NHL On Tap: Islanders seek statement win against Bruins

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 five games Wednesday.

Islanders seek statement win against NHL-best Bruins

The Boston Bruins play the first of a back-to-back set on the road at the New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, NESN, SN) coming off a 6-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday and 6-0-1 in their past seven games away from home. The Bruins (34-5-4) have opened a double-digit lead over the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division and visit the New York Rangers on Thursday. The Islanders (23-18-4) blew a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday. They have lost five of six games and could use a statement win at home to get back on track and bolster their positioning in the wild-card race. The Bruins defeated the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout at TD Garden on Dec. 13. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Stars make second stop in DeBoer reunion tour

When the Dallas Stars defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0 at T-Mobile Arena on Monday, it had the immediacy of coach Pete DeBoer facing the team he guided the previous three seasons. But San Jose, where the Stars and San Jose Sharks will face off at SAP Center (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN NOW), also holds memories for DeBoer, who will coach the Central Division at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Feb. 4. DeBoer coached the San Jose Sharks (13-23-9) for five seasons, guided them to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final and has the Stars (26-12-7) tied with the Winnipeg Jets for first in the division. Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger earned his third shutout Monday to tie five others for second in the NHL, one behind Darcy Kuemper of the Capitals. The Sharks (13-23-9) have lost three in a row (0-2-1) and five of six (1-3-2). -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Stamkos aims for 500th goal, 11th 50-point season

Steven Stamkos vies for his 500th NHL goal when the Tampa Bay Lightning face the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP BSSUNX, ESPN+, SN NOW). The captain had an assist in a 4-1 win against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Monday and is one point from 50 in 11 NHL seasons to tie Martin St. Louis for the most in team history. The Lightning (28-13-1) are seeking their fifth straight win while the Canucks (18-22-3) are looking to build off a 4-3 shootout victory against the Carolina Hurricanes that ended a four-game losing streak. Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past five games. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Wednesday games

Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Though Kris Letang will not be on the ice for the Penguins (22-15-6), the defenseman provided a big boost by returning to practice Tuesday after missing nearly three weeks after the death of his father. Letang (lower body) last played Dec. 28. Pittsburgh defenseman Jeff Petry (upper body) returned to full contact Tuesday after missing 15 games, as did forward Ryan Poehling (10 of 11, upper body), and both will travel to Ottawa. The Senators (19-21-3) have lost four of five but get Josh Norris back after the forward missed 38 games with a shoulder injury.
Boston Bruins at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, NESN, SN)
David Pastrnak has 12 points (10 goals, two assists) in his past six games, a run that started Jan. 5 and moved him from fifth in goals scored to second behind Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (38). He is the first Bruins skater to score 10 goals in a six-game stretch since Barry Pederson scored 12 times in six games from Dec. 4-12, 1982. Islanders center Mathew Barzal does not have a point in four consecutive games after he had eight (six goals, two points) in his previous five.
Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, TVAS, ALT2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (22-17-3) have won two in a row after losing seven of eight (1-6-1). Valeri Nichushkin returned for a 6-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. The forward missed nine games with an ankle injury and had an assist and four shots on goal in 18:54. Cale Makar is day to day with an undisclosed injury and will not play. The Avalanche defenseman is on a six-game point streak (four goals, five assists). The Flames (21-15-9) had their five-game point streak (3-0-2) end in a 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday. They start a four-game homestand after a five-game road trip.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP BSSUNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Tampa Bay has outscored opponents 19-10 during its four-game run, all with Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal. He's one win shy of 250 in the NHL. The Canucks begin a four-game homestand and have lost seven of nine (2-7-0).
Dallas Stars at San Jose Sharks (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN NOW)
Stars forward Tyler Seguin has goals in each of his past three games and five points in his past four (three goals, two assists). Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has 17th multipoint games, the most by a defenseman this season and fewer than only seven players (all forwards).