NHL On Tap: Ducks, Terry look to extend streaks against Blues

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 the five games Sunday.

Terry on tear for Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks responded to a last-place finish in the eight-team Honda West Division and three consecutive seasons without an appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by doing, well, not much except agreeing to a one-year contract with captain Ryan Getzlaf to return for his 17th NHL season (all with Anaheim). A lot of faith was put into a roster that has six homegrown players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft since 2016. Yet a fifth-round pick (No. 148) in the 2015 NHL Draft has given the Ducks a big lift entering their home game against the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSW, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Troy Terry has scored 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in a 10-game point streak, the longest in the NHL this season and third-best by an Anaheim skater since 2000-01 behind Corey Perry (19 in 2009-10), Getzlaf (15 in 2007-08, 14 in 2013-14 and 11 games in 2015-16 and 2009-10) and Andy McDonald (11 in 2005-06). The 24-year-old forward has helped the Ducks (5-4-3) go 3-0-2 in their past five, with the biggest test to date against the Blues (7-1-1) to conclude a four-game homestand. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Blackhawks play first game with new coach

The Chicago Blackhawks will play their first game under coach Derek King after Jeremy Colliton was fired Saturday, when they host the Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET; SN1, NBCSCH, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Blackhawks have four points, second fewest in the NHL ahead of the Arizona Coyotes (three), are 31st in goals-against per game (3.92) and 29th in goals scored per game (2.17). They started 0-7-2 and have lost two straight since winning their first game of the season, 5-1 against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 1. Matt Duchene will try to extend his goal streak to four games for the Predators, who have won five of their past six games. The forward scored in a 3-2 win at the Vancouver Canucks on Friday and has scored five points (three goals, two assists) in his past three games. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Stars seek momentum against Canucks

It's been an inconsistent start for the Dallas Stars (4-4-2), but they'll try to get points in three straight and four of five when they visit the Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Stars won for the first time in five games Thursday, 4-3 in overtime at the Calgary Flames, but they must be encouraged by the play of defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who had three assists for his second multipoint game in his past six and third this season. But can they expect something similar soon from John Klingberg? The defenseman hasn't scored in his first six games this season but has an assist in each of the past two. As for the Canucks (4-6-1), it's the sixth of a seven-game homestand (1-4-0 so far) that began with three consecutive regulation losses. It looks like Conor Garland has found a home in Vancouver. The forward has scored 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 11 games after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on July 23. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Sunday schedule

Vegas Golden Knights at Detroit Red Wings (6 p.m. ET; BSDET, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward William Karlsson is out 4-6 weeks with a broken foot, the latest in a slew of injuries that are plaguing the Golden Knights, who are also without forwards Mark Stone (lower body), Max Pacioretty (lower body), Jack Eichel (neck), Nolan Patrick (upper body) and defenseman Zach Whitecloud (upper body). Defenseman Moritz Seider on Saturday became the second player and first defenseman in Red Wings history to score his first NHL goal in overtime (Mud Bruneteau on Dec. 14, 1935), a 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres. He is second among NHL rookies with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) behind teammate Lucas Raymond (13 points; five goals, eight assists).
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m. ET; SN1, NBCSCH, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Predators captain Roman Josi has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) on the power play and Nashville is third in the NHL (28.6 percent) with the man-advantage. Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones is tied for fourth in the NHL with 10 assists and has three assists in a three-game point streak.
St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks (8 p.m. ET; BSW, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko had a seven-game point streak (11 points; four goals, seven assists) end Thursday in a 5-3 win against the San Jose Sharks. Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk's 12 points (three goals, nine assists) are tied with Josi and Adam Fox of the New York Rangers for the NHL lead at the position this season.
New York Islanders at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWI+, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Islanders forward Zach Parise returns to play against his former team for the first time since the Wild bought out the remainder of his contract July 13 and he agreed to a one-year contract with New York on Sept. 10. The Minneapolis native played the previous nine seasons for the Wild and is third in their history in regular-season goals (199) and points (400). Since the start of last season, the Wild are 24-6-2 at Xcel Energy Center, 3-1-0 this season.
Dallas Stars at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Stars end a three-game road trip and a stretch of eight of 11 away from Dallas to start the season with forward Joe Pavelski four goals from 400 in the NHL. Canucks forward J.T. Miller has scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his past 10 games.