NHL On Tap: Maple Leafs can tie their road winning streak record

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 Sunday.

Maple Leafs wrap up road trip against Ducks

The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to tie their record by winning their seventh straight road game when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSD, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Maple Leafs (15-6-1) have won three in a row on their current road trip following a 4-1 victory at the San Jose Sharks on Friday, their sixth straight road win after losing their first three games away from Toronto this season. They are 8-1-0 since a 5-1 loss at home to the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 8. Anaheim (11-7-3) got back on track with a 4-0 win against the Ottawa Senators on Friday after three straight regulation losses. Keep an eye on Ducks forward Trevor Zegras, who has scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past six games. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Confidence growing for Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks (7-11-2) are building confidence in their ability to come back. They'll try to keep it going when they host the Sharks (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSCH, NBCSCA, NHL LIVE). The Blackhawks are 6-2-0 under coach Derek King, who took over after Jeremy Colliton was fired Nov. 6. Their 3-2 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues on Friday was a good example of how the Blackhawks have been finding different ways to win; they trailed 1-0 just 59 seconds into the game and 2-0 after the first period before rallying. The Blackhawks dug themselves quite a hole with a 1-9-2 start and are seventh in the eight-team Central Division. But there's a lot of games remaining for them to get back in the division race. The Sharks (10-9-1) are fifth in the eight-team Pacific Division. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Ovechkin making legit Hart case

The Washington Capitals visit the Carolina Hurricanes (1 p.m. ET; SN, BSSO, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE), and captain Alex Ovechkin is already putting in his bid to win the Hart Trophy, voted as most valuable player in the NHL, for the fourth time. The 36-year-old's remarkable season continued Friday when the forward scored his first hat trick this season and 28th in the NHL in a 4-3 win against the Florida Panthers. Ovechkin has scored 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 21 games, including 10 points (six goals, four assists) in a four-game point streak, to help the Capitals (13-3-5) go 8-1-1 in their past 10 and tie the Hurricanes (15-3-1) for the Metropolitan Division lead. Ovechkin is 18 goals from passing Jaromir Jagr (766) for third in NHL history and one power-play goal from tying the NHL record held by Dave Andreychuk (274). Ovechkin's 95 points (43 goals, 52 assists) in 81 games against the Hurricanes are his most against any NHL opponent. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Sunday schedule

Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes (1 p.m. ET; SN, BSSO, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Washington forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov (one goal, five assists) and Tom Wilson (three goals, three assists) each has scored six points in a three-game point streak. Carolina can become the ninth NHL team to win 16 games in its first 20 games since 1986-87.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Minnesota Wild (2 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWI, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Lightning and Wild play for the second and final time this season. Tampa Bay won 5-4 at home on Nov. 21 when forward Anthony Cirelli scored two goals. Minnesota has won two straight since that defeat, including 7-1 against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSCH, NBCSCA, NHL LIVE)
The Sharks, who were 2-2-0 on a four-game homestand that ended with a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, start a five-game road trip. Blackhawks forward Brandon Hagel has scored in three straight games.
Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; SN, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the second of a three-game homestand for the Bruins (10-7-0), who are 6-3-0 at TD Garden this season after a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Friday. The Canucks (6-13-2) have lost three in a row and are 1-7-1 in their past nine games.
Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, NBCSP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Travis Konecny is one goal shy of 100 in the NHL for the Flyers (8-7-4), who are 0-3-2 in their past five games. The Devils (8-6-4) have lost five of their past six (1-3-2).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks (8 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSD, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza is expected to play his 1,200th NHL game. Ducks forwards Rickard Rakell and Sonny Milano each has scored four points (two goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak.
New York Islanders at New York Rangers, postponed