NHL On Tap: Kraken host Rangers, look for third straight win

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.

Kraken try to end homestand with third straight win

The Seattle Kraken go for their third straight win to close a four-game homestand, when they host the New York Rangers (9 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, ROOT-NW, MSG, NHL LIVE). The NHL expansion team has won two in a row following an 0-3-1 slide led by goalie Philipp Grubauer, who made a combined 53 saves on 55 shots (.964 save percentage) in wins against the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild. New York starts a four-game trip on the West Coast near full strength with forward Ryan Reaves (lower body) the lone regular likely not to play. The Rangers were 4-0-0 on the road from Oct. 16-23, the first time since Feb. 10-16, 2015 they had a perfect trip of at least four games, and can set a team record for most road wins (five) through the first nine games of a season (four this season, 1927-28 and 1938-39). Igor Shesterkin (4-1-1, 1.81 goals-against average, .944 save percentage, one shutout) made 31 saves in a 4-0 shutout against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday for his 30th NHL win. Four Rangers goalies needed fewer games than Shesterkin (53) to reach 30 wins (Henrik Lundqvist, 51; Jim Henry, 51; Cam Talbot, 52; Lorne Chabot, 52). -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Hurricanes look to keep rolling

You can't help but be impressed by the Carolina Hurricanes, who will go for their eighth straight win when they host the Arizona Coyotes (1 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSAZ, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Hurricanes secured the best start in their history when they won their sixth in a row, 3-0 against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, extended it Friday with a 6-3 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks and are the only undefeated team in the NHL after the Florida Panthers lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Bruins on Saturday. Keep an eye on Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, who has played a key role in their start with a team-high 11 points (seven goals, four assists). Forward Clayton Keller has scored three goals in eight games for the 0-7-1 Coyotes. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Canadiens hope team meeting will change fortunes

The Canadiens hope a team meeting Saturday will help get them back on track heading into their game at the Anaheim Ducks (4 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSD, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The 20-minute closed-door gathering came after a 5-2 road loss to the Los Angeles Kings that dropped Montreal to 2-7-0. "We don't seem to have the right response now, the right kind of fight back, and that's the biggest thing," defenseman Ben Chiarot said. A lack of offense continues to be a concern for the Canadiens, who have scored 17 goals in nine games (1.89 per game; tied for 29th in the NHL with the Blackhawks). Forwards Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, two key cogs in Montreal's march to the Stanley Cup Final last season, have yet to score. The Ducks are struggling as well. They're 0-3-3 in their past six games and 1-2-1 at home. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Sunday schedule

Arizona Coyotes at Carolina Hurricanes (1 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSAZ, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the fourth of a six-game road trip for the Coyotes, who are last in the NHL with a team goals-against average of 4.50 per game. The Hurricanes are first in that category (1.57 team GAA) and goalie Frederik Andersen has been perfect so far, starting six of their first seven games (6-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA, .956 save percentage and one shutout).
Montreal Canadiens at Anaheim Ducks (4 p.m. ET; BSSC, BSSD, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Captain Ryan Getzlaf is one point from passing Hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne (988) for most in Ducks history. The Canadiens end a four-game road trip. They've lost two of the first three in visits to the Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings and are 1-4-0 on the road this season.
Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings (4 p.m. ET; SN, BSW, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sabres look to extend their win streak to three after opening their four-game road trip with a 4-3 overtime win against the Ducks on Thursday. The Kings are playing for the second straight day after ending a six-game skid (0-5-1) with a 5-2 win against the Canadiens on Saturday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New Jersey Devils (5 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
It's the second of a back to back for the Devils, who return home following a 4-2 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Columbus, playing the second of a three-game road trip, is led by forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, who has scored nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games.
New York Rangers at Seattle Kraken (9 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, ROOT-NW, MSG, NHL LIVE)
The Rangers make their first trip to Seattle in the opener of a four-game road trip. Artemi Panarin had three assists in a 4-0 win against the Blue Jackets on Friday for his 49th three-point game to tie Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks for third in the NHL since his rookie season of 2015-16 behind Connor McDavid (75) and Leon Draisaitl (51) of the Edmonton Oilers. Kraken forward Brandon Tanev has scored six goals in eight games after he had seven in 32 for the Penguins last season.