NHL On Tap: Kane getting it done for Red Wings, will visit Maple Leafs

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 two games Sunday.

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Kane-do for Red Wings

There were so many questions about Patrick Kane when he came back from hip-resurfacing surgery and signed with the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 28. Would the 35-year-old forward be effective and, if so, how effective? The answer is unbelievably effective. He takes his revitalized game to one of the hockey's biggest cities to play the Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNO, BSDET). Kane has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 18 games, including a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. It was an important win for the Red Wings (21-16-5), who remain one point behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, and Kane is not the only one turning heads for Detroit. Moritz Seider has 115 points (17 goals, 98 assists) in his first 205 NHL games. When he gets his next two assists, he will become the third-fastest Red Wings defenseman to reach 100 behind Reed Larson (185 games) and Nicklas Lidstrom (194). -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Rangers must get back on track, quickly

The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers complete their home-and-home weekend set at Madison Square Garden (1 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, MSG, SN) coming off Washington's 3-2 win at Capital One Arena and New York enduring turbulence for the first time all season. The Rangers (26-13-2) have lost a season-long four consecutive games (0-3-1) and are 8-9-1 since Dec. 13, which has turned an eight-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes for first in the Metropolitan Division to one. Plenty of factors have contributed to the rut the Rangers are in, chief among them containing odd man rushes and not making little plays that translate into victories. New York was 18-5-1 going into Saturday when scoring first but blew a 2-1 third-period lead by allowing two goals 1:53 apart after an offensive zone slashing penalty against Chris Kreider. The Rangers are 1-2-0 against the Capitals entering the series finale. Washington (20-14-6) is on the precipice of the playoff race and in striking distance of a top-three finish in the division, which will influence who gets home ice in a best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round series should these teams meet again. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

All-Stars abound in Toronto

When you flip on the Red Wings and Maple Leafs, there won't just be one Maple Leafs All-Star on the ice, there will be four. It was announced Saturday that Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly will be joining Auston Matthews for the 2024 All-Star Weekend at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Two weeks before the game, the Maple Leafs have more work to do after a five-game point streak (4-0-1) ended with a 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Toronto (21-11-8) is third in the Atlantic Division, six points behind the Florida Panthers for second and one ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning, the first wild card in the Eastern Conference. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Sunday games

Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (1 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, MSG, SN)

Capitals forward T.J. Oshie has two goals in three games after starting the season with one in his first 20. Forward Alex Ovechkin (lower body) will miss his second consecutive game. Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko returns after missing 21 games with a lower-body injury. New York has 100 points from defensemen (25 goals, 75 assists), the eighth team to reach triple digits at the position (Avalanche, 125; Vancouver Canucks, 124; Hurricanes, 110; Red Wings, 108; Calgary Flames, 103; Lightning; 102, Columbus Blue Jackets, 102).

Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNO, BSDET)

The Red Wings have points in five straight games (4-0-1). Defenseman Jake Walman did not play Saturday and is likely unavailable for Sunday because of an illness. Matthews has four goals in his past five games despite not scoring against the Avalanche. His 33 goals lead the NHL, two ahead of Panthers forward Sam Reinhart.