NHL On Tap: Kessel's record-setting ironman streak to hit 1,000 games

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 13 games Thursday.

Kessel to become Mr. 1,000 in a row

Phil Kessel's NHL-record ironman streak will reach 1,000 consecutive games when the Vegas Golden Knights host Kessel's former team, the Arizona Coyotes (10 p.m. ET; SN360, ATTSN-RM, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW). Kessel's streak includes 208 games with Arizona from 2019-22 before he signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Golden Knights on Aug. 24. The 35-year-old forward passed Keith Yandle for most consecutive games when he played his 990th in a row at the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 25 and scored his 400th NHL goal in Vegas' 4-2 victory. Kessel has not missed a game since Oct. 31, 2009, when he did not play for the Maple Leafs in a 5-4 shootout loss at the Montreal Canadiens following offseason shoulder surgery. The Golden Knights (13-4-0) will try to rebound after losing consecutive games for the first time this season. The Coyotes (6-8-1) have lost their past two after winning the first three during their stretch of 14 consecutive road games. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Devils put 10-game streak on line at Maple Leafs

The New Jersey Devils are the must-watch team in the NHL. They have won 10 in a row, the third-longest winning streak in their history. If they (13-3-0) win at the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; SNO, MSG, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW), they will match their 11-game run in 2005-06, two shy of their franchise record 13 straight victories in 2000-01. New Jersey has had 17 players get at least one point during the stretch, led by center Jack Hughes' 15 (six goals, nine assists), and has had 15 different goal scorers. I could go on and on about what the Devils are doing, having not lost since Oct. 24, but you get the picture. They've been dominant. But the Maple Leafs (9-5-3) have been good too, winning their past two games and going 5-1-1 this month. The big guys have stepped up for Toronto in November, including forward Mitchell Marner (10 points; two goals, eight assists), center Auston Matthews (nine points; four goals, five assists), center John Tavares (eight points; five goals, three assists) and forward William Nylander (seven points; three goals four assists). Goalie Matt Murray returned from an adductor injury with 35 saves in a 5-2 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. The Devils will have to earn No. 11.-- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Offense storm warning

The Carolina Hurricanes (10-5-1) have been good this season but are eager to test themselves against elite competition. It gets no more elite than when they host the 8-5-1 Colorado Avalanche (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW). The defending Cup champions are a handful, boasting four players who average more than a point per game: forward Mikko Rantanen (25 points; 11 goals, 14 assists in 14 games), center Nathan MacKinnon (24 points; four goals, 20 assists in 14 games), defenseman Cale Makar (18 points; three goals, 15 assists in 14 games) and forward Valeri Nichushkin (12 points; seven goals, five assists in seven games) who is out following ankle surgery. Not surprisingly, Colorado's 3.57 goals per game ranks fifth in the NHL. Carolina, averaging 3.00 goals per game (19th in the League), has three players with more than a point per game; center Martin Necas (19 points; seven goals, 12 assists in 16 games), forward Andrei Svechnikov (18 points; 12 goals, six assists in 16 games) and center Sebastian Aho (17 points; seven goals, 10 assists in 16 games). There should be no shortage of goals here. -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Thursday games

