NHL On Tap: McDavid closes in on 100 points for Oilers

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 four games on Sunday.

McDavid seeks 100th point for red-hot Oilers

Connor McDavid needs three points to reach 100 for the season when the Edmonton Oilers visit the Montreal Canadiens (12:30 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW). The scoring leader in the NHL extended his point streak to 15 games (25 points; 10 goals, 15 assists) with a goal and two assists in a 6-3 win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Edmonton (30-18-5) is 9-0-2 in its past 11 games. The Canadiens (21-27-4), who defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 in overtime Saturday to end a four-game skid, continue their tradition of playing a matinee on Super Bowl Sunday. They lead all NHL teams in wins on the day, going 20-13-3, and seek to avenge a 5-3 loss at Edmonton on Dec. 3, when McDavid had two goals and two assists. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Eichel looking to find his groove

Jack Eichel will look to build some personal momentum when his Vegas Golden Knights host the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena (3 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSSC, SN, SN1, ESPN+, SN NOW). If the Golden Knights (31-18-4) want to solidify a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Vegas center will have to be more consistent, especially with forward Mark Stone out indefinitely after having back surgery Jan. 31. Eichel had just two points (one goal, one assist) in his previous 11 games before breaking out with a two-point night (one goal, one assist) in a 5-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Perhaps that performance was the push Eichel needed to find his groove again, something Vegas will need in the final two months of the season. Goalie Logan Thompson, who left the game against the Wild with a lower-body injury, is week to week. Vegas is fortunate to have a solid backup in Adin Hill (11-5-1, 2.58 goals-against average, .909 save percentage in 20 games, including 18 starts) who could find himself getting busier in the immediate future. Only the Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes have fewer road victories than the eight by the Ducks (17-30-6). -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Kraken hitting a rough patch

The Seattle Kraken were looking to come out of their bye week strong, but it's been quite the opposite. The Kraken (29-18-5) have lost three in a row and have been outscored 13-4 in those games. They'll try to break the skid when they play the Philadelphia Flyers (22-22-10) at Wells Fargo Center (1 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, NBCSP, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW). In two games, the Kraken may have fallen victim to teams hyped by recent acquisitions. The New York Islanders defeated them 4-0, with Bo Horvat, who the Islanders acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks before the All-Star break, scoring his first goal in his second game with them. On Friday, the Kraken lost 6-3 to the New York Rangers, and Vladimir Tarasenko, newly acquired from the St. Louis Blues, scored within the first three minutes of the game. Regardless of opponent, the Kraken are giving up too much. On the other side, their power play has been so-so all season but especially cold lately: 1-for-5 against the Rangers and 0-for-11 in the prior four games. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Sunday Games

Edmonton Oilers at Montreal Canadiens (12:30 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Oilers forward Zach Hyman has eight goals in his past nine games and 27 on the season. He needs one more to set an NHL career high. The Canadiens will look to win two straight games for just the second time since December. Edmonton has won five of its past seven against Montreal.
Seattle Kraken at Philadelphia Flyers (1 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, NBCSP, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
This is the second half of a back to back for the Flyers, who have lost five of seven, including 2-1 in overtime to the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Travis Konecny leads them with 49 points (24 goals, 25 assists) in 48 games. This is the fourth of a five-game road trip for Seattle. Kraken forward Matty Beniers has not had a point in his past eight games after getting two (goal, assist) against the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 14.
San Jose Sharks at Washington Capitals (1:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSWA, NBCSCA, SN NOW)
The Capitals (28-20-6) have won three of their past four including a 2-1 win at the Boston Bruins on Saturday, their first game since Jan. 31. Peter Laviolette coached his 1,402nd game, passing Ron Wilson for 11th in NHL history. Erik Karlsson of the Sharks leads NHL defensemen in goals (17), assists (53) and points (70). He has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past three games.
Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights (3 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSSC, SN, SN1, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman John Klingberg, whose name has been prominent in recent trade rumors heading into the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on March 3, is boosting his stock with five points (one goal, four assists) in his past four games. Vegas has come out of the All-Star break with back-to-back 5-1 road victories as part of their annual dads' trip. The teams have split two games this season, each winning at home: Vegas 4-0 on Oct. 28, Anaheim 3-2 on Dec. 28.