NHL On Tap: Kraken visit Sabres trying to build momentum

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 four games Monday.

Kraken building momentum in expansion season

The expansion Seattle Kraken look to continue their recent strong play when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Monday (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Kraken (7-13-1) have won three of their past four games with each victory in the span coming against one of the elite teams in the NHL; they defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 at home on Nov. 21, Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 at home on Nov. 24 and won 4-1 at the Florida Panthers on Saturday (Florida's first home loss of season). The Sabres (8-10-3) have earned points in consecutive games (1-0-1) after a four-game losing streak. -- Pete Jensen, senior fantasy editor

Canadiens attempt to start over

The Montreal Canadiens made big news Sunday, when they fired general manager Marc Bergevin and hired Jeff Gorton as executive vice president of hockey operations. It's a major change for one of the most storied franchises in the NHL after more than nine years with Bergevin at the helm, and it comes with Montreal (6-15-2) seventh in the eight-team Atlantic Division and tied for 29th in the NHL one season after reaching the Stanley Cup Final, losing in five games to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Next up for the Canadiens is a home game against the Vancouver Canucks (6-14-2), another team struggling to find its way (7:30 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Each team is underperforming, but talented enough that a winning streak could be just one game away from beginning. Could this be the night that things change for the Canadiens or Canucks? -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Gaudreau, Guentzel look to extend streaks

Looking forward to watching the Calgary Flames (12-4-5) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (10-7-4) on Monday (9 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, ATTSN-PIT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Yes, each team is coming off a loss Saturday. The Flames lost 4-2 to the Winnipeg Jets, the Penguins 6-3 to the Montreal Canadiens. But the Flames are 5-1-2 in their past eight, the Penguins 5-1-0 in their past six. Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) during a six-game point streak; Penguins forward Jake Guentzel has scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) during a nine-game point streak. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Monday schedule

Seattle Kraken at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Kraken will try to sweep the season series against the Sabres after a 5-2 home win on Nov. 4 when forward Jordan Eberle scored three goals. Buffalo has had an uptick offensively of late, scoring 15 goals in their past five games, improving their goals per game average to 2.81, tied with the Winnipeg Jets for 18th in the NHL.
Arizona Coyotes at Winnipeg Jets (7:30 p.m. ET; SNW, BSAZ, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Travis Boyd has scored in three consecutive games, giving the forward five goals this season for the Coyotes (4-15-2), tying an NHL career high. The Jets (10-7-4) ended a 0-4-1 slide with a 4-2 win against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Vancouver Canucks at Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canadiens will try to win consecutive games for the first time this season after a 6-3 victory at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The Canucks have lost four in a row and are 1-8-1 in their past 10 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Andrew Mangiapane, who leads the Flames with 15 goals, is expected to play his 200th NHL game. Penguins forward Dominik Simon should also play his 200th game in the NHL.