NHL On Tap: Panthers visit Flames looking to win fifth straight

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 eight games Tuesday.

Panthers look to stay hot at struggling Flames

The Florida Panthers roll into Scotiabank Saddledome to play the Calgary Flames on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) fresh off a 9-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Florida has won four in a row and is 8-0-1 since Dec. 29, averaging 6.00 goals per game and 2.56 against. The Panthers (26-7-5) have the best points percentage in the NHL (.750) and have scored at least five goals in seven of their past nine games. Forward Sam Bennett returns to Calgary for the first time since the Flames traded him to the Panthers on April 12. Bennett has scored nine points (six goals, three assists) in his past five games and his 15 goals are tied for second on the Panthers, behind Anthony Duclair (16). The Flames (17-11-6) are going in the other direction with four straight losses. They have been outscored 20-7 by the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Panthers and are 2-7-1 since Dec. 5. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Bruins to retire O'Ree's number

The Boston Bruins will retire Willie O'Ree's No. 22 before they host the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, TVAS, NESN, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The ceremony will come on the 64th anniversary of O'Ree becoming the first Black player in the NHL when he debuted against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 18, 1958. The 86-year-old will participate virtually from his home in San Diego out of an abundance of caution to avoid the risks of traveling. Afterward, the Bruins (22-11-2) will put their five-game winning streak on the line against the Hurricanes (25-8-2), who are 10-2-1 in their past 13 games. Boston forward Brad Marchand has scored nine goals in his past six games. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Kucherov looks to extend point streak

Nikita Kucherov will try to extend his point streak to four games when the Tampa Bay Lightning (26-9-5) visit the Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The 28-year-old was named NHL Third Star of the Week on Monday after scoring seven points (three goals, four assists) in three games, including his fourth NHL hat trick in Tampa Bay's 6-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 11. Kucherov has scored nine points (three goals, six assists) in five games after being out nearly three months with a lower-body injury. Captain Steven Stamkos has a three-game point streak (two goals, three assists) that's helped the Lightning (26-9-5) to three straight victories. The Kings (20-14-5) had their four-game winning streak end with a 6-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Monday. They'll be looking to tighten up defensively against the high-powered Lightning after giving up five goals to Sharks forward Timo Meier. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Tuesday schedule

New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
This is the second of a home-and-home set between the Metropolitan Division rivals. The Islanders (12-13-6) handed the Flyers (13-18-7) their eighth straight loss (0-6-2) in a 4-1 win at UBS Arena on Monday. New York is 5-1-1 in its past seven games.
Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, TVAS, NESN, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins have outscored opponents 24-11 during their five-game winning streak and are 8-1-0 in their past nine games. The Hurricanes are 4-1-0 in their past five road games and 13-4-1 away from home this season.
Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sabres (11-20-7) are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday when Buffalo let a 2-0 lead slip away in the third period. Forward Alex Formenton has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in his past four games for the Senators (11-18-2), who will try to extend their winning streak to three.
Winnipeg Jets at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Alex Ovechkin has scored points in four straight games (two goals, two assists) for Washington (21-9-9), which is 1-3-2 in its past six. Winnipeg (17-12-5) is 4-2-0 since Dave Lowry took over as coach after Paul Maurice resigned Dec. 17. The Jets' 3-0 win at the Red Wings on Thursday is their only game since Jan. 6.
Vancouver Canucks at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canucks (17-18-3) are coming off a 4-2 win at the Capitals on Sunday that ended a three-game losing streak. The Predators (24-13-3) are playing for the second straight night after losing 5-3 to the St. Louis Blues on Monday. They are 0-2-1 in their past three.
Montreal Canadiens at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Stars (18-15-2) have lost two in a row and three of four but are 5-3-0 since losing five straight in regulation from Dec. 8-17. Dallas has won five straight at home and will have forward Denis Gurianov back in the lineup after he missed three games when in NHL COVID-19 protocol. The Canadiens (7-25-5) named Kent Hughes general manager Tuesday. They have one win in 14 games since Nov. 29 (1-10-3), including 0-4-2 in their past six games, and their seven wins are fewest in the NHL.
Florida Panthers at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SN1, SW, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Jonathan Huberdeau has scored 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in his past eight games and with an assist Tuesday can set a Panthers record for longest assist streak (nine games). The Flames are looking to end a four-game losing streak that started with a 6-2 loss to the Panthers in Florida on Jan. 4. Panthers forward Patric Hornqvist scored two goals in that game.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Ondrej Palat and defenseman Erik Cernak could each return from a lower-body injury for the Lightning, who have won three in a row and five of six. Kings forward Dustin Brown is expected to play his 1,269th NHL game Tuesday, which would tie him with Brett Hull for seventh in NHL history among United States-born players.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Islanders, postponed
Detroit Red Wings at Philadelphia Flyers, postponed
Chicago Blackhawks at Edmonton Oilers, postponed