NHL On Tap: Bruins visit Wild looking to extend winning streak to four

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 four games Wednesday.

Streaking Bruins, slumping Wild face off in Minnesota

The Boston Bruins will try to extend their winning streak to four games when they visit the Minnesota Wild (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, NHL LIVE). The Bruins (37-18-5) play the second of a back to back after a 2-1 overtime win at the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, their third straight one-goal victory. Boston is 10-1-1 and scoring 3.67 goals per game while allowing 2.08 since Feb. 19. The Wild (34-20-4) started their season-long nine-game homestand with a 6-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Sunday. They are 4-9-1 and allowing 4.57 goals per game since Feb. 16. Minnesota will have a new face in the lineup with forward Tyson Jost expected to debut after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche for forward Nico Sturm on Tuesday. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Giordano to be honored for 1,000th NHL game

Though the Seattle Kraken will honor Mark Giordano for reaching 1,000 NHL games before hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, NHL LIVE), the defenseman will not play, coach Dave Hakstol said. This is Seattle's first home game since Giordano played No. 1,000 at the Washington Capitals on March 5, and the question is how many more games Giordano will play for the Kraken. Selected in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on July 21, he became their first captain Oct. 11, but he's a pending unrestricted free agent and could be moved before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Monday. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Hughes hopes to stay hot against Flames

Jack Hughes was going to need time to get stronger before he was able to showcase the skills that enticed the New Jersey Devils to make him the No. 1 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft. Now in his third season, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound center has reached that physical maturity and it's allowed his game to shine. Hughes is second on the Devils (22-33-5) with 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 40 games, including a goal and an assist in a 6-3 loss at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, has scored 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 13 games since Feb. 1 and is two points from 100 in his NHL career. He'll be challenged again when the Devils visit the Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; SN360, SNW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) to complete a back-to-back set. The Flames (36-16-7) are coming off a 3-0 loss at the Avalanche, the first time they were shut out this season. -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Wednesday schedule

Boston Bruins at Minnesota Wild (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, NHL LIVE)
The Bruins' hot streak has brought them to within two points of the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division and five behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for second. Wild forward Kevin Fiala is on a seven-game point streak (three goals, seven assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blue Jackets (30-27-3) are tied with the New York Rangers for the NHL lead with 20 comeback wins. Josh Norris scored his 40th NHL goal in his 102nd game for the Senators (21-33-5), a 5-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. One player in team history scored 40 in fewer games, Alexei Yashin (101).
Tampa Bay Lightning at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, NHL LIVE)
The Kraken (18-37-6) return from a five-game road trip, where they went 1-3-1. They face the Lightning (38-15-6), who are 2-3-0 on a six-game trip that ends Wednesday. Since 1967-68, expansion teams are 16-27-8 against the defending Stanley Cup champions at home in their inaugural season. Seattle lost 3-0 at Tampa Bay on Nov. 26.
New Jersey Devils at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; SN360, SNW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Devils haven't won in Calgary since a 2-1 victory Jan. 13, 2017. The Flames are 19-5-1 in 25 games since Jan. 18, their 39 points and .780 points percentage best in the NHL in that time.