NHL On Tap: Avalanche healthier, seek momentum at Penguins

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 Tuesday.

Danger: Avalanche lurking

I can't get the Colorado Avalanche out of my head. When I was talking to Shawn P. Roarke and Dan Rosen for the "NHL @TheRink" podcast
Dec. 28
, they asked what team could stand in the way of the Boston Bruins out of the Western Conference. My immediate answer was the Avalanche (27-18-3) even though they trail the Calgary Flames by one point for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the West. But they're getting healthier, with defenseman Bowen Byram (lower body, out since Nov. 5) and forward Valeri Nichushkin (upper body, out since Jan. 24)) returning against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Avalanche won seven of eight (7-1-0) before the NHL All-Star break and know how to win. They have a chance to generate more momentum toward their title defense against the Penguins (24-16-9) as the race to the postseason kicks off. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Can Oilers pick up where they left off?

The Edmonton Oilers (28-18-4) were playing some of their best hockey at the end of January, going on an eight-game point streak (7-0-1) entering the break. Can they keep it going and continue to move up in the Pacific Division, where they're fourth and two points behind the third-place Vegas Golden Knights? The Oilers open their second half with a four-game road trip starting against the Detroit Red Wings (21-19-8) at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN). Four Oilers have at least 60 points: Connor McDavid leads the NHL with 92, followed by Leon Draisaitl with 76, and Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each have 60. The last team to have four players with at least 60 points through 50 games was the 1995-96 Penguins. It was a productive first half in every way for the Oilers. Now they're ready for the stretch run. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Blackhawks, Ducks in draft lottery contention

The always raucous United Center is bound to be abuzz about more than the action on the ice when the Chicago Blackhawks host the Anaheim Ducks (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW). Expect plenty of chatter ahead of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on March 3 with an eye on where the Blackhawks (15-29-4), coming off a nine-day break, might factor in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. Chicago, Anaheim (16-29-6) and the Columbus Blue Jackets are in the mix to win the right to select No. 1 in the 2023 NHL Draft, where Regina forward Connor Bedard is the projected top pick. The Ducks are led by Trevor Zegras, a forward with 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in his past 12 games and a team-high 43 (18 goals, 25 assists). Adam Henrique leads them with 19 goals in 50 games and is on pace for 31, one more than his NHL career-high 30 set with the New Jersey Devils in 2015-16. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Tuesday games

Colorado Avalanche at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman Josh Manson is traveling with the Avalanche for the start a three-game road trip but will not play. The Penguins come out of the break 6-8-5 in their past 19 games after a 14-2-2 stretch between Nov. 9 and Dec. 15. They're one point ahead of the Buffalo Sabres for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference.
San Jose Sharks at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sharks (15-25-11) are 3-4-3 in their past 10 games. Captain Logan Couture had an NHL career-high five points (two goals, three assists) in a 6-4 win against the Penguins on Jan. 28, the Sharks' final game before the break. This is the second a back to back for the Lightning (32-16-1), whose three-game winning streak ended with a 7-1 loss at the Florida Panthers on Monday. They could be without forward Ross Colton, who took a shot of his foot late in the third period and left the game.
Edmonton Oilers at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN)
McDavid is on a 12-game point streak (nine goals, 11 assists), eight points from 100 this season and 11 from 800 in the NHL. The Oilers captain is also three goals behind his NHL career-high of 44 set last season. It's the start of a three-game homestand for the Red Wings, who are seven points out of a playoff spot in the East.
Seattle Kraken at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kraken (29-15-5) went 11-3-1 in their final 15 games before the break, outscoring opponents 60-37. Bo Horvat makes his home debut for the Islanders (26-22-5) after he had four shots on goal in 19:08 of ice time during a 2-1 win at the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, his first game since he was acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 30.
Vegas Golden Knights at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Golden Knights (29-18-4) play the fourth of a six-game road trip and are 2-6-2 in their past 10 games. The Predators (24-18-6) won three in a row heading into the break. Forward Filip Forsberg (19 goals, 22 assists) and defenseman Roman Josi (12 goals, 29 assists) lead them with 41 points each.
Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Ducks visit Chicago coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at the Dallas Stars on Monday. The Blackhawks are 6-4-0 in their past 10 games, but forward Jonathan Toews will not play after missing two straight days of practice with a non-COVID-19 related illness.