NHL On Tap: Flames seek first win against Oilers

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 Monday.

'Battle of Alberta' resumes between Flames, Oilers

The Calgary Flames will try to increase their lead in the Pacific Division when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Flames (33-14-7), who have a four-point lead on the second-place Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific, are seeking their first win against the Oilers (30-22-4) in the "Battle of Alberta" this season (0-2-0). They're 11-0-1 at home and 16-3-1 since Jan. 13. Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau is a contender for the Hart Trophy voted as the most valuable player in the NHL with 71 points (22 goals, 49 assists), which ranks fourth in the NHL, and forward Elias Lindholm's 13 goals are the most since Feb. 1. The Oilers play their next five games after Monday at home, where they've lost 11 of their past 16. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Toews visits Islanders for first time with Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews will play on the road against his former team, the New York Islanders, for the first time when they meet at UBS Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, ALT2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Toews, who was acquired in a trade with the Islanders on Oct. 12, 2020, is having a breakout season for the Avalanche with an NHL career-high 43 points (11 goals, 32 assists) in 45 games, including three points (one goal, two assists) in a 5-3 win at home against New York (21-23-8) on March 1. Toews, who was selected by the Islanders in the fourth round (No. 108) of the 2014 NHL Draft and played his first two NHL seasons with them, leads the NHL with a plus-45 rating for the Avalanche (40-11-5). He's played most of the season on the top pair with defenseman Cale Makar, whose 11-game point streak (16 assists) is the second-longest run by a defenseman in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history behind Steve Duchesne (15 in 1992-93). -- Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor

Anderson seeks 300th NHL win

Goalie Craig Anderson will try for his 300th NHL victory when the Buffalo Sabres (18-31-8) host the Florida Panthers (37-13-5) at KeyBank Center (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The 40-year-old is in his 19th NHL season and has played with the Chicago Blackhawks, Panthers, Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals and Sabres. He has won his past two starts, including a 5-4 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Friday. It's also a game Panthers forward Sam Reinhart circled on his calendar months ago; he returns to Buffalo for the first time since he was traded to Florida on July 24. Reinhart, who played his first seven NHL seasons for the Sabres, had a goal and three assists to help the Panthers rally with four straight goals in a 7-4 win against Buffalo at FLA Live Arena on Dec. 2. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Monday games

Los Angeles Kings at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, NESN, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Kings (31-19-7) end a five-game road trip following a 3-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. Trevor Moore leads Los Angeles in points (30) and assists (22) since Dec. 1. His 23 assists and 32 points this season are NHL career highs, and his nine goals are one from his career best set last season. The Bruins (34-18-4) return home after they were 5-1-0 on a six-game road trip. Boston forward David Pastrnak has scored 12 points (seven goals, five assists) during an eight-game point streak.
Florida Panthers at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers, who have won their past two games following a three-game skid, begin a stretch of nine of 10 games on the road. Sabres forward Tage Thompson has scored 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in his past 26 games and leads them with 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) in 27 home games.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN, NHL LIVE)
Goalie Petr Mrazek will start for the Maple Leafs (35-16-4) after Jack Campbell allowed 19 goals in four games (three starts, 0-2-1). Toronto center Auston Matthews leads the NHL with 39 goals. Zach Werenski had an assist for the Blue Jackets (28-25-3) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Bruins on Saturday to tie Seth Jones for most points by a defenseman in team history (223).
Colorado Avalanche at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, ALT2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Avalanche have lost consecutive games for the first time since they were swept in a home-and-home set with the Columbus Blue Jackets Nov. 3 and 6. The Islanders are 2-2-0 in the absence of leading scorer Mathew Barzal (37 points in 45 games), who has missed four games because of a lower-body injury.
Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl has an NHL-high 12 three-point games this season, three more than Flames forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, and Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen.