NHL On Tap: Flyers visit Devils looking to end nine-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 four games Wednesday.

Flyers hope to end slide at Devils

The Philadelphia Flyers (8-11-4) rediscovered their offense in their first game under coach Mike Yeo and will try to find their way back into the win column when they visit the New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, NBCSP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Though Philadelphia lost its ninth straight game (0-7-2), 7-5 to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, it was the first time they scored more than three goals in 18 games; they averaged 1.65 goals in their previous 17. The Flyers gave up seven for the second consecutive game after a 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday and fired coach Alain Vigneault the next day.They could be playing the Devils at the right time. New Jersey (9-9-5) has lost four in a row (0-3-1) and has one win in its past seven (1-4-2). But it came against the Flyers, 5-2 on Nov. 28. -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Stars aim for record eighth consecutive win

The Dallas Stars (13-7-2) will try to win a team-record eighth consecutive game when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, NHL LIVE). Their 4-1 victory against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday tied a mark that's been reached five previous times, was their eighth straight win on home ice and nine of 10 overall. Dallas is winning despite Alexander Radulov's 15-game goal drought, the second-longest of his NHL career behind 19 games in his rookie season of 2006-07. The Golden Knights (14-10-0) have won two in a row and six of their past 10. Forward Max Pacioretty is on a five-game point streak (four goals, three assists) since returning from a broken foot sustained Oct. 14. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Canucks seek to harness momentum

The Vancouver Canucks want to keep the momentum going with the coaching change to Bruce Boudreau against the Boston Bruins (9 p.m. ET; SN, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Boudreau replaced Travis Green on Sunday, when Vancouver also fired general manager Jim Benning, and defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 on Monday. The Canucks (9-15-2) are tied with the Seattle Kraken for seventh in the eight-team Pacific Division and have won three of their past four but were 1-8-1 in their previous 10 and have fallen 12 points behind the third-place Edmonton Oilers for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins (12-8-1) defeated the Canucks 3-2 in Boston on Nov. 28. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Wednesday schedule

Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, NBCSP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Jesper Bratt has points in seven of his past eight games (two goals, seven assists) and leads the Devils in scoring with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 23 games. The Flyers begin a three-game road trip that continues with games at the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday and Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
Colorado Avalanche at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, MSG2, ALT2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Nathan MacKinnon has seven assists in his past four games and at least one point in 11 of 12 this season (one goal, 16 assists) for the Avalanche (13-7-2), who lead the NHL with an average of 4.14 goals per game. The Rangers (17-4-3) defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 on Tuesday for their seventh consecutive victory. Artemi Panarin had a four-point night in Chicago (two goals, two assists) and leads New York with 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 24 games.
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks (9 p.m. ET; SN, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins start a three-game road trip to Western Canada 2-1-1 in their past four and will be without coach Bruce Cassidy (NHL COVID-19 protocol) for a fourth straight game. J.T. Miller leads the Canucks with 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 26 games and has points in three of his past four (two goals, four assists).
Dallas Stars at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, NHL LIVE)
The top line of Jason Robertson (four), Roope Hintz (eight) and Joe Pavelski (three) have scored 15 of the Stars' 25 goals during the winning streak. The Golden Knights begin a three-game homestand at T-Mobile Arena, where they're 8-5-0 and have won seven of their past nine games.