NHL On Tap: Lightning looking to slow down McDavid, Oilers

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 11 games Tuesday.

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McDavid ready to start next 100-game block

Maybe the most amazing thing about Connor McDavid is how he continues to get better the longer he's in the NHL. He'll play game No. 501 when the Edmonton Oilers (7-6-0) visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN1, SNE, SNO, TVAS). If form holds it will be the start of something special. McDavid had 108 points (34 goals, 74 assists) in his first 100 NHL games, and with each subsequent set he's been more productive, with 130 points (46 goals, 84 assists) in his next 100 games, then 156 points, 162 points and 168 points (61 goals, 107 assists) between game 401 and game 500 against the Washington Capitals on Monday. How will he start his next block of 100 games? Well, he has eight goals in eight games against the Lightning (7-4-1), who have allowed at least three goals in four straight but are 3-0-1 in those games. Leading Tampa Bay has been forward Nikita Kucherov, who has goals in six straight games and at least a point in 10 in a row (six goals, 13 assists). -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Wild seek consistency

The Minnesota Wild haven't been very consistent. They had a three-game losing streak to start the season and their longest winning streak has been two games, which they've done twice. After not playing since Thursday, when they lost 4-0 to the Seattle Kraken, the Wild (5-5-1) will look to see if they can get going again when they visit the Los Angeles Kings (7-6-1) at Crypto.com Arena (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW). Injuries haven't helped. Forwards Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman are out with upper-body injuries. Forward Jordan Greenway, who also had an upper-body injury, could return Tuesday. The Wild power play has been good (26.3 percent, eighth in the NHL) but their penalty kill has not (73.5 percent, tied for 24th) and they're giving up way too much per game (3.64 goals allowed, 25th). -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

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Kraken cooking

It's four straight wins for the Seattle Kraken, who are suddenly one of the hottest teams in hockey and rocketing up the Pacific Division standings. At 7-4-2, the Kraken are second behind the Vegas Golden Knights, growing more comfortable with each game. And the winning streak hasn't come against also-rans. During the run, the Kraken have defeated the Calgary Flames, Wild and Pittsburgh Penguins, twice. Seattle returns home to host the Nashville Predators (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN1, SN NOW) after a three-game road trip. The Predators have won their past two games, though they've started the season a disappointing 5-6-1. Behind forward Matty Beniers, who leads NHL rookies with nine points (five goals, four assists) in 13 games, the Kraken have a chance for the first five-game winning streak in franchise history. Will they continue their run? -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

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Tuesday games

Arizona Coyotes at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes (4-6-1) play the second of a 14-game road trip after a 3-2 win at the Washington Capitals on Sunday. They're led by Clayton Keller's 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 11 games. Rasmus Dahlin (upper body) didn't practice with the Sabres (7-5-0) on Monday, but the defenseman will return against the Coyotes. Dahlin is second in points among NHL defensemen with 15 (seven goals, eight assists).
Calgary Flames at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Devils (9-3-0) have won six straight games, the second-longest active winning streak (seven; Vegas Golden Knights). It's the first time they've won six straight since March 27-Apr. 7, 2012. They defeated the Flames 4-3 in overtime Saturday in Calgary. The Flames (5-4-2) are 0-3-2 in their past five.
New York Islanders at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
It's the second of three games this season. The Islanders (8-5-0) shut out the Rangers 3-0 on Oct. 26 and are 6-1-0 in their past seven games after a 4-3 overtime win against the Flames on Monday. Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck left the game Monday in the first period with an undisclosed injury. Forwards Mika Zibanejad (three goals, four assists) and Chris Kreider (two goals, four assists) each has a five-game point streak for the Rangers (6-4-3), who lost 3-2 in overtime to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
St. Louis Blues at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blues (3-7-0) are looking to end a seven-game losing streak after a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday. The Flyers (6-3-2) defeated the Ottawa Senators 2-1 on Saturday after they were 0-1-2 in their previous three games. Carter Hart is 6-0-2; according to NHL Stats, only three goalies have had longer point streaks to begin a season for the Flyers (Pete Peeters, 22-0-5 in 1979-80; Bob Froese, 9-0-1 in 1982-83; Dominic Roussel, 8-0-0 in 1993-94).
Vancouver Canucks at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Senators (4-7-0) have lost five straight games, but forward Brady Tkachuk has a four-game point streak (one goal, five assists). Forward J.T. Miller has a six-game point streak (five goals, four assists) for the Canucks (3-6-3). Quinn Hughes has 10 assists in eight games, getting him to double digits faster than all but two defensemen in Canucks history (seven games; Paul Reinhart in 1989-90 and Jiri Bubla in 1983-84).
Vegas Golden Knights at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Maple Leafs (7-4-2) have won three in a row, including wins last weekend against the Bruins (2-1) on Saturday and Carolina Hurricanes (3-1) on Sunday. John Tavares' game-winner Sunday was his 399th goal in the NHL. The Golden Knights (11-2-0) are on a seven-game winning streak. They're an NHL-best 6-1-0 on the road. Vegas center Jack Eichel has a five-game point streak (two goals, five assists).
Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Forwards Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Larkin each have 15 points (six goals, nine assists apiece) to lead the Red Wings (7-3-2), who have won three in a row. The Canadiens (5-6-1) are 0-2-1 in their past three games. Montreal forwards Nick Suzuki (five goals, three assists) and Kirby Dach (one goal, six assists) each have four-game point streaks.
Edmonton Oilers at Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN1, SNE, SNO, TVAS)
Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) during an eight-game point streak. The Lightning are 4-for-15 (26.7 percent) on the power play in their past three games; they were 1-for-12 (8.3 percent) in their previous four.
Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
It's the second of three games this season. The Stars defeated the Jets 4-1 on Oct. 17. Dallas (8-3-1) has won three in a row. Stars forward Jason Robertson was named NHL First Star after having eight points (four goals, four assists) in three games last week. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is 6-2-1 with a 2.09 GAA, .936 save percentage and two shutouts for the Jets (7-3-1), who wrap up a three-game homestand (2-0-0).
Nashville Predators at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN1, SN NOW)
The Predators have won consecutive games for the first time since defeating the San Jose Sharks twice in the 2022 NHL Global Series in Prague on Oct. 7 and 8. Nashville is seventh in the NHL on the penalty kill (82.6 percent); Seattle is seventh on the power play (26.1 percent). Kraken forward Morgan Geekie has a four-game point streak (three goals, two assists).
Minnesota Wild at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW)
This is the first of a three-game road trip for the Wild, who are 3-1-1 on the road this season. Forward Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 13 points (eight goals, five assists). Forwards Gabriel Vilardi (nine goals, five assists) and Kevin Fiala (three goals, 11 assists) have 14 points each to lead the Kings, who are struggling on the power play (19.7 percent, 23rd in the NHL).