NHL On Tap: Avalanche put 6-game winning streak on line against Devils

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 six games Wednesday.

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Clash of East vs. West, part 1

Two Stanley Cup contenders are set to meet Wednesday, when the up-and-coming New Jersey Devils (39-15-5) meet the defending Cup champion Colorado Avalanche (34-19-5) at Ball Arena (9 p.m. ET; ALT, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Avalanche seek their seventh straight victory for their longest winning streak this season. They have rocketed up the standings to third place in the Central Division, two points behind the Dallas Stars and one behind the Minnesota Wild. Colorado is being powered by forward Mikko Rantanen, who scored his 40th goal of the season in a 3-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, becoming the fastest player in Avalanche history to reach 40 goals (58 games). But the Devils are no slouches; they've won two straight and are 8-2-1 in their past 11 games, occupying second place in the Metropolitan Division, powered by center Dawson Mercer and his six-game goal streak. Could this be a Stanley Cup Final preview? -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Clash of East vs. West, part 2

The Devils and Avalanche should make for a heck of a matchup. But so too should the Carolina Hurricanes and Golden Knights, who play at T-Mobile Arena (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN1, TVAS, SN NOW). Here you have the Hurricanes (39-11-8), the first-place team in the Metropolitan Division, against the Golden Knights (35-19-6), the first-place team in the Pacific Division. Carolina is three points clear of New Jersey in the Metropolitan Division. Vegas has the same point total as the Los Angeles Kings (76), but has two games in hand. The Hurricanes come in off a rare loss, 3-2 against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. That ended a five-game winning streak and was Carolina's second regulation loss in 17 games since Jan. 12 (14-2-1). Vegas is also coming in off a loss, 3-0 at Colorado on Monday. The Golden Knights are 1-1-2 in their past four, but their defeat at the Avalanche ended a nine-game point streak (6-0-3). This also can take on the billing of being a potential Stanley Cup Final preview. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

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Maple Leafs seek fourth straight victory

Get ready for offensive fireworks when the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers meet for the first time this season (8 p.m. ET, SN, ESPN+) at Rogers Place. The Maple Leafs (37-15-8) have won three in a row, outscoring opponents 13-5. The Oilers (32-21-8) look to regroup after losing two straight and six of eight (2-3-3). But Connor McDavid has been Connor McDavid; the center had two goals in a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday, which propelled him to an NHL-leading 50 goals. The League's points leader (115) has scored twice in four consecutive games and has points in 22 of his past 23 games (43 points; 18 goals, 25 assists). Forward William Nylander has been hot for Toronto with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in a seven-game point streak and forward Mitchell Marner has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in his past four games. -- William Douglas, staff writer

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Wednesday games

New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS, MSG-2, SN NOW)
Patrick Kane's Rangers debut will wait until Thursday against the Ottawa Senators after the forward was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. The Rangers (34-17-9) are 1-3-1 in their past five games and look to end a three-game road losing streak (0-2-1). The Flyers (23-28-10) have lost three in a row, outscored 16-4, and are 1-6-0 in their past seven.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers (8 p.m. ET; SN, ESPN+)
The Maple Leafs go for their second win on a five-game road trip, with the Oilers seeking their first victory of a three-game homestand. With his two goals Saturday, McDavid became the fastest player (61 games) to score 50 goals in a season since 1995-96 (Mario Lemieux, 50 games; Jaromir Jagr, 59 games; Alexander Mogilny, 60 games).
Arizona Coyotes at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, BSAZX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Center Nick Schmaltz has goals in four straight games for the Coyotes (21-30-9), 1-2-0 in their past three games following a nine-game point streak (5-0-4). The Stars (31-16-13) are 1-3-3 in their past seven. Dallas forward Jamie Benn has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past three games.
New Jersey Devils at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
New Jersey finished its four-game homestand 3-1-0. During his six-game goal streak, Mercer has 10 points (eight goals, two assists). At 21 years, 121 days, he's the youngest player in Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history to have a six-game streak. The Avalanche, 7-0-1 in their past eight games, have scored on their first shot of the game in each of their past three games and have scored first in 16 of their past 19 games (13-1-2).
Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN1, TVAS, SN NOW)
The Hurricanes, going for their 40th win of the season, have won five games in a row on the road. Center Jesperi Kotkaniemi has four goals in his past seven games after being held without a goal in 10 straight. Vegas will try to get its power play going; it's an NHL-worst 5.6 percent (2-for-36) in 17 games since Jan. 14. Carolina is tied for fifth in the NHL on the penalty kill at 82.7 percent.
Washington Capitals at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Ducks (20-34-7) seek to stretch their winning streak to a season-long four games. Defenseman John Klingberg has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past nine games. The Capitals (29-27-6) are 1-7-0 in their past eight and are five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Washington forward T.J. Oshie has four goals in his past three games.