NHL On Tap: Wild visit Jets looking to stay hot

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.

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Wild try to stay hot

The Minnesota Wild look to stay hot when they visit the Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; SN, BSN+, BSWI+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Minnesota (30-11-3) goes for its third straight win and is 11-1-1 in its past 13 games. The Wild offense has been powered by Kirill Kaprizov, who is tied with Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews for seventh in the NHL with 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 43 games, including two goals in a 7-4 comeback win against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. Rookie forward Matt Boldy had his first NHL hat trick Monday and has scored 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 13 games this season. Winnipeg (20-18-8) is 3-6-3 in its past 12 games and coming off a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Jets center Mark Scheifele has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past four games -- William Douglas, staff writer

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Panthers finally return after long break

It's been a long wait for the Florida Panthers, who've been off since a Feb. 1 loss to the New York Rangers. They visit the Carolina Hurricanes in a doozy of a matchup (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, NHL LIVE). The Panthers (32-10-5) are second in the Atlantic Division and have won 14 of 18 games. Patric Hornqvist is expected to return for Florida after the forward missed eight games with an upper-body injury. The Panthers will need to quickly shake off the rust against the Hurricanes (32-11-3), who are second in the Metropolitan Division and 1-2-1 since the NHL All-Star break. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Eichel to make Vegas debut

Nearly 11 months after his last game and more than three months after having neck surgery, Jack Eichel will make his debut with the Vegas Golden Knights when they host the Colorado Avalanche (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, NHL LIVE). "I'm sure there will be a lot of emotions Wednesday," Eichel said Monday. "I already started feeling them." Eichel gives the Golden Knights (28-17-3) a true No. 1 center for the first time in their five seasons. In the three seasons prior to his injury (2017-20), he averaged 1.06 points per game (224 points in 212 games), including 82 points (28 goals, 54 assists) in 77 games in 2018-19. He'll need time to get up to game speed, but Eichel could be a game-changer for Vegas. The Avalanche (34-9-4) have won 12 of their past 14 (12-1-1) after a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday ended their 19-game point streak (17-0-2). -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

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Wednesday games

Minnesota at Winnipeg (7 p.m. ET; SN, BSN, BSWI+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the fourth and final game this season between the teams. The Wild are 2-1-0 in the first three games and forward Mats Zuccarello has scored four goals and six points. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves when Winnipeg shut out Minnesota 2-0 on Feb. 8 in the most recent game.
Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, NHL LIVE)
Carolina center Derek Stepan is one point shy of 500 in the NHL; teammate Andrei Svechnikov has scored six points (four goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak. Florida forward Mason Marchment has scored 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his past five games.
Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. ET; SN360, SNW, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Ducks (23-17-9) look to rebound after a 4-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Friday. Anaheim goalie John Gibson has allowed more than three goals in two of his past 16 starts. The Flames (27-13-6) have won seven in a row after a 6-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, when forward Tyler Toffoli scored a goal in his Calgary debut after being acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.
Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, NHL LIVE)
Vegas center William Karlsson will play his 500th NHL game; teammate Brett Howden has scored five points (three goals, two assists) in his past five games. Colorado begins a four-game road trip; it is 13-6-2 away from Ball Arena this season.