NHL On Tap: Zuccarello tries to stay hot for Wild
Hurricanes aim to stop skid; Oilers need turnaround against Rangers
© Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images
Zuccarello tries to continue point streak
Mats Zuccarello will look to extend a season-opening six-game point streak when the Minnesota Wild visit the Philadelphia Flyers (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+). The forward has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in the second-longest such streak in Wild history (Andrew Brunette, seven games, 2009-10). He had a goal and an assist for the Wild (3-2-1) in their 7-4 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday that ended a two-game slide. The Flyers (3-2-1) will try to regroup from a 3-2 loss at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, when Shea Theodore scored the game-winner with 33 seconds remaining in the third period. Philadelphia will look to remain undefeated at home (2-0-0). Forward Travis Konecny leads the Flyers with seven points (five goals, two assists). -- William Douglas, staff writer
Will the real Hurricanes please stand up?
What happened to the Carolina Hurricanes? Last season they allowed the second-fewest goals per game (2.56), ranked second on the penalty kill (84.4 percent) and had three straight regulation losses once. Through seven games this season, they've allowed the most goals per game in the League by far (4.71) and the most power-play goals (10), with a success rate of 68.8 percent on the penalty kill. And the Hurricanes (3-4-0) have lost three straight, all in regulation, including a 7-4 loss at the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 19. Carolina will get a chance at revenge when it hosts Seattle (7 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSSO). The Kraken have struggled out of the gate as well; they're 2-4-1 and needed a late third-period goal and overtime to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 on Tuesday, or else they would have been stuck on one win through seven games after coming within one win of the Western Conference Final last season. Can that victory spark the Kraken, or will the Hurricanes finally get back on track following a six-game trip in their second home game of the season? -- David Satriano, staff writer
Oilers need to start finding their way
It's getting late early in Edmonton. Yes, I know, I could say that about more than just the Oilers, but this is a team that fancies itself as a Stanley Cup contender, one that should be right on par in the Western Conference with the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche. But so far this season the Oilers aren't even close. That has to start changing when they host the New York Rangers (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, MSG). The Oilers are 1-4-1 through six games and coming off a demoralizing loss to the Wild, their first of what should be at least a few games without center Connor McDavid, who on Sunday was ruled out for 1-2 weeks with an upper-body injury. They've allowed 27 goals and scored 17. It should be the opposite. It's still early enough to reverse the trend, but the Oilers have to start committing to defense and being strong in front of their own net. It's not going to be easy against the Rangers (4-2-0), who have won the first two of a five-game road trip: 4-1 against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday and 3-1 against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. The Rangers have outscored opponents 14-4 in their four wins, allowing one goal in each game, proving they can be stingy defensively while maintaining their offense. The Oilers have not shown that yet. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer
Thursday games
Anaheim Ducks at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; BSSD, BSSC, NESN, SNP, SNO, SNE)
The Bruins (6-0-0) will try to establish a new record for their best start to a season. They matched their mark from 1937-38 with a 3-0 win at the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Forward Frank Vatrano has five goals in six games for the Ducks (2-4-0), including one that gave them a 3-2 overtime win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Seattle Kraken at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSSO)
The Hurricanes have been outscored 16-8 in losing their past three games but could receive a boost if forward Andrei Svechnikov is ready to make his season debut after having knee surgery in March. The Kraken are led by defenseman Vince Dunn, who has seven points (one goal, six assists), and Jaden Schwartz, who has four goals in his past five games. Seattle has one win on the road (1-2-1).
Winnipeg Jets at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, TSN3)
Detroit (5-1-1) had a five-game winning streak end with a 5-4 overtime loss to Seattle at home Tuesday. Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will look to extend his season-opening, seven-game point streak (14 points; four goals, 10 assists). Center Mark Scheifele has a season-opening six-game point streak (seven points; four goals, three assists) for Winnipeg (3-3-0), which will try for its third straight win, having defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Tuesday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, BSOH)
Ivan Provorov got his fifth assist for Columbus (3-2-1) in a 3-2 loss to Anaheim on Tuesday. He became the third defenseman to get his first five points with the Blue Jackets in six games or fewer, following Zach Werenski in 2016-17 (two goals, three assists in four games) and Darryl Sydor in 2003-04 (one goal, four assists in five games). Defenseman Justin Barron has scored in two straight games for Montreal (3-2-1), including in a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils at home Tuesday.
Colorado Avalanche at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, ALT, TVAS-D)
Colorado (6-0-0) looks to remain undefeated and add to the longest road winning streak (spanning seasons or otherwise) in NHL history. The Avalanche got their 15th straight road victory dating back to last season with their 7-4 win at the New York Islanders on Tuesday, passing the Buffalo Sabres (14 straight from April 3-Nov. 13, 2006). The Penguins (2-4-0) have lost three straight. Center Sidney Crosby got his 955th assist in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday and is one shy of tying Mark Recchi for 15th in NHL history.
San Jose Sharks at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, NBCSCA)
The Sharks (0-5-1) are looking for their first win in the first of back-to-back road games (they meet the Hurricanes on Friday). Forward Nikita Kucherov has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past three games for the Lightning (3-2-2), including an assist in their 3-0 win against the Hurricanes on Tuesday. San Jose is tied for second with Pittsburgh, the Ottawa Senators and the Calgary Flames in face-off percentage (54.9).
Minnesota Wild at Philadelphia Flyers (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+)
The Wild will play the first of back-to-back games to begin a three-game road trip (they face the Washington Capitals on Friday). Forward Ryan Hartman had five points (three goals, two assists) in Minnesota’s 7-4 win against Edmonton on Tuesday. This is the first of a four-game homestand for Philadelphia.
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, TSN5, RDS2)
The Islanders (2-2-1) lost their third straight (0-2-1) on Tuesday at home against the Avalanche. Defenseman Noah Dobson (five points; one goal, four assists) and center Mathew Barzal (four points; one goal, three assists) each has a four-game point streak. Forward Vladimir Tarasenko has eight points (three goals, five assists) in six games for the Senators (3-3-0), including a goal and an assist in their 6-4 loss to the Sabres on Tuesday.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET; BSSW, TSN4)
The Stars (4-0-1) are seeking their fourth straight win are 15-for-15 on the penalty kill, marking the first time in franchise history that they haven’t allowed a power-play goal through five games. William Nylander (10 points; five goals, five assists) and John Tavares (10 points; three goals, seven assists) each has a season-opening six-game point streak for the Maple Leafs (4-2-0) after both forwards scored in a 4-1 win at the Capitals on Tuesday.
St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSMW)
The Flames (2-4-1) look to end a three-game losing streak in which they’ve been outscored 12-4. The Blues (2-2-1) play the first of back-to-back road games after a 4-2 loss at the Jets on Tuesday; they’ll face the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. Forward Mikael Backlund has had an assist in each of the past three straight games for Calgary. Center Robert Thomas has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past four games for St. Louis.
New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, MSG)
Rangers forward Artemi Panarin has a six-game point streak to start the season (eight points; three goals, five assists). Panarin's linemate Alexis Lafreniere has scored in both games to start a five-game road trip. Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in six games, including four assists in the past two.