Calgary Flames at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flames (7-6-2), who begin a six-game road trip, have won two straight following a seven-game losing streak (0-5-2). Calgary center Jonathan Huberdeau returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury to score his 200th NHL goal in a 6-5 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. The Lightning (9-6-1) also have won their past two games. After getting his 500th NHL assist by setting up forward Alex Killorn's winner in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos needs 11 goals to reach 500 in the NHL and 11 points to reach 1,000.
Colorado Avalanche at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Goalie Alexandar Georgiev has seamlessly settled into the No. 1 role with the Avalanche (8-5-1). Acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on July 7, he's 7-2-1 with a .924 save percentage, sixth among goalies who have appeared in at least 10 games. Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen has missed the past four games with a lower-body injury, but Carolina (10-5-1) also has Antti Raanta (3-2-1, 2.47 goals-against average, .911 save percentage) and Pyotr Kochetkov (2-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .959 save percentage), who is coming off his first NHL shutout, with 27 saves in a 3-0 win at the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
Dallas Stars at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forwards Jason Robertson (18 points; nine goals, nine assists) and Roope Hintz (13 points; four goals, nine assists) each will try to extend his point streak to 10 games for the Stars (9-5-2), who are 1-2-1 in their past four games. Forward Matthew Tkachuk has seven assists in his past four games for the Panthers (9-6-1), who lead the NHL in averaging 40.4 shots on goal per game.
Montreal Canadiens at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Center Nick Suzuki has gotten off to a strong start for the Canadiens (8-7-1) with 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 16 games. The Blue Jackets (5-9-1) are 2-0-1 in their three games despite being without several key players, including forward Patrik Laine (sprained ankle), defenseman Zach Werenski (season-ending shoulder injury) and goalie Elvis Merzlikins (lower body).
New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; SNO, MSG, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Each team is coming off a win Tuesday; New Jersey 5-1 at the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto 5-2 at the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Devils (13-3-0) have outscored opponents 43-19 during their 10-game winning streak, the third-longest in their history. For the Maple Leafs (9-5-3), Marner will look to extend his point streak (14 points; three goals, 11 assists) to 11 games, which would equal the second-longest of his NHL career; he had a 13-game point streak last season.
Philadelphia Flyers at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNP, NESN, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Bruins (14-2-0) can become the fifth team in NHL history to open the season with at least 10 consecutive home wins and move within one of the League record of 11 shared by the 1963-64 Black Hawks and the 2021-22 Panthers. Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman was activated from injured reserve Wednesday after missing six games with a lower-body injury. Philadelphia's John Tortorella, a Boston native, will become the first United States-born coach to reach 1,400 NHL games. The Flyers (7-6-3) have lost their past four games (0-3-1), but goalie Carter Hart continues to play well (6-2-3, 2.42 GAA, .929 save percentage in 11 starts).
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Jets (9-4-1) are 7-1-1 in their past nine games, led by goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who is 5-1-1 with a 1.70 GAA, .947 save percentage and two shutouts during that stretch. The Ducks (5-10-1) ended a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime victory against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Winnipeg center Cole Perfetti (three goals, five assists) and Anaheim center Mason McTavish (two goals, six assists) are among five players tied for fifth in the NHL among rookies with eight points.
New York Islanders at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Islanders (11-6-0) are 9-2-0 in their past 11 games. Center Mathew Barzal is third in the NHL with 18 assists in 17 games for New York but is still looking for his first goal of the season. For the Predators (7-8-1), goalie Juuse Saros stopped 66 of 68 shots (.971 save percentage) to help Nashville to 2-1 wins in each of their past two games, against the New York Rangers on Saturday and the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. They were the Predators' first consecutive regulation wins since it opened the season with two victories in regulation against the San Jose Sharks in the 2022 NHL Global Series in Prague.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSN, BSWI, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+)
The Wild will be without former Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after placing him on injured reserve with an upper-body injury Wednesday. Minnesota (7-7-2) has been held to one goal or fewer four times in going 2-3-1 in its past six games. Centers Sidney Crosby (seven goals, 10 assists) and Evgeni Malkin (seven goals, 10 assists) are tied for the Pittsburgh team lead with 17 points, but the Penguins (6-7-3) are 2-7-2 since opening the season 4-0-1.
Washington Capitals at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blues (7-8-0) continued their roller coaster season by defeating the Blackhawks 5-2 on Wednesday for their fourth straight victory. St. Louis opened the season by winning three in a row before losing eight straight. Center Ryan O'Reilly has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five games after having one goal in his first nine games. The Capitals (7-9-2) are 2-5-2 in their past nine games. Forward Alex Ovechkin has no goals in his past four games for Washington after scoring eight in his first 14 games and remains at 788 for his career, 13 behind Gordie Howe (801) for second in NHL history.
Arizona Coyotes at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; SN360, ATTSN-RM, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forward Clayton Keller has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his past 10 road games and can become the second Coyotes player (since 1996-97) with a road point streak of at least 11 games, joining Ray Whitney (12 games from Feb. 16-April 7, 2012). Arizona (6-8-1) is 5-6-0 on the road and 1-2-1 at home. The Golden Knights (13-4-0) had won nine in a row before losing their past two and continue to lead the Western Conference with 26 points.
New York Rangers at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, MSG, MSG2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Defenseman Adam Fox will look to push his point streak (10 points; three goals, seven assists) to seven games for the Rangers (8-6-3), who begin a four-game West Coast road trip. The Kraken (8-5-3) are 5-1-1 on the road, but 3-4-2 at Climate Pledge Arena. Forward Jordan Eberle has three goals in his past three games for Seattle after scoring one in his first 13 games.
Detroit Red Wings at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, BSDET, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sharks (6-9-3) have won three in a row for first time this season and are 6-4-3 since opening the season 0-5-0. Center Logan Couture (two goals, two assists) and forward Alexander Barabanov (one goal, three assists) each has four points during San Jose's winning streak. The Red Wings (7-5-4) will look to end a four-game losing streak (0-2-2), a stretch they have been outscored 17-9.