lost 10 in a row (0-8-2) and are without a win at UBS Arena (0-4-1).
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers (8 p.m. ET; SNW, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty has one assist while averaging 27:20 of ice time per game in two games since missing 16 with a knee injury. Defenseman Darnell Nurse (broken finger) was activated off injured reserve and is likely to return for the Oilers, who have won six in a row at home.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Jets will try for their third win in four games following an 8-4 victory against the New Jersey Devils on Friday that saw 14 players score at least one point. The Maple Leafs will again be without Mitchell Marner, who did not play Saturday. The forward left practice early Friday after taking a hit from defenseman Jake Muzzin.
Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom is 5-1-1 with a 1.69 goals-against average, .945 save percentage and one shutout in seven starts since Nov. 14. Center Jonathan Marchessault has scored 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in his past 12 games for the Golden Knights, who are 2-3-0 in their past five after a 7-1 win at the Arizona Coyotes on Friday.