NHL On Tap: Kings host Bruins riding five-game win streak

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 three games Monday.

Kings going for sixth straight win in midst of playoff push

The Los Angeles Kings (29-17-7) will try for their sixth consecutive win when they host the Boston Bruins (10:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, SN1, BSW, NESN, NHL LIVE). Kings fans must be feeling energized watching a team that started the season 1-5-1 evolve into a young, fun group that is poised to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018. Center Phillip Danault and forward Viktor Arvidsson have been impactful offseason acquisitions, and forward Adrian Kempe is enjoying his finest NHL season with career highs in goals (25) and points (36) in 50 games. Los Angeles is second in the Pacific Division, three points behind the first-place Calgary Flames, so expectations are high that the front office will be buyers before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline on March 21. The players will continue to make their case for an upgrade or two against the Bruins (31-17-4), who have won four in a row. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Maple Leafs visit Capitals after 10-goal outburst

In their first meeting of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Washington Capitals (7:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) after a 10-7 win at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. It was the first time an NHL team scored 10 goals in one game since the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Red Wings 10-1 on Dec. 2, 2017. Mitchell Marner scored six points (four goals, two assists), and the top line of Marner, Auston Matthews and Michael Bunting combined for 15 (six goals, nine assists) for Toronto (34-14-4). The Capitals (28-17-9) are 8-11-2 in 21 games since Jan. 1 and have lost their past five at Capital One Arena, which is the longest stretch since losing seven in a row Feb. 10-March 3, 2007. -- Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor

Canucks continue four-game road trip at Devils

The Vancouver Canucks will try for their fourth straight win when they continue a four-game road trip at the New Jersey Devils (7:30 p.m. ET; SNP, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Vancouver (26-22-6), which opened the trip with a 5-2 victory at the New York Rangers on Sunday for its fifth win in six games, has been bolstered by the play of forward J.T. Miller, who has scored 13 points (four goals, nine assists) during a six-game point streak. New Jersey (18-29-5) has lost three of four but has scored 11 goals in its past two games. Defenseman Ty Smith practiced on the fourth pairing Sunday and could be a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career. The 21-year-old has one goal in 44 games this season and three assists in his past 12. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Monday games

Vancouver Canucks at New Jersey Devils (7:30 p.m. ET; SNP, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Canucks center Elias Pettersson has scored 11 points (four goals, seven assists) during a five-game point streak. Devils forward Jack Hughes has a six-game point streak (four goals, seven assists).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals (7:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Since Jan. 1, Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner leads the NHL in points per game (1.74; 33 points in 19 games). Capitals forward T.J. Oshie returned from an upper-body injury Thursday against the New York Rangers and scored the lone goal in a 2-1 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, giving him 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 20 games this season.
Boston Bruins at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, SN1, BSW, NESN, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins are 1-for-20 (5.0 percent) on the power play in their past eight games, including 0-for-3 in a 3-1 win against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Kings center Anze Kopitar has scored 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists), reaching the mark for the ninth straight season and the 15th time in 16 NHL seasons. Joe Thornton (17 seasons) of the Florida Panthers and Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals (16) are the other active players to do so.