NHL On Tap: Oilers visit Avalanche looking for sixth straight win

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 Monday.

Oilers look to keep rolling in Denver

The Edmonton Oilers have won five straight games, all at home, the last three against the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings, who are all considered sellers ahead of the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Monday because they're not in the mix to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The challenge will be much greater for the Oilers (35-23-4) when they visit the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SN [JIP], ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Avalanche (44-13-5) have won three straight games by a combined score of 11-3 against the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames. They lead the NHL with 93 points in 62 games. The Oilers' winning streak has moved them into third place in the Pacific Division with 74 points in 62 games, two points behind the second-place Kings with two games in hand and two points ahead of the fourth-place Vegas Golden Knights, also with two games in hand. A win against the Avalanche also will be a bit of a statement from the Oilers, like their 4-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 12. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Predators a sleeper contender

If you're looking for a sleeper team in the Western Conference, I have one for you: The Nashville Predators (36-22-4), who visit the Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSD, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) to start a three-game road trip on the West Coast. The Predators are tied with the Minnesota Wild for third in the Central Division and are four points ahead of the Golden Knights for the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. They've seen forward Matt Duchene score 30 goals in the NHL for the first time since 2015-16 with the Avalanche and forward Filip Forsberg tie his NHL career high of 33 goals set the same season. They have two under-the-radar contenders for postseason awards: forward Tanner Jeannot (Calder Trophy, NHL rookie of the year) and John Hynes (Jack Adams Award, NHL coach of the year). And here's a not-so-subtle candidate for the Norris Trophy voted as the top defenseman in the NHL: Roman Josi has scored at least three points in four consecutive games, a feat accomplished by one NHL defenseman when Bobby Orr did it in six straight in 1970-71, and he's the sixth defenseman to score 75 points through 60 games. The Ducks (27-26-11) have lost a season-high six consecutive games (0-4-2) and traded defensemen
Hampus Lindholm
(Boston Bruins) and Josh Manson (Avalanche), and forward Nicolas Deslauriers (Wild), ahead of the deadline. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Golden Knights, Wild showing signs of turnaround

The Golden Knights and Wild each have won consecutive games going into their game Xcel Energy Center (8 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSN, BSWI, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Wild (36-20-4) were 5-9-1 with the most goals allowed in the NHL (68) from Feb. 13 to March 13. The Golden Knights (34-26-4) have won their past two games at home but are on a five-game road losing streak and clinging to the second wild card in the West. Vegas center Jack Eichel will face off against Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov for the first time in the NHL. Eichel has assists in consecutive games and 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 16 games this season; Kaprizov has scored 76 points (32 goals, 44 assists) in 59 games. Two players in Wild history have scored more points in one season than Kaprizov: Marian Gaborik (83 points in 77 games, 2007-08) and Brian Rolston (79 points in 82 games, 2005-06). The Golden Knights are expected to remain without top forwards Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone and goalie Robin Lehner, among others, because of injuries. -- Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor

Monday games

Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, RDS, NESN, NHL LIVE)
Hampus Lindholm agreed to an eight-year contract Sunday but the defenseman isn't expected to be available to the Bruins (38-19-5) until Thursday. Forward Cole Caufield is the fifth rookie for the Canadiens (17-36-9) in the past 20 years with a goal streak of at least four games, scoring five goals in four games since March 13. The last Canadiens rookie with a longer run was forward Bernie Geoffrion (five straight, 1951-52).
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSN, BSWI, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Logan Thompson made an NHL career-high 38 saves in his fifth NHL start for the Golden Knights on Saturday, a 5-1 win against the Kings. Nicolas Deslauriers is expected to debut for the Wild and play on the fourth line with center Tyson Jost and right wing Brandon Duhaime.
Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SN [JIP], ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (86 points; 41 goals, 45 assists in 62 games) is guaranteed to average at least 0.50 goals per game for the fourth consecutive season. Cale Makar is one goal from tying the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques record for defenseman in a season (23, Sandis Ozolinsh, 1996-97). His 69 points are the second-most in one season for Colorado/Quebec behind Steve Duchesne (82, 1992-93).
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSD, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Tanner Jeannot's 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists) are tied with forward Craig Smith for third-most by a Predators rookie in one season and one point behind forward Alexander Radulov for second. The Ducks claimed Gerry Mayhew on waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. The forward has scored six goals in 25 games this season.