NHL On Tap: Undefeated Flyers in Tampa for Lightning home opener

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 eight games Tuesday.

Flyers flying into Tampa Bay

I can't say that I predicted the Philadelphia Flyers to start the John Tortorella era 2-0-0, and yet here we are. They've started with a 5-2 win against the New Jersey Devils and a come-from-behind 3-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, and now play a nationally televised game against the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW). It should be a test fo each team, with the Lightning 1-2-0 and playing their home opener. I'm certainly not saying the Flyers are going to continue to play like this -- they started last season 2-0-1 before finishing second-to-last in the East -- but I'm fascinated to see if they can continue the way they've begun, especially against a team the caliber of the Lightning. How far will the Torts effect go? -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Predators hoping for first win in North America

The Nashville Predators got off to a promising start with two wins in as many games against the San Jose Sharks, but that was in Prague at the 2022 NHL Global Series and before the rest of the NHL started playing. It hasn't been nearly as fun for the Predators since returning stateside. The Dallas Stars burned them twice, 4-1 in Nashville on Thursday and 5-1 in Dallas on Saturday. The Predators are better than that and need to get back on track when the Los Angeles Kings come into Bridgestone Arena (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW). Maybe the Kings (2-2-0) will arrive with some tired legs after playing into overtime Monday, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 but not before giving away leads of 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3. In addition, Kings forward Alex Iafallo (five points; two goals, three assists in four games) was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury sustained in the third period, and that's a big loss. The good news for the Predators is they ended a 0-for-15 power-play slump to start the season when Nino Niederreiter scored at 18:20 of the second in Dallas. The Kings, though, should be feeling good offensively, having scored 12 goals in their past two games after scoring four in their first two. The Predators need a win and the Kings want to stay hot in a matchup of teams that will push to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Battle of the unbeatens in Pacific Division

It's a small sample of games, but the Vegas Golden Knights (3-0-0) and Calgary Flames (2-0-0) sit atop the Pacific Division. One will keep their undefeated streak going at Scotiabank Saddledome (9 p.m. ET; SNW, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW). Each team entered the season with questions. For Vegas, could goalie Logan Thompson take over for
Robin Lehner
, who is out after having hip surgery in August? For Calgary, would their top offseason acquisitions, forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, help temper the loss of forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk? Well, Thompson is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average, .947 save percentage and one shutout in two starts. Kadri has three points (one goal, two assists), Weegar has two assists and Huberdeau has one assist, each in two games. For Vegas and Calgary, it's a strong start team-wise and individually. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Tuesday games

Anaheim Ducks at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Ducks (1-2-0), who will play the second of a back-to-back set after losing 6-4 to the New York Rangers, have allowed 13 goals in their past two games and 17 in three to start the season. The Devils (0-2-0) have given up 10 goals in their first two games, 5-2 losses to the Flyers and Red Wings.
Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Bruins (3-0-0) withstood a late push from the Florida Panthers to hold on for a 5-3 win at TD Garden on Monday. Boston has scored at least five goals in all three games. The Senators (0-2-0) have three goals in two games. They scored first against the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs but have been outscored 7-1 after the first period.
Vancouver Canucks at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Canucks (0-3-0) gave away a chance for their first win by allowing four goals in the third period of a 6-4 loss at the Washington Capitals on Monday. Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau still is seeking his 600th NHL win. The Blue Jackets (0-3-0) are looking for their first win. They have scored five goals in losses to the Carolina Hurricanes (4-1), Lightning (5-2) and St. Louis Blues (5-2).
Philadelphia Flyers at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW)
Tortorella, who coached the Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2004, can become the second Flyers coach to win each of his first three games (Paul Holmgren, 4-0-0 in 1988-89). He did not win his first three games coaching four other NHL teams (Lightning, Rangers, Canucks, Blue Jackets). The Lightning (1-2-0) allowed 45 shots in a 6-2 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Steven Stamkos has a goal in every game and can become the second Lightning player to score in each of his first four games of a season (Nikita Kucherov, seven games in 2017-18).
San Jose Sharks at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Islanders (1-1-0) are hoping their forwards can match the offense they got when their defensemen scored five goals in a 7-1 win against the Ducks on Saturday. New York is 9-for-9 on the penalty kill. The Sharks (0-4-0) are in search of their first win under coach David Quinn and start a four-game road trip. They have scored six goals in four games.
Buffalo Sabres at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SN360, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Connor McDavid (four goals, one assist) and Leon Draisaitl (one goal, four assists) each had five points in the Oilers' first two games. McDavid was voted NHL Second Star for the week ending Oct. 16. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has goals in each of his first two games and is averaging 25:03 of ice time for the Sabres (1-1-0).
Vegas Golden Knights at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Bruce Cassidy of the Golden Knights is one of four undefeated coaches (Tortorella; Jim Montgomery, Bruins; Pete DeBoer, Stars) in their debut season with a team. The Flames start an eight-game homestand and don't play on the road until Nov. 7 at the Islanders. They were 25-9-7 at Scotiabank Saddledome in 2021-22.
Los Angeles Kings at Nashville Predators (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW)
Drew Doughty of the Kings (No. 2 selection) and Roman Josi of the Predators (No. 38) rank within the top four of the 2008 NHL Draft class in goals, assists and points among defensemen. Josi, Nashville's captain, is second with 140 goals, behind Erik Karlsson (No. 15) of the Sharks (154) and fourth in points (543 in 764 games). Doughty's 569 points in 1,018 games are third, trailing Karlsson (663) and John Carlson (No. 27) of the Capitals (595). Nashville is one win from 900 since joining the NHL and becoming the first among the five teams that began play since 1998-99 to reach the milestone.