NHL On Tap: Schaefer, Makar face off for first time when Islanders visit Avalanche 

There are five games on the NHL schedule for Sunday, including two nationally televised in the United States and two in Canada. Here are five things to watch today, along with the complete game schedule.

Schaefer, Makar clash for first time

Matthew Schaefer and Cale Makar go head-to-head for the first time when the Colorado Avalanche host the New York Islanders at Ball Arena (9 p.m. ET; MSGSN, SN, TVAS) with multiple streaks at stake. Colorado (12-1-5) goes for its sixth win in a row and Nathan MacKinnon will try to extend an 11-game point streak (23 points; eight goals, 15 assists) and add to his NHL-leading 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 18 games. The Islanders (10-6-2) have won four straight, including three in overtime, led by Bo Horvat, who has 12 points (six goals, six assists) during an eight-game point streak. Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and the leading contender for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, scored the overtime winner in New York’s 3-2 victory at the Utah Mammoth. The 18-year-old defenseman leads rookies with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 18 games. He’ll face Makar, the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the League’s top defenseman and 2020 Calder Trophy recipient. He leads NHL defensemen with 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 18 games.

Boldy running Wild

Matt Boldy and the Minnesota Wild look to stay hot when they host the Vegas Golden Knights at Grand Casino Arena (6 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNSO, SCRIPPS, SNW, SNO, SNE, TVAS). The Wild are 3-0-1 in their past four games following a 2-0 shutout against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. Boldy scored for the third straight game and has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past five games. The Golden Knights ended an 0-2-2 skid with a 4-1 win at the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. This is the first meeting between the teams since the Stanley Cup Playoffs when Golden Knights won their Western Conference First Round series against the Wild in six games.

Larkin nears 600 points

Dylan Larkin needs two points to become the sixth player from the 2014 NHL Draft to reach 600 career points. The 29-year-old center has a chance to do it when the Detroit Red Wings (10-7-1) face the New York Rangers (10-7-2) at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, FDSNDET, MSG). The No. 15 pick in the 2014 draft, Larkin scored in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and has 598 points (253 goals, 345 assists) in 752 games. He’s 11th among Red Wings points leaders behind Brendan Shanahan (633 points; 309 goals, 324 assists in 716 games). The Rangers return to MSG looking for their second home win of the season (1-6-1) after a 2-1 shootout win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

One puck, two records in sight for Myers

Tyler Myers needs a point for 400 for his NHL career and one assist for 300. He’ll try to get both when the Vancouver Canucks (8-9-2) visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (9-6-2) at Benchmark International Arena (5 p.m. ET; The Spot, SNP). Myers, the No. 12 pick of the 2008 NHL Draft, has 399 points (100 goals, 299 assists) in 1,085 games but is scoreless in his past three. Vancouver is 0-1-2 after a 4-3 overtime loss at the Carolina Hurricanes played without captain Quinn Hughes because of an illness. Hughes participated in the morning skate on Friday after not practicing on Thursday. He left at 9:09 of the second period of a 5-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday favoring his left arm after taking a hooking penalty but later returned. Tampa Bay has won eight of 10.

Penguins, Predators clash in Global Series Sweden finale

Have the coffee brewing and breakfast ready for the finale of the two-game series between the Pittsburgh Penguins (9-5-4) and Nashville Predators (6-9-4) at Avicii Arena in Stockholm in the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal (9 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, FDSNSO, SN-PIT). Nashville looks to tie the Ottawa Senators for most regular-season wins in games contested outside of North America (five) and Filip Forsberg, a native of Ostervala, Sweden, will play in his 800th NHL game in his home country. Forsberg was the local hero in the Predators’ 2-1 overtime win on Friday, scoring the game-tying goal at 18:50 of the third period. Steven Stamkos scored 44 seconds into overtime for the fastest extra time goal in a regular-season game outside North America, eclipsing a mark set by Ottawa’s Mark Stone (0:59 at the 2017 Global Series). The win ended a five-game skid (0-3-2) for the Predators. The Penguins will try to even the series in the 19th NHL regular-season game played in Sweden and rebound after losing three straight (0-1-2) and five of six (1-3-2).

The schedule

Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins (9 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, FDSNSO, SN-PIT)

Vancouver Canucks at Tampa Bay Lightning (5 p.m. ET; The Spot, SNP)

Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild (6 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNSO, SCRIPPS, SNW, SNO, SNE, TVAS)

Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, FDSNDET, MSG)

New York Islanders at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; MSGSN, ALT, SN, TVAS)